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Recent Advances in Orthodontic Diagnosis and Treatment
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Recent Advances in Orthodontic Diagnosis and Treatment

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Dentistry and Oral Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2026 | Viewed by 7109

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Monica Macrì

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine & Dentistry, University "G. D'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
Interests: rthodontics; oral diseases; computed tomography; radiography; implant dentistry; diagnostic Imaging
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Felice Festa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine & Dentistry, University "G. D'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
Interests: temporomandibular joint; TMD diagnosis and therapy; myofascial pain syndrome; applications of CBCT, MRI, and innovative imaging systems in orthodontics; clear aligners
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We want to bring attention to confirm the usefulness of CBCT and fMRI study variables that have not been possible to measure up to now, and to encourage us in continuing to deepen this line of research to better understand the connections between morphology and function. In fact, the reduced invasiveness and the great sensitivity of CBCT, combined with the speed of execution of the examination, are factors that make this a valuable tool for planning the orthodontic case in view of the results that take into account the correlation between morphology, shape, and function, and therefore the relationship between skeletal and soft tissue structure.

There are several questions that will become important in the future of orthodontic diagnosis and treatment. These include the following:

Question 1. How will we predict condylar growth?

Question 2. Which new techniques in imaging, genetics, and molecular biology will affect orthodontics?

Question 3. What does the practicing orthodontist need for more accurate planning to treat a patient with less relapse and more sustainable outcomes?

Presently, computer science has accelerated the rapid progress in orthodontics beyond comparison with the pace of progress of the past. In the near future, computational simulation will provide various advantages for orthodontic treatment and research. To achieve a more scientific approach in orthodontics, the following strategies are required:

  • Unification of various data formats;
  • Decreasing expenses for software development;
  • Spread and wider application of technology and knowledge;
  • Collaboration with different fields of study.

This article collection aims to group scientific contributions that evaluate new diagnostic tools and therapy, focusing on clinically relevant original research articles and systematic review articles that include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Condylar growth;
  • Cone beam CT;
  • fMRI;
  • Genetics;
  • Radiography;
  • Dental;
  • Diagnosis;
  • Cephalometry;
  • 3D computer applications;
  • Experimental investigation.

Dr. Monica Macrì
Prof. Dr. Felice Festa
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • condylar growth
  • cone beam CT
  • fMRI
  • genetics
  • radiography
  • dental
  • diagnosis
  • cephalometry
  • 3D computer applications
  • experimental investigation

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 541 KB  
Article
IL-1-Beta and TNF-Alpha in Gingival Crevicular Fluid of Patients with Orthodontic Aligners and Application of Vibrations with Sonic Toothbrush: A Pilot Study
by Luca Levrini, Silvia Franchi, Carlotta De Zorzi, Luca Parpagliolo, Andrea Carganico, Nicola Giannotta, Paola Sacerdote, Giulio Facchetti and Stefano Saran
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(1), 344; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16010344 - 29 Dec 2025
Viewed by 573
Abstract
Introduction: Non-invasive methods to modulate orthodontic tooth movement have gained interest, particularly those targeting inflammatory mediators such as IL-1β and TNF-α, which regulate osteoclast and osteoblast activity. High-frequency vibrations (HFV), including those delivered by sonic toothbrushes, have been proposed to influence these [...] Read more.
Introduction: Non-invasive methods to modulate orthodontic tooth movement have gained interest, particularly those targeting inflammatory mediators such as IL-1β and TNF-α, which regulate osteoclast and osteoblast activity. High-frequency vibrations (HFV), including those delivered by sonic toothbrushes, have been proposed to influence these biological responses. The aim of the study is to assess whether sonic vibrations affect IL-1β and TNF levels in patients undergoing clear aligner therapy. Materials and Methods: Twenty Invisalign® patients were evaluated. For each patient, one tooth received HFV via a 285 Hz sonic toothbrush (experimental), while the contralateral served as a control. Gingival crevicular fluid was sampled at baseline (T0), after one week without HFV (T1), and after one week with HFV (T2). Cytokines were measured by ELISA. Because data were non-normally distributed, non-parametric tests were applied. Results: No significant differences across T0–T2 were found within the HFV group. At T2, IL-1β levels were significantly lower in the HFV group (mean: 23.04; SD: ± 20.18) than in controls (mean: 44.44; SD: ± 47.14), which showed an IL-1β increase with orthodontic force alone. TNF-α levels remained near the ELISA detection limit. Conclusions: Sonic vibrations combined with clear aligners appear to reduce IL-1β secretion and local inflammation without adverse effects. Sonic toothbrushes provide a simple HFV delivery method, though larger studies are needed to confirm these findings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Orthodontic Diagnosis and Treatment)
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12 pages, 854 KB  
Article
Effectiveness of Preformed Myofunctional Devices in the Treatment of Malocclusions: A Pilot Study
by Luca Levrini, Vincenzo Giorgino, Nicola Giannotta, Andrea Carganico, Alessandro Deppieri, Silvia Giorgino and Stefano Saran
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(20), 11153; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152011153 - 17 Oct 2025
Viewed by 3854
Abstract
Introduction: Preformed myofunctional appliances are increasingly being studied in orthodontics and are typically used to address oral function anomalies as well as malocclusions and development defects of the jaws. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a protocol based [...] Read more.
Introduction: Preformed myofunctional appliances are increasingly being studied in orthodontics and are typically used to address oral function anomalies as well as malocclusions and development defects of the jaws. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a protocol based on the use of preformed devices and myofunctional therapy for the correction of malocclusions. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a preformed myofunctional devices in correcting certain orthodontic problems related to overbite, overjet, and cross-bite. Thirty-six patients in the mixed dentition phase were analyzed along with their clinical records, photos, and scans. Overjet, Overbite, and Crossbite were measured by analyzing the files exported in the Standard Tesselation Language format (Stl) of patients’ arches using Zeiss Inspect® software (version 2025.1.0.1985). Results: The data analysis reveals a statistically significant improvement in the correction of deep bite, overjet, and crossbite. Specifically, regarding the overbite (OVB), the initial measurement at T0 showed an average of 2.52 mm. The average OVB decreased to 1.73 mm at T1. The overjet had an initial average of 3.59 mm at T0, which decreased to 1.77 mm at T1. In this case as well, the difference between the measurements at T0 and T1 was statistically significant. Finally, the crossbite was evaluated by comparing the difference between mandibular and maxillary intermolar widths at T0 and T1. The average difference decreased from 5.84 mm at T0, to 1.68 mm at T1. Conclusions: Preformed myofunctional appliances represent a valid alternative in interceptive orthodontics for correcting and preventing orthodontic issues, especially of mild severity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Orthodontic Diagnosis and Treatment)
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14 pages, 1049 KB  
Article
Simplified Diagnosis of Mandibular Asymmetry in Panoramic Radiographs Through Digital Processing and Its Prospective Integration with Artificial Intelligence: A Pilot Study
by Paulina Agurto-Sanhueza, Karla Roco, Pablo Navarro, Andrés Neyem, Nicolás I. Sumonte and Nicolás E. Ottone
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(19), 10802; https://doi.org/10.3390/app151910802 - 8 Oct 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2028
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Mandibular asymmetry is a common morphological alteration in orthodontics and orthognathic surgery, generally diagnosed with panoramic radiographs despite their limitations. Automated processing systems offer a promising alternative for improving its detection and analysis. The aim of this study was to develop a [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Mandibular asymmetry is a common morphological alteration in orthodontics and orthognathic surgery, generally diagnosed with panoramic radiographs despite their limitations. Automated processing systems offer a promising alternative for improving its detection and analysis. The aim of this study was to develop a pilot computational model to detect and measure mandibular asymmetry in the body and ramus by analyzing anatomical distances in digital panoramic radiographs of adults. Methods: This was a descriptive observational pilot study, carried out on 30 digital panoramic radiographs of young adult patients (15 men, 15 women). Three craniometric points (Condylion, Gonion and Gnathion) were used as references landmarks. An algorithm was implemented in Python® (v3.12) with OpenCV to extract anatomical coordinates and calculate Euclidean distances (Go-Gn, Co-Go) from pixels to millimeters. Data were statistically analyzed in SPSS (v23.0) using normality tests, paired t-tests, Wilcoxon tests, and Mann–Whitney U tests (p < 0.05). Results: No significant differences were observed in mandibular lengths by sex, with men having greater lengths in both the body (80.63 mm vs. 73.86 mm) and the ramus (55.82 mm vs. 49.15 mm). In addition, significant differences were found in total mandibular ramus measurements (p = 0.023). A classification of asymmetry by severity was proposed (mild: ≤3 mm, moderate: 3–6 mm, severe: >6 mm), with mild asymmetries being the most frequently found. The model showed reliable processing capacity. Conclusions: This pilot study shows the feasibility of using Python for automated measurement of mandibular asymmetry in panoramic radiographs and highlights its future potential for neural network integration and diagnostic-epidemiological use. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Orthodontic Diagnosis and Treatment)
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