Elvan Onem Ozbilen

Objective: This retrospective study evaluated three‐dimensional effects of hybrid hyrax‐mentoplate (HH‐M) orthopaedic treatment in high‐angle Class III individuals using Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) images. Materials and Methods: Pre‐treatment (T0) and post‐treatment (T1) CBCTs of 17 fully compliant high‐angle Class III patients (7 males, 10 females, age: 11.7 ± 1.32 years, treatment duration: 12.62 ± 1.7 months) treated with HH‐M were analysed. T0 and T1 CBCTs were superimposed from the cranial base using artificial intelligence‐based AMASSS module of the 3D Slicer version 5.8.1 software ( www.slicer.org ). Linear and angular changes were analysed in the sagittal, vertical and transverse planes, alongside three‐dimensional landmark displacements and volumetric airway measurements. Significance level was set at p < 0.05. Results: Significant increases occurred in SNA, ANB and Occlusal Plane (OP) to Mandibular Plane (MP) angle ( p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.001, respectively), while Sella‐Nasion to OP and Palatal Plane (PP) to OP decreased ( p = 0.008, p = 0.008, respectively). Vertical linear measurements remained stable ( p > 0.05). All transverse linear measurements increased ( p < 0.05). Upper Molar (UM) to PP, Upper Incisor to PP, Lower Incisor to MP and overjet have significantly increased ( p < 0.001, p = 0.018, p = 0.048, p < 0.001, respectively). Overbite remained unchanged ( p > 0.05). Nasopharynx ( p = 0.008) and Middle Pharynx ( p = 0.003) volumes significantly increased. Conclusion: Despite the significant alterations observed in OP and UM‐PP, this technique effectively managed to maintain overall vertical skeletal dimensions without inducing a significant change in other facial height parameters and enhanced the airway volume. Significant expansion occurred across maxillary, nasal and zygomatic levels. HH‐M represents an effective orthopaedic treatment approach for high‐angle Class III patients.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of various staining and cleaning agents on the colour stability and surface roughness of Invisalign aligners (Align Technology). Materials and Methods: 240 aligners were assigned to five staining groups (coffee, black tea, cola, red wine and distilled water). They were immersed daily for 15 min over 3 times per day. Each group was divided into six cleaning subgroups (Corexyl, Cleaning Crystals, Corega ProGuard, Corega, Toothpaste and distilled water). After 7 days, colour change and surface roughness were assessed from multiple regions using a spectrophotometer and profilometer. Regional measurements from the same aligner were averaged to obtain one representative value per aligner. Robust Two‐Way ANOVA tested the effects of staining and cleaning agents. Results: Staining agents significantly affected colour change ( p < 0.001). Coffee caused the greatest discoloration, followed by tea and wine, while cola showed the lowest staining potential. All staining agents induced perceptible colour changes (∆ E ₀₀ > 1.8). Cleaning agents also significantly influenced colour change ( p = 0.001). Corexyl and Crystals achieved significantly lower ∆ E ₀₀ values than toothpaste and distilled water. For surface roughness, only staining agents showed a significant effect ( p = 0.001); cleaning agents and staining × cleaning interaction were not significant. Tea and wine produced significant Ra increases compared with distilled water. Conclusions: Aligner discoloration differed according to beverage type, with coffee, tea and wine producing greater changes than cola. Corexyl and Cleaning Crystals showed comparatively favourable colour stability, whereas surface roughness changes were mainly related to staining agents. These findings highlight the multifactorial nature of aligner aesthetic changes.

Background/Objectives: Anterior open bite is a multifact orial malocclusion influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Variants in the Collagen type I, alpha 1 (COL1A1) gene, particularly rs1800012, have been implicated in bone quality, but their role in craniofacial anomalies remains unclear. Methods: A case–control study was conducted with 60 participants (30 anterior open bite cases; 30 matched controls). DNA was extracted from buccal swabs, and rs1800012 genotyping was performed using TaqMan assays. Genotype and allele distributions were compared with chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests; Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium was assessed in controls. Results: Genotype (GG/GT/TT: 53.3/40.0/6.7% vs. 60.0/33.3/6.7%) and allele (T allele: 26.7% vs. 23.3%) frequencies did not differ significantly between cases and controls. No association was detected under additive, dominant, or recessive models (all p > 0.05). Wide confidence intervals indicated limited precision of effect estimates. Conclusions: This study provides no evidence of association between COL1A1 rs1800012 and anterior open bite in this Turkish cohort. The relatively small sample size, the rarity of the TT genotype, and the multifactorial nature of craniofacial development represent important limitations. Larger, multi-gene, and functionally integrated studies are required to clarify the genetic architecture of open bite malocclusion.

In this study, the association of MMP-1 rs1799750 gene polymorphism, which plays an important role in collagen degradation, with open bite malocclusion was investigated. The study included 30 individuals diagnosed with open bite and 30 healthy control subjects aged 15–35 years. DNA isolation was performed from cells taken from cheek mucosa and MMP-1 rs1799750 polymorphism was analyzed by Real-Time PCR method. In the open bite malocclusion group, MMP-1 rs1799750 polymorphism 1G/1G genotype was detected in 43.3%, 1G/2G in 23.3% and 2G/2G in 33.3%. In the control group, 1G/1G was 36.7%, 1G/2G 43.3% and 2G/2G 20.0%. In individuals with overbite of −5 mm and above, 2G/2G genotype was observed in 50% of the individuals. The results showed that there was no statistically significant difference in genotype and allele distribution (p = 0.2269; p = 0.7125). However, the frequency of the 2G/2G genotype increased as the severity of open bite increased (p = 0.009). While no significant associations were detected, the findings point toward a potential role of MMP-1 rs1799750 polymorphism in open bite development through mechanisms involving collagen degradation, warranting further investigation. The results of this study may make an important contribution to understanding the genetic basis of malocclusion and may help in the development of personalized orthodontic treatment approaches.

Comparing nasal cavity and pharyngeal airway volumes and minimum cross-sectional areas in nongrowing patients who underwent miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE) or surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion (SARME) with and without pterygomaxillary disjunction (PD). Pretreatment and post-expansion cone beam computed tomography scans of 30 patients (mean age: 18.6 years), diagnosed with maxillary transverse deficiency, were grouped into three (n = 10 each) according to expansion protocol: 1) MARPE; 2) SARME without PD [SARME-PD(-)]; 3) SARME with PD [SARME-PD(+)]. In NemoStudio software, eleven linear measurements were used to evaluate nasal and maxillary skeletal parameters. Eight airway measurements were used to evaluate the volume and minimum cross-section of the nasal cavity, nasopharynx, retropalatal region, and retroglossal region. Intragroup and intergroup changes were evaluated for statistical significance at P < 0.05. Nasal lateral, nasal floor, external maxillary, palatal, and maxillary intermolar widths significantly increased in all groups. In MARPE, nasal cavity and nasopharynx volumes and minimum cross-sectional area increased significantly. Nasopharyngeal volume increased significantly in SARME-PD(-), whereas nasal cavity volume and minimum cross-sectional area decreased significantly in SARME-PD(+). MARPE group showed greater expansion in nasal lateral width than SARME-PD(-) and SARME-PD(+) groups. Mean changes in nasal cavity volume, minimum cross-sectional area, and nasopharyngeal volume were significantly greater in MARPE than in SARME-PD(+). MARPE group showed greater increases in linear and volumetric measurements. However, differences were statistically insignificant compared to SARME-PD(-). Retropalatal and retroglossal parameters were unaffected in all groups. PD did not provide substantial advantage.

Assessment of Maxillary Molar Tooth Changes Caused by Class III Elastics in Hybrid Hyrax-Mentoplate Treatments: A Pilot Study - Turkish Journal of Orthodontics

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine whether ACTN3 rs1815739 polymorphism, which causes the deficiency of the alpha‐actinin‐3 muscle protein, is related to the formation of open bite malocclusion.Materials and Methods: Fifty‐eight participants (18.5 ± 3.6 years old) with anterior open bite (n = 29) and normal overbite (n = 29) who presented to Marmara University, Department of Orthodontics for treatment were included in the study. Initial cephalometric radiographs were used for the diagnosis of malocclusion. The case group was divided into three subgroups according to degree of open bite. For DNA isolation, oral epithelial cells were collected with buccal swabs (Van Allen Way, Carlsbad, USA), and the real‐time PCR method was used for the genotyping of all polymorphisms. The results were statistically analysed, and the threshold for statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.Results: The frequencies of RR, RX and XX genotypes of ACTN3 rs1815739 polymorphism were found as 6 (20.7%), 14 (48.3%) and 9 (31.0%) in the control group and 8 (8%), 9 (31.0%) and 12 (41.4%) in the case group, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of the presence of the examined polymorphism (p > 0.05). However, the intra‐group evaluation of case group revealed a significant difference in the prevalence of XX genotype (83.3%) for the subgroup with an open bite of −5 mm or above.Conclusion: Although no significant difference was observed between the case and control groups, a possible association was identified between ACTN3 rs1815739 polymorphism and an increased severity of open bite malocclusion.

Purpose: The aim of this retrospective study was to observe the harmony between hard and soft tissue alterations on lateral cephalograms of patients with Class III malocclusion following orthodontic treatment. Methods: Fifteen patients (7 male, 8 female; mean age: 21.4±0.49 years) who underwent received Class III non-extraction camouflage treatment with intermaxillary elastics were included in the study. Pretreatment and posttreatment lateral cephalograms were evaluated for hard and soft tissue changes using NemoStudio NX-Pro software. Student’s t-test, Pearson correlation analyses, and linear regression analyses were performed. Statistical significance was set at p

Objective: To assess soft tissue differences between monozygotic twins (MZ) for the total face and between facial regions using three-dimensional (3D) stereophotogrammetry and quantitative surface-based 3D deviation analyses. Materials and Methods: The study sample consisted of 14 untreated MZ twins (6 males, 8 females, mean age: 14.75 years) from the archive of Marmara University, Department of Orthodontics. The images were taken by the 3dMDface system, and 3dMDvultus software was used for removal of undesired areas and approximation of the images. Then, stereolithography (.stl) format images were superimposed using the best-fit algorithm using 3-matic software. The face was divided into facial thirds, and upper lip and lower lip + chin regions were created. For the comparison, 3D deviation analyses were performed, and a color map and histogram were created. The data were presented as mean deviation, root mean square (RMS), median, and interquartile range. Results: Between the facial thirds, there was no significant difference in soft tissue differences for mean deviation. A statistically significant difference was found between the upper and lower face for the RMS value. For the comparison of upper lip and lower lip + chin region, the only significant difference was for the RMS. When the data were presented as median and interquartile range, there were no statistically significant differences between any facial regions. Conclusions: Lower facial third and lower lip + chin regions had the greatest differences within MZ twin pairs. The genetic and environmental influences might not be the same for different parts of the face.