Tooth Complications after Orthodontic Miniscrews Insertion

Surgical Removal of an Orthodontic Mini-Screw Displaced Into the Lateral Pharyngeal Space: A Case Report and Review of Pertinent Literature

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are often faced with the clinical challenge of foreign body displacement into the perioral tissues and soft tissues of the head and neck. This mainly occurs either because of trauma or inadvertently during dental treatment. In addition to the maxillary sinus, iatrogenic foreign body displacement during dental treatment could happen into one of the 16 distinct fascial spaces of the head and neck region. Commonly displaced foreign bodies related to dental treatment include tooth roots or fragments, local anesthetic needles, implants and restorations. The clinical sequelae of a displaced foreign body depend on its size, shape, anatomic location and proximity to vital structures. Although patients may remain asymptomatic for a considerable amount of time, retained foreign bodies result in persistent pain, recurrent infection and scarring of soft tissue due to inflammation, all of which may complicate delayed retrieval. In addition to the history, imaging modalities such as plain radiographs and computed tomography (CT) help in locating the displaced foreign body and its subsequent retrieval. Surgical retrieval may be attempted through intraoral, transcervical and endoscopic approaches. Additionally, surgery may be aided by real-time imaging such as fluoroscopy. The present report aims to detail a case of inadvertent displacement of an orthodontic mini-screw, commonly used as a temporary anchorage device (TAD), into the lateral pharyngeal space, while attempting placement in the mandibular retromolar area. The case report also describes the surgical retrieval procedure of the TAD screw using an intraoral approach and with fluoroscopy guidance using C-Arm radiographic imaging. This case is reported along with the pertinent review of literature, as it not only explains a rare complication of orthodontic mini-screw placement but also details a modality to remove displaced foreign bodies from fascial spaces of the head and neck, which are otherwise directly inaccessible.

Evaluation of safe areas for miniscrew use according to various skeletal anomalies with CBCT

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to determine safe areas to apply miniscrews in the interradicular region of the maxilla and mandible in individuals with various sagittal skeletal malocclusions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cone beam-computed tomography images of 159 individuals were used. Individuals were divided into three groups: Class I, Class II, and Class III. In the sagittal plane, 3-6-9-mm apical sections were determined from the alveolar crest apex. The buccal cortical bone thickness, interradicular distance, and buccolingual bone distances were measured.

RESULTS

In the buccal cortical bone thickness, we observed statistically significant differences between the classes except for the 1-1 region in the maxilla and all regions and sections in the mandible (p < 0.05). The differences in the buccolingual bone distance between classes were statistically significant, except for the 3-mm and 6-mm sections in the 3-4 and 4-5 regions of the maxilla, the 9-mm sections in the 1-2 and 2-3 regions, the 6-mm and 9-mm sections in the 3-4 region, and the 6-mm section in the 4-5 regions of the mandible (p < 0.05). The differences in the interradicular bone distance were statistically significant between the classes in all regions and sections of the mandible except the 6-mm sections in the 1-2 region and in all sections of the maxilla except the 6-mm sections in the 3-4 region (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

We observed significant differences in the buccal cortical bone thickness, interradicular bone distance, and buccolingual bone distance among individuals.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Understanding the anatomy of interradicular regions and preventing complications.

Predictability of Dental Distalization with Clear Aligners: A Systematic Review

The current review aims to evaluate the scientific evidence relating to the effectiveness of treatment with clear aligners (CAs) in controlling distalization orthodontic tooth movement. "Orthodontics, aligners" and "distalization" were the search terms used on the Scopus, Web of Science and Pubmed databases with the Boolean operator "AND". The results of the last ten years of research were 146 studies; of these, 19 publications were included for this review. The distalization movement is possible with invisible masks alone, but the risk of losing anchorage in the anterior sectors is very probable. The stability of the results and the reduction of unwanted effects can be guaranteed by the use of skeletal anchoring devices and interproximal enamel reduction (IPR), with which compensations are obtained to reduce the initial overjet. Temporary anchorage devices (TADs) can be used to manage posterior anchorage after distalization of maxillary molars with aligners. This hybrid approach has demonstrated the greatest orthodontic success. TADs are useful aids to provide direct and indirect skeletal anchorage. The opposite effect must be considered when planning dental distalization, especially of the molars, in patients with large overjet, and corrective measures or the use of auxiliaries may be necessary to prevent midcourse corrections. This systematic review provides a critical evidence-based assessment of the predictability of dental distalization with CAs, an ever-evolving orthodontic technique.

Evaluation of Palatal Bone Thickness at the Implantation Areas of Two Popular Bone-Anchored Distalizers-A Cone Beam Computed Tomography Retrospective Study

Since class II malocclusion and lack of space within the dental arch due to early loss of deciduous molars is a common orthodontic problem in the Polish population, bone-anchored distalizers are becoming more and more popular. The aim of the present study was to evaluate palatal soft and hard tissue thickness using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) at the area of micro-implant placement of two appliances for maxillary first molar distalization: Beneslider and TopJet distalizer. The study data were 100 consecutively selected CBCT images (53 of men and 47 of women). Measurements of bone and mucosa thickness were performed at six locations in the palate and tested according to their correlation with sex and age. The biggest bone and mucosa thickness were recorded in the insertion site of the TopJet miniscrew. Bone thickness in all points of paramedian insertion was significantly greater in males and the mean difference was approximately 1-1.8 mm. Age correlates significantly (p < 0.05) and positively (r > 0) with the thickness of the mucosa at all points: the older the patient, the thicker the mucosa at each measurement point. Anatomical diversity of the hard palate in the population involves the need to perform bone and mucosa thickness measurements before palatal micro-implant placement.

Mandibular Crowding: Diagnosis and Management-A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Crowding is the most frequent malocclusion in orthodontics, with a strong hereditary tendency. It already occurs in pediatric age and is mainly hereditary. It is a sign of a lack of space in the arches, and is not self-correcting, but can worsen over time. The main cause of the worsening of this malocclusion is a progressive and physiological decrease in the arch perimeter.

METHODS

To identify relevant studies investigating the most common possible treatments for mandibular dental crowding, a comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science was conducted encompassing the last 5 years (2018-2023) using the following MeSH: "mandibular crowding AND treatment" and "mandibular crowding AND therapy ".

RESULTS

A total of 12 studies were finally included. An orthodontic treatment cannot ignore the concept of "guide arch", which concerns the lower arch, because of the objective difficulty in increasing its perimeter; the bone structure of the lower jaw is more compact than that of the upper one. Its expansion, in fact, is limited to a slight vestibularization of the incisors and lateral sectors that may be associated with a limited distalization of the molars.

CONCLUSIONS

There are various therapeutic solutions available to the orthodontist, and a correct diagnosis through clinical examination, radiographs and model analysis are essential. The decision of how to deal with crowding cannot be separated from an overall assessment of the malocclusion to be treated.

White Spots: Prevention in Orthodontics-Systematic Review of the Literature

Early-stage dental demineralization, called white spots (WS), get their name from the characteristic colour that enamel takes on due to the acid attack of salivary cariogenic bacteria. They are often associated with fixed orthodontic therapy (FOT) and, if left untreated, evolve into caries with repercussions on oral health and dental aesthetics. This review aims to identify the most effective prophylaxis strategies to prevent WS during FOT. The search for the reviewed studies was conducted on the Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, selecting English-only articles published in the 5 years from January 2018 to January 2023. The keywords used were "WS" and "fixed orthodontic*", using "AND" as the Boolean operator. A total of 16 studies were included for qualitative analysis. Prevention begins with maintaining proper oral hygiene; fluoride in toothpaste, mouthwashes, gels, varnishes, and sealants can be added to prophylaxis and used regularly. Using a laser in combination with fluoride helps prevent the occurrence of WS and assists in the repair processes of initial lesions. Further studies are needed to establish international guidelines for preventing WS in orthodontically treated patients.

Therapeutic Strategies of Primary Molar Infraocclusion: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Infraocclusion of deciduous molars is a clinical disturbance that occurs during primary and mixed dentition and has some orthodontic implications. Infraoccluded teeth are believed to be potential sites of malocclusion, with a risk of tipping neighbouring teeth and losing space. This systematic review aims to analyse the management of primary molars infraocclusion and to provide updated guidelines.

METHODS

A literature search was performed using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases from 1 January 2017 to 28 November 2022. The inclusion criteria were: studies only on human subjects, open access studies, case reports, randomised trials, retrospective, observational studies, and English language.

RESULTS

A total of 372 publications were identified from the databases and a final number of nine studies were included in the review for qualitative analysis.

CONCLUSION

Management of patients suffering from infraocclusion depends on the severity, age at diagnosis, and presence of succeeded premolars. Early diagnosis of infraoccluded primary elements is fundamental and cannot be postponed. Preservation of the primary molars may be a valid option with long-term stability if there is no or moderate primary molar infraocclusion, root resorption of less than half of the root, and no decay or restoration.