To assess the applicability of Pont's Index in a Malaysian population by obtaining baseline measurements of dental arch shape based on premolar arch width, molar arch width and the combined width of the maxillary incisors. A secondary aim was to determine whether a correlation exists between arch widths, Pont's Index and the facial framework.
Fast and non-invasive systems of the three-dimensional (3D) technology are a recent trend in orthodontics. The reproducibility of facial landmarks is important so that 3D facial measurements are accurate and may-be applied clinically. The aim of this study is to evaluate the reproducibility of facial soft tissue landmarks using a non-invasive stereo-photogrammetry 3D camera.
This study aimed to establish a safety zone for the placement of mini-implants in the buccal surface between the second maxillary premolar (PM2) and first maxillary molar (M1) of Mongoloids.
Presurgical orthopaedics has been employed since the 1950s as an adjunctive neonatal therapy for the correction of cleft lip and palate. It is accepted that presurgical orthopaedic plates facilitate lip repair and balanced orofacial growth.
An investigation of the prevalence and distribution of hypodontia was carried out in Malaysian children between the ages of five to fifteen years. Hypodontia occurred in 2.8 per cent of these children. A greater number of females were found to have hypodontia, the ratio of affected females to males is 1.6:1. The teeth most frequently missing were the maxillary lateral incisors followed by the mandibular lateral incisors, then the mandibular second premolars. The aetiology of the condition is discussed. It is noteworthy that studies showing the lower second premolars to be most commonly missing have younger subjects. This suggests delayed development of these teeth in some individuals.
The presence of supernumerary teeth in the premaxillary region may cause a variety of pathological effects. This study was carried out to determine the various aspects of supernumerary teeth in the premaxillary region, particularly the effects of the supernumerary teeth on the permanent incisors and surrounding tissues. Approximately 20 percent of the patients (n = 49) with supernumerary teeth did not present with any abnormality. A high proportion of patients (37.9 percent) had delayed or failure of eruption of permanent teeth and 24.1 percent had rotation or displacement of permanent teeth. Other effects observed were median diastema and cystic changes around the unerupted supernumerary tooth. The high proportion of pathological effects seen showed that early diagnosis of the anomaly is important to intercept damage to the adjacent normal teeth and surrounding tissues. However, no cases of root resorption of the permanent teeth due to the presence of supernumeraries were observed.
The effects of functional appliance treatment have been reported in numerous studies in the literature with great variability in the findings. It is generally agreed that they can be used successfully to treat Class II malocclusions in growing and cooperative patients. However, there is a lack of consensus regarding the relative orthodontic and orthopedic correction obtained by functional appliances in Class II correction. Lateral cephalometric radiographs from a sample (n = 36) of patients who had undergone a phase of treatment with activator appliances were measured and analysed for changes using a modified version of the method described by Johnston (Hashim and Godfrey 1990). In this method, the treatment changes were broken down into: tooth movement relative to basal bone; and the translatory growth of the jaws, both with respect to the cranial base and to each other. The results show that the treatment effects were mainly dentoalveolar. There was a slight orthopedic effect on the maxilla, but no significant mandibular growth was observed, above that which can be expected from normal growth.
This survey outlines the proportion of the various features of occlusion in the permanent dentition of the three ethnic races, Chinese, Malay and Indian in Malaysia. The mean age of the high school children surveyed was 16.4 years. The Chinese and Malays had almost similar distribution of the different types of occlusion. There was a significantly higher prevalence of Class III occlusion among the Chinese and Malays as compared to the Indians. In addition, an edge to edge incisor relationship seemed to be a norm in the Chinese (54%) and Malays (50%) whilst the overjet of between 2-4 mm and the overbite of between 1/3 to 2/3 was more normal to Indians (50%). A crowded dentition was also a norm for the three races.