Orthodontic Breakthrough
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- Published: Wednesday, 01 April 2020 00:00
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Scientists in Japan have published studies that could lead to dramatically low treatment times for patients undergoing adult orthodontics. Researchers at Hokkaido University’s Faculty of Biomechanical Engineering claim to have emulated and surpassed the rapid turnover of bone that normally occurs in actively growing youngsters and facilitates relatively quick treatment times during adolescence.
The research paper, published in the latest edition of the Japanese Journal of Clinical Biomechanics and Biophysiology, shows that 19 adults undergoing orthodontics for large overjets with the conventional Straight Wire Technique completed treatment within six to eight weeks, a fraction of the time orthodontic treatment would normally take, even for a youngster.
Professor Haruna Tanaka, who led the research says that adult orthodontic treatment can be completed often in less than two months using conventional orthodontic techniques when combined with the newly developed pharmacological therapy developed by her team at Hokkaido.
Prof Tanaka said: “We are very excited by this development. Many adults are prevented from seeking orthodontic treatment late in life because of the length of time normally required to complete procedures. Sometimes treatments can take two years or even more. The problem arises because adult bone is not as metabolically active as that found in young people and because of the retarded turnover of bone, the movement of teeth through the jaws can be extremely slow. But one use that I can see general dental practitioners putting it to is to correct misplaced implants. We have had near 100% success in moving implants very quickly when inadvertently placed too close to the zygoma.”
The research team’s breakthrough is due to work carried in partnership with La Roche-sur-Yon University’s Department of Biochemistry in France. Department head, Professor Gaspard Darrieussecq outlined the new technique. “Our new therapy is pharmacological. We can increase bone turnover by using the human enzyme hyaluronidase which we have combined with ubiquitin. Hyaluronidase ‘softens’ the bone in order to facilitate tooth movement and the ubiquitin promotes osteoclast and osteoblast activity to stabilise the bone after movements are effected.”
Patients on the study took a week’s worth of the hyaluronidase-ubiqutin medication (OrthoRap®) before the commencement of orthodontic treatment. The developers stress that during treatment, oral hygiene must be optimal. The presence of high levels of hyaluronidase can accelerate bone loss if patients have a compromised periodontal status. OrthoRap® is currently awaiting FDA approval.
The only contraindication to treatment is patients with osteoporosis, where long bones could be compromised, or those with erectile dysfunction. The course of medication currently costs about 7,000 yen, which is roughly £50.
Spokesman for the British Society of Orthodontists, Dr. Mike Carry said: “This is certainly an exciting development and we will watch the progress of the product with interest. The ability to correct adult malocclusions so quickly will ensure patients seek appropriate treatment from orthodontists directly and not from the internet. Our only concern is that while taking the medicine, patients refrain from activities like jogging. We don’t want them becoming bandy-legged.”
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