Clinical Research Directory

AI-Assisted Versus Conventional Orthodontic Diagnosis and Treatment Planning

This study compared an artificial intelligence-assisted orthodontic diagnostic workflow using WebCeph with a conventional clinician-based workflow. The study included 120 new orthodontic patients treated at Ben Hafeed Dental Center in Sana'a, Yemen, between March 2024 and March 2026. For each participant, the researchers prepared a de-identified package of routine pretreatment records, including clinical findings, extraoral and intraoral photographs, panoramic and lateral cephalometric radiographs, and dental models or digital scans. The same case package was independently assessed using both the artificial intelligence-assisted and conventional workflows. An independent panel of five expert orthodontists reviewed the cases and established the reference standard. The main outcome was agreement with the expert panel for skeletal sagittal classification as Class I, Class II, or Class III. Other outcomes included orthodontic treatment-need grades, premolar extraction decisions, anchorage planning, appliance selection, and the time required to complete each diagnostic workflow. Participation did not alter the routine orthodontic care provided to patients, and final clinical decisions remained the responsibility of the treating orthodontist.

Direct vs Indirect In-House Clear Aligners vs Fixed Appliances in Orthodontic Treatment

Clear aligner therapy has become increasingly popular as an esthetic alternative to conventional braces in orthodontic treatment. While clear aligners are traditionally manufactured by commercial laboratories using a thermoforming technique, recent advances in 3D printing technology now allow clinicians to produce aligners directly in their own clinic, either by printing the aligner itself (direct method) or by printing a model and then thermoforming the aligner over it (indirect method)." "This study compares three approaches to orthodontic treatment in patients with mild to moderate dental crowding who do not require tooth extraction: clear aligners produced directly in-house using 3D printing with a shape-memory resin, clear aligners produced indirectly in-house using a 3D-printed model and thermoforming, and conventional fixed orthodontic treatment with metal brackets and wires." "A total of 36 patients aged 12 to 30 years were randomly assigned to one of these three treatment groups, and 33 patients completed the study. Treatment quality was evaluated using the American Board of Orthodontics Objective Grading System (ABO-OGS), an objective scoring method based on dental models obtained at the end of treatment. The total duration of treatment, from the start of active treatment to its completion, was also compared among the three groups." "The findings of this study may help clinicians and patients better understand the advantages and limitations of in-house clear aligner production compared to conventional fixed appliances, particularly regarding treatment efficiency and duration.

3D Printed Occlusal Splints for Intraoperative Use

A 3D printed intraoperative occlusal splint is a custom-made biocompatible resin guide that allows surgeons properly align a patient's upper and lower dentition during surgery. This alignment further places maxilla and mandible into proper position. An occlusal splint contains outlines maxillary and mandibular dentition allowing the teeth to lock into place with correct alignment. At Johns Hopkins, traditionally hand-made and industry-made 3D printed splints have been used safely. However, prior studies have demonstrated the ability of in-house 3D prints to save time and money compared to industry. In-house models are similarly produced with FDA-clear, biocompatible resin for 3D printing, and maintain equivalent safety for patients compared to industry-made models.

Antibiofilm Activity of Chitosan Nanoparticles Incorporated Into Clear Aligners

The use of orthodontic appliances and equipment has dramatically increased over the past few decades, mainly due to improvements in materials and manufacturing processes that have paved the way for improved treatments . The preference for aligner treatment and the increase in its prevalence can be attributed to patient demand for "invisible" treatments and the limitations of conventional fixed orthodontics . Direct 3D printing offers the possibility of creating highly precise clear aligners with soft edges, digitally designed and identically reproduced for an entire set of treatment aligners. These provide a better fit, higher efficacy, and reproducibility . Clear aligner treatment demonstrated promising results in terms of controlling plaque index, gingival health, and the prevalence of white spot lesions. Nevertheless, grooves, ridges, microcracks, and abrasions on the aligner surface provide a prime environment for bacterial adherence and the development of plaque biofilms. Adding chitosan, a minimally toxic agent with antibacterial properties and the ability to reduce enamel demineralization, to 3D-printed aligner resin materials may decrease the incidence of WSLs . Currently, there is limited research on including nanoparticles in aligners' material for microbe inhibition and, to the best of our knowledge, none of the research has assessed and compared the effect of adding chitosan to an aligner's resin.

Microanalysis of Changes in 3D Geometry of Orthodontic Mini-implants

The orthodontic mini-implants used in the study are temporary screws inserted into the bone to provide anchorage for challenging tooth movements that could not be carried out using the patient's own teeth. They are made of a medical grade titanium alloy (Ti6Al4Va), with a length of 8 mm and a diameter of 1.3 mm. After the completion of the treatment phase requiring specific anchorage, they are removed and disposed of as a medical waste. The insertion of the mini-screw is conditioned by the individual treatment plan and the treatment protocol would not differ from the standard treatment. The aim of the project is to analyze changes in the macrogeometry and wear of the surfaces of retrieved orthodontic micro-implants after their clinical use. Upon completion of clinical tasks, the mini-screws will be removed and retrieved for laboratory phase of the study. The laboratory phase will consist of: microscopic and profilometric examinations, as well as scanning before insertion and after removal of the mini-implants, and a clinical phase: the use of previously scanned and sterilized mini-implants in patients participating in the study.

The Efficacy of Lingual Aligners in Adults.

The goal of this clinical trial is to test the effectiveness of lingual aligners in adults. The main question to answer is: \- Are lingual aligners effective in achieving desired and predicted tooth movements?

Effect of Different Grafting Material Following Surgically Facilitated Orthodontics Therapy

The purpose of this study is to quantitatively investigate the radiographic changes of alveolar bone, and gingival tissue changes of the mandibular anterior teeth in experimental group A receiving SFOT using freeze-dried allograft with a collagen membrane, experimental group B receiving SFOT using particulate xenograft covered by a collagen membrane and control group receiving only orthodontics therapy.