Dr Jay Bowman
What’s the Buzz? The Science Behind AcceleDent
Quests for reducing orthodontic treatment time, increasing our biomechanical efficiency, and
decreasing discomfort associated with tooth regulation have recently expanded within the specialty.
Specifically, the concept of vibrational acceleration of orthodontic tooth movement was investigated as early as 30 years ago, but the theoretical basis has also been extended into the fields of bone, genetic, and pain research. Despite positive trial results and favorable clinical results, further analysis is certainly warranted before completely embracing this new technology as another deux ex machina for “fast orthodontics.” However, it is certainly novel to have had an orthodontic device introduced to our marketplace after randomized clinic trials were performed? An introduction of origins, current results, and future investigations will be explored for vibrational stimulation of tooth movement with the AcceleDent system.
Dr Robert Boyd
What is New with Invisalign?
In the past, movements like moderate rotations and extrusions of canines and premolars, were less predictable. To examine the current state of Invisalign’s effectiveness, Bob Boyd will describe the most recent Invisalign protocol changes in the past 2 years which can make treatment more predictable. These changes include simultaneous staging, optimized attachment designs, tips for making ClinCheck more successful, Invisalign Teen, and new ways of minimizing interproximal reduction (IPR) and how to make IPR easier for the doctor and patient. Numerous case examples will be shown to demonstrate these concepts including treatment of more complex malocclusions such as Class I with moderate to severe crowding, deep bite, open bite, Class II and Class III correction with interarch mechanics for mild to moderate skeletal malocclusions.
Dr James Mah
The 3-D Evolution in Orthodontics
In the last decade 3-dimensional imaging and manufacturing technologies have been introduced and adopted in orthodontics. At the core of this evolution is 3-D imaging with cone-beam CT (CBCT). Although CBCT is relatively new in orthodontics, there are already 2nd and 3rd generation devices available. At the same time, software for 3-D visualization, treatment planning and simulation have evolved even faster. The visual treatment objectives (VTOs) of today are not only 3-D but include individual tooth movements as well as 3-D soft tissue simulation. All the while, advances in custom-manufacturing have allowed for 3-D indirect bonding solutions, lingual brackets, and customized archwires. These technologies continue to develop rapidly, evolving the practice and future of orthodontics.
Dr Birte Melsen
Is a Tad a Tad a Tad? TADs and AO
The parameters of importance for the performance of a TAD are the tip, self-tapping or self-drilling, the trunk, its diameter and length, the threading, the collar, the neck and the head, one ,two or 3D control.
The influence of variation in morphology of the various parts of the TAD has been analyzed in vitro and a comparison between ten different brands of TADs has been done. Ten different TADS were micro CT-scanned and 3D-reconstructed for the creation of Finite Element models. In order to exclude the effect of screw length and head design, the threads of all designs were virtually cut to the length of the Aarhus™ design and the head of the Aarhus™ design replaced the other four designs’ own heads. All mini-screw models were digitally embedded in a cylinder representing bone. Three external loading modes were applied: pull-out, force flexure and unscrew. The resulting peak stresses in the bone were calculated, and related to the strain.
Based on this study it was obvious that the cut of the threaded part had a larger influence on the stress generated by a force and a moment than by that generated by a pull-out test. Parameters, which tend to “distribute” material away from the longitudinal axis of the screw, will stiffen the mini-screw by an increase of its moment of inertia. This will then result in strain within the bone. The advantages and disadvantages with regard to the various parameters will be discussed.
Dr Rohit Sachdeva
The Why and How of SureSmile
As the Orthodontist acculturates his practice towards applying digital technology to provide customized therapeutic care solutions for patients it is imperative that the selection of such technology is driven by objective criteria to assess health technology with the undeterred goal of providing better care for patients.
SureSmile is an integrated digital technology and process driven solution comprising 3D imaging, computer –aided design and robotically assisted manufacturing to enable the orthodontist provide precise and personalized care for orthodontic patients. The scientific and clinical rationale for using this technology platform driven by the six dimensions of quality care namely patient safety, patient centeredness, efficiency, equitable, and timely care will be presented.
Dr Ari Sciacca
Digital Advancements in Lingual Orthodontics and Laboratory Procedures
Lingual Orthodontics has been with us for nearly 40 years. What started as a new and exciting mode of aesthetic treatment and that appeared to be a major break-through in orthodontics for adult treatment, became a more complicated and challenging option for orthodontist to achieve a satisfactory result.
From early prototypes based on modified buccel brackets, to computer aided designed lingual brackets and virtual diagnostic set-ups, Lingual Orthodontics has now become an easier and predictable option for the clinician to offer a completely invisible option for the patient.
There are varies laboratory techniques available for indirect positioning and bonding of lingual brackets and, partnered with advancements in bonding materials, indirect bonding has become accurate and reliable.
Dr Terry Sellke
Indirect Bonding for Fun and Profit
It still amazes me how few orthodontists worldwide indirect bond. Even fewer do it well. The arguments given are: A). It is very technique sensitive (read learning curve) and B). The bond strength is less than if brackets are placed direct (read bond failures too high). I have been refining my systems for indirect bonding for over 10 years. I just concluded a 9 month study on bond failures in our practice. It involved 906 patients and a total of over 25,000 brackets. The bond failure rate was 1.59%!! (This is NOT a typo!) In this program I will teach my secrets, and give the arguments pro and con on this important clinical tool.
Mr Roger Willis
Advances in Cone Beam Technology, Using Dolphin 3D
In the last couple years, there have been major advances in both the hardware and software in cone beam technology. This course will cover many of the new software tools available in the Dolphin3D product for analyzing CBCT data, including: rendering methods, Hounsfield unit analysis, airway and sinus analysis, orthogonal and perspective X-ray generation, nerve location and marking, volume/volume superimposition, stitching of multiple small scans into one large dataset, movie generation, 3D and 2D photo wrapping, implant planning, automated report generation, surface model creation, surgery simulation, surgery guide design, etc