Latest trends in clinical orthodontics
Is acceleration of tooth movement techniques real or just a placebo?
Dr. Sunil Wadhwa
Director, Division of Orthodontics Leuman M. Waugh DDS Associate Professor of Orthodontics College of Dental Medicine, Columbia University
Short Bio
Dr Wadhwa received his PhD and orthodontic certificate from the University of Connecticut. The American Association of Orthodontists honored Dr. Wadhwa with the Milo Hellman Research Award for his PhD thesis. After graduation, he remained at University of Connecticut as the Charles Burstone Assistant Professor. He is currently the Leuman M. Waugh Associate Professor and Director of the Division of Orthodontics at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. His research focuses on the biology of tooth movement and the role of estrogen in mediating temporomandibular degeneration and alveolar bone density. Both the NIDCR and the AAOF provide research support for Dr. Wadhwa's laboratory. Aside from his research pursuits, Dr. Wadhwa is also involved in organized dentistry. He has served as the academic committee chair of Align Technology and is former president of the Craniofacial Biology for the International Association of Dental Research
Recently, accelerating the rate of orthodontic tooth movment has been a very hot topic for dental researchers. In this talk, we will review the biological mechanisms behind accelerating the rate of orthodontic tooth movement by external vibration and bone injuries. It now appears that in humans, external vibration does not seem to have any major effects on the rate of orthodontic tooth movement. In contrast, bone injuries appear to increase the early rate of orthodontic tooth movement. Future research is needed to decipher the effects of bone injuries on the long term rate of orthodontic tooth movment and if whether changing the dose and magnitude of vibration may cause a more pronounced change on the rate of orthodontic tooth movment in humans.
