The creation of a clinical research protocol is a long and rigorous process. The first part of this paper is a guide for the creation of such a protocol that is designed to outline the different stages from the first conception of the project to its application and then to its acceptance by important institutions. We also list the various participants.

In the second section of the paper, we present a multi-centered and randomized clinicalresearch project that compares the effectiveness of orthodontic mini-screw anchorage with traditional dento-alveolar anchorage within the framework of a case treated with the extraction of two maxillary premolars.

Apical root resorption is one of the principal undesirable side effects associated with orthodontic treatment. It is provoked by a number of etiological causes, most often mechanical in nature and can be aggravated by biological factors that are not yet clearly understood. The objective of our study was to determine the influence of anomalies in dental organogenesis on the occurrence of root resorption. We analyzed the radiographs of maxillary incisors taken before and after treatment of 85 patients observed by the same practitioner. The results of our study suggest that patients with dental anomalies, anomalies of dental conformation, especially of the type of microdontia/thin root, have an increased risk of suffering from apical root resorption of maxillary central incisors during the course of orthodontic treatment.

The goal of this study was to discern the nature of the transverse changes that a treatment of sequence propulsions with Herbst connecting rods with no expansion component produced. Thirty one patients treated with Herbst connecting arms9,14,15 attached to splints that had no expansion screw were selected. After this propulsion stage, treatment for these patients was continued with appliances that also had no expansion component. On study models, we recorded distances between opposite first molars and measured angular variations of these teeth in the frontal plane. We compared these figures with Moorrees12 tables that furnish natural increase in transverse distance and used the Marshall11 table to give a base measurement of natural angular modifications (“torque”). Our results showed that a sequence of propulsion treatment created enough adaptation of the shape of the upper arch to make the application of expansion mechanics unnecessary.

Does the technique employed create a specific post-treatment arch form? To answer this question we compared the arches at the close of treatment of patients treated by the Tweed technique with those treated by the Damon technique. We analyzed 78 plaster models using the computer program. Procluso in an attempt to standardize assessment of the arch forms. The post-treatment arch form surimposition showed no differences between arches of patients treated by Tweed therapy and arches of patients treated by Damon technique. Regression and discrimination tests were used in order to calculate and visualize singles differences in form between the three samples used in our study (patients treated by Tweed therapy without extraction, patients treated by Tweed therapy with extractions and patients treated by Damon therapy without extractions). This is the outcome of differences located at the level of position of teeth related to the shape of dental arch form. On the other hand dental arch forms are nearly similar in the various samples. Arch form was just more harmonious, more well rounded with good continuity of buccal surfaces when practitioners used pre-adjusted Damon brackets compared to braces with no built-in torque employed in Tweed therapy.

More and more adults are beginning orthodontic treatment because they want to regain the smile they had when they were 20 years-old and to diminish the signs of aging their faces present to degrees that depend upon the severity of their dento-facial deformity.

The dental esthetic criteria that are sought after and regained with treatment are, primarily straightening and whitening of teeth, and a smooth appearance of the teeth and their mutual contours, predominantly in the upper incisor area as well as a regular, broad smile line in harmony with the lower lip. In addition to these dental guide lines, additional important consideration should be taken of the relationship of the size and bulk of the teeth with respect to facial type and the absence of any strain in lip posture.

Orthodontic treatment, in correcting malocclusions of varying severity, can effectively join with other specialties in creating a younger smile line for patients and eliminating many signs of aging.

Indications for orthodontic treatments are in constant augmentation in the adult population. Patients want the shortest possible treatments. Alveolar corticotomies speed up the tooth movement in comparison to conventional orthodontic treatments, therefore decrease treatment duration.

This technique consists in the surgical section of cortical bone that leaves the medullar bone uninjured. The biological effects of corticotomies rely on decreasing medullary bone density and increasing bone remodelling activity (RAP regional acceleratory phenomenon).

We are currently testing this combined approach of alveolar corticotomies and orthodontic treatments on a pig model with special attention given to potential secondary effects on pulp vitality, dental root morphology and length.

We also present here two adult patients with malocclusion cases who underwent alveolar corticotomies as part of their surgical-orthodontic treatments.

These experimental and clinical preliminary studies confirm that corticotomy requires a shorter time of orthodontic movement. Our clinical results showed that this technique resolves malocclusion at least twice as fast as conventional orthodontic treatment.

No secondary effects of corticotomies on pulp vitality dental root morphology were observed.