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Medicina
Special Issues
Recent Breakthroughs in Orthodontic Treatment
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Recent Breakthroughs in Orthodontic Treatment

A special issue of Medicina (ISSN 1648-9144). This special issue belongs to the section "Dentistry and Oral Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 November 2026 | Viewed by 2878

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Saverio Cosola

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
San Rossore Dental Unit, Casa di cura San Rossore, 56122 Pisa, Italy
Interests: implant; bone reconstruction; oral health; oral surgery; implant prosthetics; probiotics; oral prevention
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Michela Boccuzzi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Istituto Stomatologico Italiano, Via Pace 21, 20122 Milano, Italy
Interests: orthodontics; digital orthodontics; artificial intelligence; clear aligners; biomaterial; skeletal anchorage; CAD CAM technology; customized appliances; oral health

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Orthodontics has undergone a profound transformation in recent decades, largely driven by technological innovation. Intraoral scanners, CAD/CAM workflows, and three-dimensional printing have enabled highly precise and individualized treatment approaches. Advanced digital planning software allows clinicians to simulate tooth movements, assess treatment predictability, and strengthen communication with patients. Artificial intelligence represents an emerging frontier, with applications in diagnostics, cephalometric analysis, and treatment prediction, thereby supporting an increasingly precise and evidence-based decision-making process. At the same time, temporary anchorage devices (TADs) and new therapeutic strategies for patients have broadened treatment options and improved the management of complex clinical scenarios. These advances emphasize the importance of a multidisciplinary approach that integrates technology with comprehensive oral health care to optimize long-term outcomes. This Special Issue invites the submission of original research and reviews focused on digital innovation, artificial intelligence, biomaterials, and contemporary therapeutic strategies that are shaping the future of orthodontics.

Dr. Saverio Cosola
Guest Editor

Dr. Michela Boccuzzi
Guest Editor Assistant

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. Medicina is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2200 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

  • orthodontics
  • digital orthodontics
  • artificial intelligence
  • clear aligners
  • biomaterial
  • skeletal anchorage
  • CAD–CAM technology
  • customized appliances
  • oral health

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 532 KB  
Article
The Role of Orthodontic Treatment in Preparing the Potential Implant Prosthetic Space for Implant-Supported Single-Tooth Restorations
by Amelia Smaranda Roșianu, Stelian Mihai Sever Petrescu, Ionela Elisabeta Staicu, Mihaela Ionescu, Cosmin Mihai Mirițoiu and Sanda Mihaela Popescu
Medicina 2026, 62(3), 580; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina62030580 - 19 Mar 2026
Viewed by 683
Abstract
Background and Objectives: When a single missing tooth must be replaced, the best solution is the placement of an implant. In adults, most of the time the space for implant is totally or partially closed due to the shift in the adjacent [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: When a single missing tooth must be replaced, the best solution is the placement of an implant. In adults, most of the time the space for implant is totally or partially closed due to the shift in the adjacent teeth. The objective of the study was to describe the clinical parameters, treatment choices, and outcomes associated with orthodontic space opening for single-tooth implants in various treatment solutions, as well as to determine their influence on the variation in the dimension of the edentulous space. Materials and Methods: An observational prospective cohort study was designed in which patients with a single missing tooth were selected to be included in the study. After the clinical examination two groups were formed: patients who opted for fixed orthodontic treatment (metallic or sapphire) to open space for implant and patients who opted for alignment to achieve this (with Invisalign or Spark). All subjects received orthodontic treatment. A dental chart was created for each patient which included demographics, clinical data, orthopantomography (OPG), profile cephalograms, and photographs. The potential implant prosthetic space was measured during orthodontic treatment to observe the space dimension evolution in time. Results: In total, 97 patients were included in the study, 60 women and 37 men, with ages between 14 and 60 years. Edentulous spaces dimensions were opened from 1–4 mm to 5–6 mm (39.18% patients), 6–8 mm (48.45%), and >8 mm (12.37%). Both types of orthodontic treatments were effective in opening the potential prosthetic space for implant. Conclusions: Large prosthetic spaces and older edentulism tend to require longer treatments. Older patients had experienced edentulism for a longer period, indicating a correlation between age and the duration of tooth loss. Metal fixed orthodontic appliances were used in exceedingly long treatments, while aligners/sapphire brackets were used in short–medium durations. For the study group, fixed appliances and aligners proved to be effective in opening the space for future implants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Breakthroughs in Orthodontic Treatment)
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14 pages, 449 KB  
Article
Correlation Between Lip Prominence and Orthodontic Incisor Repositioning Within an Aesthetic Triangle Framework
by Sorana Maria Bucur, Eugen Silviu Bud, Mioara Decusară, Dana Cristina Bratu and Mariana Păcurar
Medicina 2026, 62(3), 556; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina62030556 - 17 Mar 2026
Viewed by 668
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Accurate prediction of lip prominence changes following orthodontic treatment remains challenging because traditional profile analyses rely on isolated reference lines that do not account for combined nasal and chin morphology. The aesthetic triangle framework integrates these structures and may [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Accurate prediction of lip prominence changes following orthodontic treatment remains challenging because traditional profile analyses rely on isolated reference lines that do not account for combined nasal and chin morphology. The aesthetic triangle framework integrates these structures and may provide a more comprehensive evaluation of lip position. Materials and Methods: This correlative clinical study evaluated 82 orthodontic patients undergoing bimaxillary incisor repositioning. Lateral cephalograms and standardized profile photographs were obtained before and after treatment. Lip position was assessed relative to the aesthetic triangle boundaries, and dentoalveolar changes were quantified using standard incisor measurements. Lip thickness was also analyzed as a potential modulating factor. Results: Mandibular incisor inclination demonstrated a moderate positive correlation with anterior displacement of the lower lip within the aesthetic triangle (Pearson r = 0.45, p < 0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis confirmed IMPA as a significant predictor of lower lip migration (β = 0.41), explaining approximately 21% of the observed variance (R2 = 0.21). In contrast, maxillary incisor inclination (U1–SN) showed weaker and statistically inconsistent associations with upper lip position. Compartment analysis revealed that approximately 32% of patients exhibited anterior migration of the lower lip from the posterior to the central aesthetic triangle compartment following treatment. These findings suggest that mandibular incisor inclination exerts a measurable influence on lower lip prominence, whereas upper lip positional changes appear to be less directly related to maxillary incisor variables. Conclusions: The aesthetic triangle provides a clinically meaningful framework for interpreting orthodontic soft-tissue changes as spatial migration rather than isolated linear measurements. Lower lip prominence responds predictably to dentoalveolar mechanics, whereas upper lip position also depends on soft tissue morphology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Breakthroughs in Orthodontic Treatment)
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Other

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18 pages, 1092 KB  
Systematic Review
Oral Microbiome and Metabolome Changes During Orthodontic Treatments: A Systematic Review of Limited Clinical Evidence
by Michela Boccuzzi, Riccardo Aiuto, Leonardo Lombardo, Matteo Piasente, Andrea Edoardo Bianchi and Alberto Clivio
Medicina 2026, 62(1), 224; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina62010224 - 21 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 826
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Recent advances in dentistry include microbiological and metabolomic analyses, which have the potential to improve the understanding of oral microbiome–host imbalances during orthodontic treatment. Fixed appliances, functional devices and, more recently, clear aligners have been associated with several oral [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Recent advances in dentistry include microbiological and metabolomic analyses, which have the potential to improve the understanding of oral microbiome–host imbalances during orthodontic treatment. Fixed appliances, functional devices and, more recently, clear aligners have been associated with several oral health conditions, including enamel demineralization, dental caries, gingivitis, periodontitis and root and bone resorption. In this context, metabolomic approaches may enable the identification of metabolites in biological samples that could potentially serve as biomarkers and reflect functional biological changes within the oral ecosystem. Investigating orthodontic appliances and associated metabolomic alterations may therefore contribute to advancing current knowledge in orthodontics. This systematic review aimed to describe the available evidence on oral metabolomic changes during orthodontic treatment. Materials and Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and the Cochrane Library. A total of 1632 records were identified. After duplicate removal and screening, 18 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility. Of these, 15 studies were excluded, and three studies met the inclusion criteria. Risk of bias was assessed using the ROBINS-I and RoB 2 tools, and the GRADE approach was applied to evaluate the certainty of evidence. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251141544). Results: Three studies met the inclusion criteria. Overall, the available evidence was limited and heterogeneous. The included studies suggested potential differences in oral microbiome composition and metabolomic profiles between patients treated with fixed appliances and those treated with clear aligners. Reported metabolomic findings were exploratory and involved amino acid-related, immune-associated, and acidic metabolic pathways. Limitations: Only three studies were included, all conducted in a single country. The small sample size and methodological heterogeneity limit the generalizability of the findings. In addition, potential confounding variables highlight the need for further standardized longitudinal studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Breakthroughs in Orthodontic Treatment)
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