Background: Smiling is the evident component of facial attractiveness. Midline diastema is considered in some cultures as unattractive and as a malocclusion, especially in Western countries while it is considered as a sign of beauty in Africa and Middle-East. Aim: The aim of this study is to compare the smile attractiveness perception of dental and nondental students toward anterior diastemas and to determine whether all spaces in the esthetic zone are considered unattractive as midline diastema. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among 156 dental and pharmacy students from the University of Medical Sciences and Technology, Sudan, from December 2015 to January 2016. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to the participants and it consisted of two parts: part one – related to gender, faculty, educational level, and questions about dental diastema, and part two – containing four modified pictures of a young female's smile modified by photoediting software to create different spaces between anterior teeth (midline, Simian, Frush and Fisher, and Lombardi diastema). Participants were asked to rank the pictures according to attractiveness from the most to the least attractive using visual analog scale. Comparison between variables was made by Chi-square test with P < 0.05. Results: Smile attractiveness from the most to the least attractive was Simian > Frush and Fisher > midline > Lombardi among both dental and pharmacy students. Gender and presence of diastema had no relation with the student's perception (P > 0.05). There was a significant statistical difference between dental and pharmacy students regarding Frush and Fisher diastema (P = 0.034). Most of the students with diastema felt shy when smiling. Conclusions: The location and width of diastema had an important role on the attractiveness perception of dental diastemas. Midline diastema was not a gap with the most negative perception.

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Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the factors associated with impaction of mandibular third molars and to find a method for predicting eruption of the third molars using panoramic radiographs. Materials and Methods: Ninety pretreatment panoramic radiographs of patients with a full complement of teeth were selected. The mandibular third molars were divided into two groups depending on their eruption status: Group 1: erupted and Group 2: impacted molars. Various angular and linear measurements were made on the panoramic radiographs. Results: Shapiro–Wilk test showed that the data were not normally distributed. Mann–Whitney U-test showed that mean rank of angulation between third molar and second molar (M3M2), gonial angle (GoA), and mesiodistal width of third molar (MDW3M) of impacted group was significantly higher than the erupted group. Spearman's correlation coefficient showed positive correlation between angulation of third molar with mandibular plane (M3MP) and retromolar space (RS) with eruption of mandibular third molar. M3M2, GoA, and MDW3M were found to have negative correlation with eruption of mandibular third molar. Conclusions: Increased RS and M3MP were strongly associated with eruption of the mandibular third molar. An increase in the M3M2 and MDW3M predisposed impaction of third molar. GoA was smaller and mandibular length was larger in the erupted group although both had a weak correlation.

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Objective: The purpose of the present study was carried out to establish whether the vertical and horizontal growth patterns influence the rate of dental and skeletal maturation as compared to normal growth patterns. Materials and Methods: This study comprised sixty samples divided into three groups. Group I normal grower (control), Group II-vertical growers, and Group III-horizontal growers. Each sample was assessed for skeletal and dental age using cervical vertebrae maturation index (CVMI), skeletal maturity indicator stages and canine calcification stages, respectively. All data in the groups were analyzed by analysis of variance test. Subgroup data and comparisons were analyzed by Dunnett D-test and -test. Results: Results showed that dental maturation was delayed in horizontal growers as compared to vertical growers with = 0.00 and 0.044. There was nonsignificant difference in dental maturation of male and females with >0.05. The comparison of skeletal maturation by hand-wrist radiograph showed significant variation in Group III with delayed skeletal maturation of horizontal growers than control group with P < 0.05. Dunnett D-test showed main skeletal age by CVMI was significant with = 0.00 which indicates that skeletal age of Group III to be lower in all groups. Rest was nonsignificant. Conclusion: Individuals with horizontal growth pattern showed delayed dental maturation when compared to vertical growers.

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For patients whose orthodontic problems are so severe that neither growth modification nor camouflage offers a solution, surgery to realign the jaws or reposition dentoalveolar segments is the only possible treatment option left. One indication for surgery is a malocclusion too severe for orthodontics alone. It is possible now to be at least semiquantitative about the limits of orthodontic treatment in the context of producing normal occlusion as the diagrams of the “envelope of discrepancy” indicate. In this case report, we have presented orthognathic treatment plan of an adult male patient with skeletal Class III malocclusion and anterior crossbite. Patient's malocclusion was decompensated by orthodontic treatment just before the surgery and then normal jaw relationship achieved by bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy. Patient's dental and facial profile was improved in a total of 18 months treatment duration. One-year follow-up showed stable results.

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Molar scissor-bite is a common finding in orthodontics. Many times, it is found as a sole malocclusion in a patient. Alignment of such buccally erupted molars is a challenging task. This article describes an innovative appliance, “the M-shaped palatal arch” for successful correction of bilateral molar scissor-bite.

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Introduction: The adhesion of brackets to the teeth throughout the period of orthodontic treatment is essential for achieving a timely and satisfactory treatment outcome. Bonding failure is therefore not desirable. Objective: To assess the prevalence of bonding failure among orthodontic patients at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Data were compiled from the files of all patients being managed with fixed orthodontic therapy at the orthodontic unit of a teaching hospital from August 2013 to December 2016. Results: A total of 42 patients comprising 26 (61.9%) females and 16 (38.1%) males with a mean age of 14.7 ± 7.8 years who were undergoing treatment were included in the study. Thirty-one patients (73.8%) experienced bracket failure. Male patients (81.2%) experienced this more than female patients (69.2%). Brackets bonded on the second premolars (46.8%) had the highest while maxillary anterior teeth (13%) had the least failure. Brackets on mandibular teeth had a higher failure rate (66.2%). There was a progressive decrease in bracket loss with age of the patient and duration of treatment. Conclusions: Bracket loss among patients treated at the hospital was found to be higher among males and younger patients. Brackets placed on mandibular premolars had the highest failure rate.

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The success of repair in cleft lip and palate depends on the extent of disfigurement and the size of disfigurement which guides the surgical repair. With the popularization of nasoalveolar molding (NAM), the results of primary surgery in such patients have greatly improved due to the presurgical correction of the deformities leading to a better approximation of the tissues and hence reduced scarring. Thus, today, the knowledge of pre-surgical nasoalveolar molding should be a part of any orthodontist's armamentarium to enhance the results of surgical lip repair and reduce the extent of nasal deformity minimizing the need for revision surgeries. The current report describes the use of NAM in a newborn with unilateral cleft lip and palate and demonstrates the excellent results thus achieved after surgical repair.

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Trauma leading to fracture of maxillary anteriors is a common finding in orthodontic patients with proclined upper anteriors. Retention is an integral part of orthodontic treatment. We hereby intend to provide a small modification in fabrication of the clear retainer which facilitates in the restoration of the fractured anterior tooth. Working models are made for maxillary and mandibular arches. Fracture tooth is buildup on the working model using acrylic to replicate the anatomy of the tooth. Thermoformed retainer is fabricated on these working models with built-up fractured. These can be used as a retainer followed by restoration. The thermoplastic retainer can be used as template for restoration of the fractured anterior tooth saving clinical time for buildup of teeth and reduces an appointment of the patient.

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