A patient with skeletal Class Ⅲ malocclusion was treated in 2 phases during the early permanent dentition. In phase 1, maxillary protraction was combined with rapid palatal expansion; in phase 2, fixed appliances were placed. The results were good posttreatment, and, 1 year later, a favorable growth tendency could be observed. This report shows that treatment for a patient with skeletal Class Ⅲ malocclusion can be started in the early permanent dentition, with very good final results.

Environmental improvements can lead to greater size of skeletodental structures as the population comes closer to expressing its genetic growth potential. Such secular trends have been documented in many human settings, especially for increased stature and faster tempos of growth. The present study is based on 185 same-sex parent-offspring pairs of data for maximum buccolingual crown diameters of the permanent teeth from a cohort in Beijing, China, where parents experienced much of their development during and after World War Ⅱ with the deprivations of the changing regime. Their offspring enjoyed the relative stability of the established Communist system, where nutrition and stability were much improved. There were significant increases in buccolingual diameters of the premolars and molars in the offspring. Increase for premolars and molars was about 1%, but larger in females than males (1.6% vs. 0.5%). Opposite changes occurred in the incisors and canines (i.e., larger parental dimensions), but we contend that these are an age-related artifact brought on by greater passive eruption of older individuals' teeth that exposes a broader portion of the crown at the gingival margin. The secular trend in crown size coincides with other research in contemporary China, disclosing increases in body size and faster tempos of growth as health and nutrition continue to improve.

We have previously demonstrated that all-trans retinoic (atRA) induced growth inhibition and apoptosis in mouse embryonic palate mesenchymal cells (MEPM). In the present study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of atRA-induced apoptosis and its putative action pathway. atRA-induced apoptosis is associated with activation of the initiator caspase-9 and the effector caspase-3, but not of the effector caspase-8. A broad caspase inhibitor (z-VAD-fmk), caspase-9 inhibitor z-LEHD-fmk and caspase-3 inhibitor (z-DEVD-fmk) blocked atRA-induced DNA fragmentation and sub-G1 fraction, but not caspase-8 inhibitor z-IETD-fmk. We further showed that atRA dosedependently promoted mRNA expression of retinoic acid receptor b (RAR-b) and g. A weaker increase in RAR-a mRNA was seen only at the highest concentration of atRA (5mM). The pan RAR antagonist, BMS493, completely abrogated atRA-induced DNA fragmentation, Sub-G1 fraction, and caspase-3 activation. Taken together, these findings show that caspase-mediated induction of apoptosis by atRA is an RAR-dependent signaling pathway.

In the Begg Technique, factors controlling the anterior intrusive force provided by the archwire have yet to be fully clarified. The rationale for bite opening with very light forces, the effect of Class H elastics on intrusive force magnitude and the intrinsic quality of 'Australian' wire in bite opening are examined in this paper. A formula is presented which allows the intrusive force that archwires exert in different individuals to be predicted. The values derived from the formula were compared with case model measurements. It was found that the intrusive force of the archwire was affected by the length of the individual dental arch. The magnitude of this intrusive force was seen to increase gradually during the period of bite opening and appeared to be related to the use of Class H elastics. The study revealed factors which affected the magnitude of the intrusive force.

Summary. In this retrospective cephalometric study, the lateral skull radiographs of 12 children with Class III malocclusions of skeletal origin were examined. An analysis ofthe changes produced during treatment revealed that whilst changes in apical base relationship were small, and were mainly limited to a reduction in angle SNB, the effects on the soft tissue profile were surprisingly effective.