Rıdvan Okşayan

In recent years, mini screws used in the mouth have been widely used in orthodontics clinics to provide dental movements and to increase skeletal anchorage. In this study, bacteria were isolated from mini screws taken from patients who were treated in the Orthodontic Department of Eskişehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Dentistry Clinic and routinely applied mini screws to the anterior and posterior regions of the upper palate for jaw widening or support of dental movements. Streptococcus salivarus (15 isolates), Streptococcus anginosus (12 isolates) and Enterococcus feacalis (10 isolates) were the most isolated bacteria in the microbial composition. Rothia mucilaginosa (8 isolates) and Corynebacteria argentoratense (6 isolates) were isolated from the Actinobacteria phylum. Neisseria oralis, N. flava, N. subflava and N. flavescens species were determined from Proteobacteria phylum.

Objectives: Rapid maxillary expansion (RME) is widely used in orthodontics to correct transverse maxillary deficiencies. Beyond its skeletal and dental effects, RME may influence upper airway dimensions and respiratory function, particularly in growing individuals. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of RME on pulmonary function in adolescents using spirometric measurements. Materials and Methods: Fifteen adolescent patients (8 females, 7 males; mean age: 13.93 ± 2.89 years) diagnosed with maxillary transverse constriction underwent orthodontic treatment with acrylic-bonded RME appliances over a mean duration of 3.56 ± 0.67 months. Respiratory function was assessed via spirometry at baseline (T0) and one day after appliance removal (T1). Parameters recorded included peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV₁/FVC ratio, and vital capacity (VC). Data were analyzed using the paired-samples t-test (for normally distributed variables) or the Wilcoxon signed-rank test (for non-normal distributions), with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Following RME treatment, all respiratory parameters showed a consistent upward trend but did not reach statistical significance. SpO₂ increased from 96.98 ± 0.96% to 97.01 ± 0.98% (p = 0.925). VC rose from 2.86 ± 1.07 L to 3.03 ± 0.80 L (p = 0.626). The FEV₁/FVC ratio improved from 90.88 ± 12.17% to 92.34 ± 7.37% (p = 0.742). Mean FEV₁ increased from 2.61 ± 0.72 L to 2.72 ± 0.68 L (p = 0.518), while FVC rose from 2.87 ± 0.75 L to 2.96 ± 0.69 L (p = 0.547). No adverse effects were reported during the treatment period. Conclusions: This study identified a non-significant but consistent trend toward improved pulmonary function following RME in adolescents. These preliminary findings should be considered hypothesis-generating rather than confirmatory evidence, as none of the outcomes reached statistical significance. While the observed upward trends in oxygen saturation, lung volumes, and expiratory performance suggest potential respiratory benefits, larger-scale, controlled, and long-term studies incorporating both spirometric and anatomical airway assessments are needed to validate these observations.

Rapid maxillary expansion (RME) is a common treatment for maxillofacial skeletal abnormalities. Numerous studies have explored the impact of RME on skeletal, dental and nasal structures. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of RME on the three-dimensional (3D) Eustachian tube (ET) and auditory tube morphologies of adolescents using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). A total of 97 patients (59 females and 38 males; age: 13.27 ±2.10 years) with maxillary transversal deficiencies who had undergone orthodontic RME were enrolled in the study. The treatment concluded when a cusp-to-cusp relationship was achieved between the palatal cusp of the maxillary first molar and the buccal cusp of the mandibular first molar. Cone-beam computed tomography was performed before maxillary expansion (T0) and after expansion (T1). The measurement of 2 linear and 4 angular, 3D, right and left ET parameters, as well as the ET and auditory tube angles, was conducted. The paired t-test was used to compare the data. There was no significant difference between T0 and T1 in any angular or linear ET parameters or the left auditory tube angle (p > 0.05). The T0 right auditory tube angle was significantly greater than the T1 angle (p < 0.05). Rapid maxillary expansion did not modify the 3D ET parameters; only the right auditory tube angulation improved after expansion. Compared to conventional radiography, CBCT provides better morphological, angular and linear data regarding the ET and auditory structures. No significant differences were observed in linear or angular ET parameters based on the status of maxillary expansion treatment. The right auditory tube angle differed significantly between T0 and T1.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of mandibular advancement appliance and low level laser therapy (LLLT) with different doses on cellular hypertrophic changes in the mandibular condyle of rats. Forty-eight 8-week-old male Wistar albino rats weighing between 260 and 280 g were randomly divided into four experimental and control groups. Group I was the control group; group II was the mandibular advancement appliance group; group III was the 8 J/cm2 (0.25 W, 20 s) laser irradiation with mandibular advancement appliance group; and group IV was the 10 J/cm2 (0.25 W, 25 s) laser irradiation with mandibular advancement appliance group. Mandibular condyle cartilage and subchondral bone changes with different LLLT dose and mandibular advancement appliance were evaluated by histomorphometrical analysis. Subchondral bone fraction results showed that there were no significant differences between groups (p<0.05). The statistically significant differences found between control group and experimental groups in anterior and posterior cartilage layers thickness (p<0.05) and (p<0.01). Posterior and anterior condylar cartilage layers of rats react differentially to LLLT and mandibular advancement application. Maximum changes in condylar cartilage layers were found in 8 J/cm2 laser irradiation with mandibular appliance group.

The purpose of this study was to assess the three-dimensional morphometric features of the sella turcica using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in subjects with unilateral and bilateral maxillary impacted canines and normal controls.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the localization, angulation, and resorption features of maxillary impacted canines on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Objective: This study aimed to compare sinus volume and dimensions in patients with high-, low-, and normal-angle vertical growth patterns using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and methods: According to skeletal vertical face growth patterns, 60 adults (31 female, 29 male, average age: 29.90 ± 10.91 years) were divided into three groups equally: high-angle, low-angle, and normal-angle groups. Cephalometric tracings were obtained from CBCT images and SN-GoGn (angle between Sella–Nasion line and Gonion–Gnathion line) cephalometric angular measurements used for the classification of skeletal vertical pattern evaluations. Morphological and dimensional changes in the maxillary sinuses were evaluated on CBCT images. Data were analyzed using the one-way ANOVA, Kruskall–Wallis, and Mann–Whitney U statistical tests. Results: There were no statistically significant differences among the groups in terms of age (p > .05). The low-angle vertical growth pattern group showed significantly better results than the high-angle group in the right maxillary sinus length parameter (p < .05). Conclusion: According to the results, the high-angle subjects showed statistically lower values in terms of maxillary sinus length and width than the low-angle subjects. There were no effects of vertical face development on right and left maxillary sinus volumes. The results of this study may be useful in maxillary sinus evaluation when planning for orthognathic surgery and orthodontic mini screw application in various vertical face patterns.