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Background: Elastodontics is a specific interceptive orthodontic treatment that uses removable elastomeric appliances. They are functional appliances that produce neuromuscular, orthopedic and dental effects. Thus, these devices are useful in the developmental age, when skeletal structures are characterized by important plasticity and adaptation capacity, allowing to remove factors responsible for malocclusions. Elastomeric devices are generally well tolerated by patients requiring simple collaboration and management. This work can be useful to update all orthodontists already adopting these appliances or for those who want to approach them for the first time. This study aimed to describe four cases treated with new elastomeric devices called AMCOP Bio-Activators and to provide an overview of elastodontics, its evolution, indications and limits. Methods: A total of four clinical cases were presented after a treatment period of 16–20 months to evaluate the clinical and radiological effects of the elastodontic therapy. Results: The effectiveness of Bio-Activators on clinical cases was evidenced with a significant improvement in skeletal and dentoalveolar relationship, and malocclusion correction in a limited treatment period (16–20 months). Conclusions: The Bio-Activators showed clinical effectiveness to achieve therapeutic targets according to a low impact on the patient’s compliance.

Pharyngeal airway morphology is closely linked to craniofacial development, and children with Class II malocclusion—often characterized by mandibular retrusion—may present reduced airway dimensions and a higher risk of obstructive sleep apnea. This retrospective single-center study evaluated whether functional orthodontic appliances can improve pharyngeal airway space by promoting mandibular advancement during growth. Fifty patients aged 6–12 years with skeletal Class II malocclusion (ANB > 4°) were treated with a Twin Block appliance (n = 18), Rapid Palatal Expander (RPE; n = 16), or AMCOP® elastodontic device (n = 16). Pre- and post-treatment lateral cephalograms were analyzed to assess skeletal (SNA, SNB, ANB, Co–Gn), dentoalveolar (overjet, overbite, IMPA), and pharyngeal airway variables (SPAS, MAS, PAS). Intra-group changes were tested with paired t-tests and inter-group differences with one-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc tests (α = 0.05). All appliances produced statistically significant increases in pharyngeal airway dimensions. The Twin Block group showed the greatest improvements, with mean increases of 2.1 mm in SPAS (p < 0.001), 1.8 mm in MAS (p < 0.001), and 1.5 mm in PAS (p < 0.001), together with a significant mandibular advancement (ΔSNB = +1.7°; ΔANB = −1.5°) and elongation of mandibular length (ΔCo–Gn = +3.3 mm). RPE and AMCOP® induced more moderate, yet significant, skeletal and airway changes (RPE: SPAS +1.4 mm, p = 0.006; MAS +0.9 mm, p = 0.009; PAS +0.8 mm, p = 0.022; AMCOP®: SPAS +0.9 mm, p = 0.034; MAS +0.9 mm, p = 0.041; PAS +0.6 mm, p = 0.037). Within the limitations of this small, retrospective single-center sample, the findings indicate that functional orthodontic treatment during growth may be associated with increases in pharyngeal airway dimensions in Class II patients. Among the appliances evaluated, the Twin Block showed the most pronounced skeletal and morphological airway changes.

The oral microbiota plays a vital role in the human microbiome and oral health. Imbalances between microbes and their hosts can lead to oral and systemic disorders such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this review is to investigate the literature evidence of oral microbiota dysbiosis on oral health and discuss current knowledge and emerging mechanisms governing oral polymicrobial synergy and dysbiosis; both have enhanced our understanding of pathogenic mechanisms and aided the design of innovative therapeutic approaches as ORALBIOTICA for oral diseases such as demineralization. PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus, Cochrane Library, EMBEDDED, Dentistry & Oral Sciences Source via EBSCO, APA PsycINFO, APA PsyArticles, and DRUGS@FDA were searched for publications that matched our topic from January 2017 to 22 April 2022, with an English language constraint using the following Boolean keywords: (“microbio*” and “demineralization*”) AND (“oral microbiota” and “demineralization”). Twenty-two studies were included for qualitative analysis. As seen by the studies included in this review, the balance of the microbiota is unstable and influenced by oral hygiene, the presence of orthodontic devices in the oral cavity and poor eating habits that can modify its composition and behavior in both positive and negative ways, increasing the development of demineralization, caries processes, and periodontal disease. Under conditions of dysbiosis, favored by an acidic environment, the reproduction of specific bacterial strains increases, favoring cariogenic ones such as Bifidobacterium dentium, Bifidobacterium longum, and S. mutans, than S. salivarius and A. viscosus, and increasing of Firmicutes strains to the disadvantage of Bacteroidetes. Microbial balance can be restored by using probiotics and prebiotics to manage and treat oral diseases, as evidenced by mouthwashes or dietary modifications that can influence microbiota balance and prevent or slow disease progression.

The article describes the orthodontically treated case of a 25-year-old patient with skeletal and dental class III malocclusion, anterior crossbite, which caused functional and aesthetic problems, occlusal trauma, and incisor wear. Treatment with transparent aligners was proposed to meet the patient’s needs, using the sequential distalization protocol. While sequential distalization is well documented for class II malocclusion treatment in maxillary arch teeth, further investigations are necessary for class III malocclusions. In fact, lower teeth movements are more complex due to mandibular bone density and the presence of the third molars, which are often extracted to perform distalization. In addition, the use of intermaxillary elastics helps control the proclination of the anterior teeth as a reaction to distalizing forces. At the end of the treatment, the patient reached molar and canine class I and positive overjet and overbite. The inclination of lower incisors and the interincisal angle have improved, resulting in aesthetic and functional enhancement.

The inclusion of both maxillary permanent central incisors is uncommon. This condition compromises face aesthetics, phonation and masticatory function. Therefore, early diagnosis is essential to avoid complications and failures. There are various reasons for inclusion, but supernumerary teeth are the leading cause. Early causes of removal and rapid expansion of the palate determine a high probability of success with the spontaneous eruption of the impacted elements. However, it is often necessary to proceed with a surgical–orthodontic treatment. The inclination of teeth in relation to the midline and the root maturation degree determine prognosis and therapeutic timing. In this case report, the orthopantomogram (OPG) X-ray of a 9-year-old boy revealed two impacted supernumerary teeth in the anterior maxillary region, preventing the eruption of the permanent upper central incisors. The impacted supernumerary teeth were surgically removed at different times. A straight wire multibrackets technique associated with a fixed palatal appliance was used. The palatal appliance featured an osteomucous resin support at the level of the retroincisal papilla. Subsequently, surgical exposure was carried out using the closed eruption technique and elastic traction, bringing 11 and 21 back into the arch.

Background: The management of a hyperdivergent growth pattern is one of the most challenging in orthodontics and different treatments are advocated. The present study analyses the effectiveness of elastodontic therapy with AMCOP® devices in treating children with hyperdivergent class II malocclusion and the effect on the upper airway patency. Methods: The study group included 21 patients (10 males and 11 females, mean age 8.22 ± 1.17 years) with a hyperdivergent growth and a class II malocclusion treated with AMCOP® devices. Cephalometric analysis was performed before treatment (T0) and after treatment (T1). Results: After treatment, the cephalometric analysis revealed a correction of the class II malocclusion and a modification of the growth pattern with a divergence reduction. The improvement of the upper airway space was also observed. Conclusion: The elastodontic therapy effectively corrected hyperdivergent class II malocclusion in growing patients over a short period.

Background and Objectives: The objective of this retrospective controlled study is to compare class II growing patients who underwent treatment with two different functional appliances: the Fraenkel regulator (FR-2), utilized as the control group, and the elastodontic device “Cranium Occluded Postural Multifunctional Harmonizers” (AMCOP), utilized as the test group. Materials and Methods: The study sample consisted of 52 patients with class II division I malocclusion (30 males, 22 females, mean age 8.6 ± 1.4 years) who were treated with the two different types of appliances: Group 1 (n = 27, mean age 8 [7.00, 9.00] years, 12 females, 15 males) received treatment with AMCOP, while Group 2 (n = 25, mean age 9.2 years [8.20, 10.00], 10 females, 15 males) received treatment with FR-2. The mean treatment duration for Group 1 was 28.00 [21.50, 38.00] months, while for Group 2 it was 23.70 [17.80, 27.40] months. Cephalometric analyses were performed on lateral cephalograms taken before treatment (T1) and after treatment (T2). Results: Significant intragroup differences were observed over time in Group 1 for 1^/PP. Similarly, significant intragroup differences were observed over time in Group 2 for SNB, ANB, and IMPA. Conclusions: Both treatment modalities resulted in the correction of class II malocclusion with dentoalveolar compensation, although the treatment duration with AMCOP tended to be longer on average.

Aim: In the literature, many studies and articles are investigating new devices and approaches to achieve rapid palate expansion through the opening of the palatal suture, and evaluating the skeletal, dental, and soft tissue effects. The purpose of this review was to assess how palatal expansion is performed in adolescent patients with permanent dentition. Furthermore, it was reported as an example of successful orthodontic treatment of an 11-year-old female patient affected by maxillary skeletal transverse deficiency, in permanent dentition. Methods: A search of the literature was conducted on PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science databases. Inclusion criteria were the year of publication between 2017 and 2022, patients aged 10 to 16 years in permanent dentition, with transversal discrepancy, treated with tooth-borne, bone-borne, hybrid palatal expanders. Results: A total of 619 articles were identified by the electronic search, and finally, a total of 16 papers were included in the qualitative analysis. Conclusions: From this study, it was assessed that MARPE is more predictable, and it determines a more significant expansion of the suture than the Hyrax expander, with fewer side effects.

Background/Objectives: This retrospective study evaluated and compared the cephalometric effects of an elastodontic bioactivator and conventional high-pull headgear in growing patients with hyperdivergent Class II malocclusion. Methods: Patients aged 7–11 years were divided into two groups according to the appliance used for the orthodontic treatment performed: elastodontic device (ED) and high-pull headgear (HPHD). Cephalometric measurements were recorded at baseline (T0) and after 18 months of treatment (T1). The data were subjected to statistical analysis, descriptive statistics were calculated, and an ANOVA test and post hoc Tukey test were performed (repeated measures correction was applied for intragroup comparisons). Linear regressions were conducted. Significance was predetermined as p < 0.05 for all the tests performed. Results: 40 patients were included, 20 belonging to the ED group and 20 to the HPHD group. Both groups showed a significant increase in SNB (p < 0.05), suggesting favorable mandibular positional changes. SNA and ANB did not show significant intra- or intergroup variations (p > 0.05). Regarding vertical skeletal parameters, no significant intra- or intergroup changes were observed at T0 and T1, indicating that both devices preserved vertical stability without worsening the hyperdivergent pattern. Dentoalveolar and soft-tissue effects were limited. Conclusions: Both ED and HPHD are effective in managing hyperdivergent Class II growing patients. The two appliances provide comparable improvements in mandibular positioning. Both devices seem to preserve vertical skeletal dimensions, avoiding further mandibular clockwise rotation. Both appliances are associated with minimal undesirable effects on the soft tissues.

Deep bites can be treated by the intrusion of anterior teeth and the extrusion of the posterior teeth, or both, according to the exposure of the incisors in the smile. The aim of this paper is to propose a protocol to improve the effectiveness of deep bite treatments. Orthodontic movements are programmed following the “frog staging” protocol for the anterior teeth, the application of retention attachments and the overengineered final setup. Two case reports described the clinical and radiographic changes with orthodontic treatment using Invisalign clear aligners by applying this protocol.