Impact of radiation history, gender and age on bone quality in sites for orthodontic skeletal anchorage device placement

What is the impact of patient attributes, implant characteristics, surgical techniques, and placement location on the success of orthodontic mini-implants in young adults? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

Temporary anchorage devices (TADs) address challenges in traditional orthodontic anchorage like patient compliance and precision, showing significantly improved clinical outcomes, particularly for cases requiring maximum anchorage.

Materials and Methods

A systematic electronic search was performed in five research databases, focusing on studies published between 2015 and 2023. The ROBINS-I tool from the Cochrane Bias Methods Group assessed the risk of bias. Data analysis included categorical and numerical variables, with categorical variables analyzed using Cohen's method in a random effects model to account for variability. Sensitivity and heterogeneity were evaluated using a 'leave-one-out' approach and theI 2 statistic, respectively. At the same time, publication bias was checked using Egger's test, with findings presented through Forest and Funnel plots. Numerical variables were subjected to weighted regression analysis.

Results

Examination of 15 studies involving 1981 patients and 3272 orthodontic mini-implants identified key factors affecting implant stability. Failure rates varied significantly, influenced by factors such as the characteristics and insertion site of the orthodontic mini-implants (OMIs), patient-specific variables, and operator experience. Notably, the insertion site and implant characteristics like size did not significantly affect failure rates, but there was a negative correlation between the magnitude of force applied and failure rates.

Conclusion

The success of orthodontic mini-implants is broadly consistent across patient demographics and is not significantly impacted by gender or age, though failure rates were higher in males and when implants were placed in the maxilla. These findings suggest that higher applied forces might reduce failure rates.

Clinical Significance

This review underlines mini-implant efficacy across varied patient demographics, emphasizing the importance of site selection, jaw location, and force application in enhancing success rates and guiding tailored treatment strategies.PROSPERO ID CRD42023411955.

Impact of radiotherapy on mandibular bone: A retrospective study of digital panoramic radiographs

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of radiotherapy on mandibular bone tissue in head and neck cancer patients through an analysis of pixel intensity and fractal dimension values on digital panoramic radiographs.

Materials and Methods

Thirty patients with radiographic records from before and after 3-dimensional (3D) conformational radiotherapy were selected. A single examiner carried out digital analyses of pixel intensity values and fractal dimensions, with the areas of interest unilaterally located in the right angle medullary region of the mandible below the mandibular canal and posterior to the molar region.

Results

Statistically significant decreases were observed in the mean pixel intensity (P=0.0368) and fractal dimension (P=0.0495) values after radiotherapy.

Conclusion

The results suggest that 3D conformational radiotherapy for head and neck cancer negatively affected the trabecular microarchitecture and mandibular bone mass.