Frustration and fear of failure are crippling burdensthat can discourage one from taking the firststep on a yet unchartered course. This might explainwhy it must have been a daunting task to launch thisjournal in 1996 at a time fraught with risks and redherrings. The Furquins and their enthusiastic teamembarked on the dream of building a legacy meantto fill Brazilian orthodontists with pride. Despite thedrawbacks, the first step was taken. It was high time forsome of the world's most widely...

The increase of life expectancy and purchasingpower, along with the changes on estheticconcepts, resulted on the increase of the numberof adults seeking orthodontic treatment,combining functional benefits to smile esthetics.Because of this change, now, it is part of theorthodontist clinical routine to treat patients,dealing with individuals with periodontal diseaseor sequelae of this disease.

Information about orthodontic movement of teeth with hypercementosis is scarce. As cementumdeposition continues to occur, cementum is expected to change the shape of theroot and apex over time, but this has not yet been demonstrated. Nor has it ever beenestablished whether it increases or decreases the prevalence of root resorption during orthodontictreatment. The unique biological function of the interconnected network of cementocytesmay play a role in orthodontic movement and its...

Normally, we lose ourselves among the manythings we have to do. In dentistry, I know few professionalswho can skillfully combine scientific research,teaching and clinical activity. Professor Jorge Faber isone of them. In fact, he goes far beyond, gives muchof his time to deal with the arduous and delightfultask of serving as editor of a journal. In this interview,Faber goes through all these activities he performseasily in face of all his intelligence, perfectionism,creativity and...

Objective: This prospective clinical study was conducted with the purpose of evaluating theinfluence of the banded Herbst appliance on dental changes during the early treatment ofClass II malocclusion. Method: The sample consisted of 15 prepubertal subjects (12 boysand 3 girls, initial age: 9 years and 6 months) who were treated with the Herbst appliance.Treatment effects were compared with those of a Class II Division 1 group of 15 subjects(8 boys and 7 girls, mean initial age 9 years and 1...

Orthodontic movement is process of transformation of a physical stimulation into a forceapplied to a tooth, with a biological response identified as bone remodelling. Althoughit is possible to measure the force applied on a tooth, its distribution around the rootis irregular forming areas of higher concentration of tensions, which do not correspondto the force initially applied. To evaluate the behavior of the periodontal ligament afterthe application of an external action and to prove which...

Objective: The influence of asthma, its severity levels and onset time on malocclusionoccurrence were investigated. Methods: The sample was composed by 176 children/adolescents,of both genders, aged 3 to 15 years, that were divided in two groups. The asthmagroup (AG) enrolled 88 children/adolescents that were seen at the Breathe Londrina Program.The asthma-free group (AFG) enrolled 88 preschool and school children recruitedin 2 public schools. Malocclusion diagnosis was made according to WHO...

Objective: To investigate the ability of undergraduate students in diagnosing Angle Class IImalocclusion and evaluate the clinical approach of these students toward a patient displayingthis condition. Methods: The sample consisted of 138 students attending the last semesterof 10 dental schools in the State of Rio de Janeiro/Brazil assessed by questionnaireswith closed questions. They were presented with photographs and dental casts of a patientin the mixed dentition, with Angle Class II...

Objective: The present study aimed to determine from a sample of Amazonian youngsters,with normal occlusion, the mean values for soft profile characteristics using cephalometricradiographs obtained in lateral norm. Methods: The cephalometric radiographsof the 30 youngsters, being 15 males and 15 females, with mean age of 21.6 years old,were assessed. For statistical analysis, central tendencies and dispersion measurements(mean and standard deviation) were used and, for both the comparison of...

Objective: To evaluate changes in intercanine (LICW and UICW) and intermolar (LIMW andUIMW) widths on the dental arches of subjects with normal occlusion and Angle Class I malocclusionduring the transition to permanent dentition, and evaluate whether or not facial patterninfluences on the normal development of the dentition and occlusion. Methods: NineteenCaucasian Brazilian children were selected, with ages ranging from 6 to 8.6 years at T1 andfrom 10.10 to 14.2 years at T2. Their second...

Introduction: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) have proved to be a risk factor fordeveloping hyperdivergent facial growth patterns. Objective: The aims of this studywere: (1) Assess differences between the cephalometric measurements in children witharticular TMD and a control group, before and after mandibular growth peak accordingto cervical vertebral maturation; and (2) Identify a predictive model capable of differentiatingpatients with TMD and control group patients based on early...

Aim: The purpose of the present study was to analyze the relationship between rootformation of the first premolars and skeletal maturation stages identified in hand-wristradiographs. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out involving the panoramicand hand-wrist radiographs obtained on the same date of 232 patients, 123 boys and 109girls aged 4 years and 5 months to 17 years and 12 months. Root formation stages of thefirst premolars were related to the ossification stages of the...

Introduction: Rapid maxillary expansion (RME) for the treatment of maxillary deficiencyand posterior crossbite may induce changes in the vertical dimension. Expanders withocclusal splints have been developed to minimize unwanted vertical effects. Objective:This preliminary study used cephalometric radiographs to evaluate the vertical effects ofRME using a Hyrax appliance in children with maxillary deficiency. Method: Twentysixpatients (11 boys; mean age = 8 years and 5 months) with maxillary...

Objective: Assess the association between nonnutritive sucking habits and anterior openbite in the deciduous dentition of Japanese-Brazilian children. Methods: 410 children ofJapanese origin were assessed, 206 boys and 204 girls, between 2 and 6 years of age, inschools in São Paulo State, Brazil. Questionnaires concerning their nonnutritive suckinghabits were sent to their legal guardians. Chi-square tests (p<0.05) were applied to assessthe association between nonnutritive sucking habits...

Introduction: The accurate evaluation of error of measurement (EM) is extremely importantas in growth studies as in clinical research, since there are usually quantitatively small changes.In any study it is important to evaluate the EM to validate the results and, consequently, theconclusions. Because of its extreme simplicity, the Dahlberg formula is largely used worldwide,mainly in cephalometric studies. Objectives: (I) To elucidate the formula proposed by Dahlbergin 1940, evaluating it by...

Objective: To verify the presence and degree of asymmetry of dental arches in Brazilian individualswith natural normal occlusion and Class II, Divisions 1 and 2 malocclusions. Methods:The study evaluated the symmetry of the maxillary and mandibular dental arches of 180pairs of dental casts, divided into: Group I = 60 pairs of natural normal occlusion individuals;Group II = 60 pairs of Class II, Division 1 malocclusion individuals; and Group III = 60 pairsof Class II, Division 2 malocclusion...

Objective: Define and compare numbers and types of occlusal contacts in maximum intercuspation.Methods: The study consisted of clinical and photographic analysis of occlusal contactsin maximum intercuspation. Twenty-six Caucasian Brazilian subjects were selected before orthodontictreatment, 20 males and 6 females, with ages ranging between 12 and 18 years. Thesubjects were diagnosed and grouped as follows: 13 with Angle Class I malocclusion and 13with Angle Class II Division 1 malocclusion....

This article reports the orthodontic treatment of a 14 years and 2 months old female patient,presenting both anterior and posterior unilateral left crossbite, related to a transverseatrophy of the maxilla and a severe negative tooth-arch discrepancy in the upper arch.A maxillary expansion with a modified Haas appliance was the first therapeutic attempt.Then, fixed appliances were used in both arches, and the second left premolar was extracted.The space for the upper left lateral incisor was...

Awaiting growth to end prior to starting orthosurgical treatment is sometimes extremelydifficult for patients suffering from severe facial deformities. In cases of substantial skeletaldisharmonies surgery may be indicated during active growth phase when the patientis psychosocially, aesthetically and/or functionally compromised. To indicate this therapy,orthodontic criteria, such as mild intramaxillary discrepancy and the possibility of preoperativepreparation without major dental...