KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Moschos A. Papadopoulos
GREECE
CONTEMPORARY ORTHODONTIC MANAGEMENT OF OPEN BITE PATIENTS
Open bite malocclusions represent a significant percentage of orthodontic cases treated in the clinical practice. In general, the etiology of open bite malocclusion can be multifactorial, and the treatment can be challenging for the clinician. Dental factors, skeletal discrepancies, functional disturbances, soft tissue factors, habits or a combination of the above, could be associated with the presence of this orthodontic malocclusion.
Treatment goals depend on the etiology of the problem, and individual diagnostic assessment is considered essential to obtain a successful therapeutic outcome. The maturity stage of the patient is also important, especially in cases where skeletal discrepancies are present and residual growth may cause alterations in the occlusion and jaws in the vertical dimensions.
Depending on the above, treatment of open bite cases may include among others the use of orthodontic/orthopedic appliances or appliances for the discontinuation of habits, the use of mini-implants or mini-plates for molar intrusion, extractions of teeth, or orthognathic surgery.
In most of the cases the use of multibracket appliances is combined consecutively, or simultaneously with the above modalities or approaches, while lately the use of clear aligners is advocated by many clinicians.
The aim of this lecture is to discuss the various alternatives for the treatment of open bite, giving special attention to the use of skeletal anchorage and clear aligners.
Morten Godtfredsen Laursen
DENMARK
ASYMMETRIES
Correction of asymmetries in the permanent dentition and especially in the adult patient can be challenging and may require extractions, skeletal anchorage, or maxillofacial surgery. Localization of the asymmetry is a key-point in treatment planning aiming for good occlusion and facial harmony.
Kee-Joon Lee
KOREA
Lecture 1
CENTER-OF-RESITANCE-BASED BIOMIMETIC ORTHODONTICS FOR COMPLICATED IMPACTION AND ANKYLOSIS
‘Biomechanics’ or ‘biology’ of tooth movement may sound pedantic unless it is viably incorporated in the clinical situation. Conventional biomechanical principles mainly focused on how to move tooth/teeth that are already erupted, which normally requires two-dimensional tooth movement in each spatial plane. In contrast, pathologic conditions during the formation and development of dentition such as impaction and/or non-eruption may lead to various three-dimensional tooth and alveolar bone relationships due to the undesired migration of adjacent teeth, when left untreated. Tooth movement and eruption in common are mediated by the intervening soft tissue and the related bone turnover. Accordingly, surgical exposure and orthodontic forced eruption has been a routine practice for impacted tooth. However, the forced eruption of impacted tooth may demand more than biomechanical consideration, due to the fact that the eruption of tooth is under stage-specific regulation, unlike the conventional tooth movement. Hence a strategic and individualized treatment planning involving biological and biomechanical understanding on the eruption of the tooth is crucial. The ‘best’ treatment plan may be chosen depending on various factors, leading the situation into a ‘game’. This presentation is aimed to propose and summarize essential factors for the predictable treatment of impacted/non-erupting tooth, with attention to the (1) biologic factors – depth, angulation, root maturity and age (2) biomechanical factors – three-dimensional localization and application of TADs according to the force-driven approach. The orthodontic treatment overall should be considered a process which facilitate the underlying osteogenic potential of the peri-dental tissue and thereby restore the undesirable alveolar structure during and after the formation of dentition.
Lecture 2
BIOMECHANICS FOR PRECISION TREATMENT OF PERIODONTALLY COMPROMISED CASES: TOOTH MOVEMENT REVISITED
It has been widely accepted that the collaboration of the differentiation of osteoblasts by ‘tension’ and osteoclasts induced by ‘pressure’ eventually leads to local alveolar bone remodeling. However, at the cell biology level, the mechanism of the respective tension and pressure force transduction to individual cell is not known. Moreover, the regional response at the around the alveolar bone has not been investigated. For instance, uprighting of the inclined molar has been shown to cause loss of attachment, unlike the way it is described in the orthodontic literature. Those are the examples of the erroneous understanding of the bone response to the mechanical stimulus. Based on a series of animal studies conducted by our group, I will present somewhat paradoxical tooth movement and its clinical implications by answering the following questions. After all, theoretically sound orthodontic treatment strategy will be suggested.
Chris Laspos
CYPRUS
SYNERGY OF ALIGNERS AND ORTHOGNTHIC SURGERY
The integration of digital technology has transformed the landscape of surgical-orthodontic treatment, particularly through the incorporation of clear aligner therapy. This lecture explores the evolving synergy between orthognathic surgery and aligner systems, highlighting how digital workflows enhance diagnosis, treatment planning, surgical simulation, and post-operative orthodontic management.
We will discuss the clinical indications for combining aligners with jaw surgery, case selection criteria, and the role of digital treatment planning software in coordinating interdisciplinary care. Emphasis will be placed on the advantages of virtual surgical planning (VSP), 3D imaging, and aligner-based staging strategies before and after surgery. Clinical cases will demonstrate how aligners can provide esthetic, hygienic, and biomechanical benefits, while maintaining control and predictability throughout the surgical process.
By the end of the session, participants will gain insight into best practices for implementing aligner therapy in complex dentofacial deformity cases and understand how digital synergy is reshaping collaborative treatment models in modern orthodontics and maxillofacial surgery.
INVITED SPEAKERS
Eleftherios G. Kaklamanos
GREECE
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN ORTHODONTICS: IS IT READY TO TAKE OVER?
The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in orthodontics has raised critical questions about its clinical validity, applicability, and ethical implications. As AI-driven technologies become more sophisticated, they promise to enhance diagnostic accuracy, streamline treatment planning, and improve patient monitoring. However, the fundamental question remains: Is AI truly ready to take over orthodontic care, or does it still require human oversight to ensure safe and effective treatment?
This presentation will critically evaluate the current state of AI in orthodontics, focusing on its real-world clinical effectiveness. AI applications have demonstrated promising results, improving precision and efficiency while reducing human error. Additionally, AI-powered remote monitoring tools are transforming patient management by enabling continuous assessment of treatment progress with fewer in-office visits. Despite these advancements, the reliability of AI in complex orthodontic cases, its generalizability across diverse patient populations, and its ability to adapt to unpredictable biological responses remain areas of concern.
Beyond clinical performance, the ethical implications of AI adoption in orthodontics must be addressed. Issues such as data privacy, patient consent, algorithmic biases, and the potential erosion of clinician-patient relationships warrant careful consideration. Furthermore, the question of professional responsibility arises: If AI-driven decisions result in suboptimal outcomes, who holds accountability—the clinician, the software developer, or the AI itself?
While AI is undeniably revolutionizing orthodontics, this presentation will explore whether it is ready to operate independently or if it should remain a complementary tool under human supervision. By assessing both its clinical validity and ethical considerations, we aim to provide a balanced perspective on the future role of AI in orthodontic practice.
Abbas R. Zaher
EGYPT
MANAGEMENT OF DIFFICULT CANINE IMPACTIONS AND TRANSPOSITION
Ectopic teeth are not an infrequent encounter in orthodontic practice. These cases could be encountered in a variety of situations and impaction, transposition and mal position are only examples. The orthodontist is sometimes faced with a variety of treatment options and the decision is usually based on the position and the risk factors.
Treatment plans for complete transposition of the canine often entails keeping the canines in its erupting position, accepting the transposition and finishing the treatment accordingly and in conjunction with other complementary dental procedures. The great antero-posterior distance of canine movement in order to correct the teeth order in cases of complete transposition is sometime a challenge. Factors that will help potentiate the success of correction should be carefully considered while planning the treatment of such cases.
The orthodontists should be able to handle and are responsible for dealing with each and all of these issues.
Gabriela Kjurchieva Chuchkova
NORTH MACEDONIA
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN ORTHODONTICS: BENEFITS AND BURDEN
Contemporary achievements offers us new techniques and opportunities for orthodontic treatment. Artificial intelligence (AI) has been successfully applied to assist orthodontists diagnostics methods supporting treatment planning and outcome. As the prediction of growth in orthodontic patients and response to orthodontic treatment is inherently complex and individual current systems remain insufficient for clinical application. At the same time facing us in front of our quantum of knowledge that we possess, the clinical experience, the dilemmas about the most favorable time for starting the orthodontic treatment in different forms of dentoalveolar and skeletal irregularities
Practicing orthodontics, we are faced with ethical dilemmas also, to persist in our own attitudes drawn from basic knowledge and postulates, theoretical value and reality in practice, against justified or unjustified requests by patients and their parents.
In this lecture will be discussed the main problems we face, dilemmas, decisions and possible solutions will be presented.
Neda Stefanović
SERBIA
TO EXTRACT, OR NOT TO EXTRACT, THAT IS THE QUESTION
Permanent teeth are commonly extracted in orthodontics in order to relieve crowding, reduce incisor protrusion, correct midlines and/or sagittal discrepancies. The discussion about the permanent teeth extractions in orthodontics started in the early 1900s, and the impact of extractions on esthetics, relapse, and TMJ health has been debated ever since, with the inclusion of airways in the past two decades. Nevertheless, even with a significant amount of research investigating these topics, there are no strict guidelines on when to extract and when no to.
Several factors may influence clinicians decisions, like facial and smile esthetics, crowding, growth/aging, gingival phenotype, and the type of facial growth. The lecture will focus on the presentation and interpretation of currently available literature dealing with the effect of extraction and non-extraction treatment on facial and smile esthetics, periodontal health and other factors and try to give guidelines for borderline cases.
Nataša Nikolić Jakoba
SERBIA
TERAPIJA RECESIJA GINGIVE KOD ORTODONTSKIH PACIJENATA
Recesija gingive (RG) nastaje usled apikalne migracije ivice gingive uz posledično ogolićenje korena zuba. Tom prilikom dolazi do eksponiranosti gleđnocementne granice, i mogu biti zahvaćene sve površine zuba (bukalna/lingvalna/aproksimalne). Prisustvo RG može narušiti estetiku osmeha i dovesti do povećane osetljivosti dentina. Prevalencija RG zavisi od starosti, a pojavljuju se relativno rano na jednom ili više zuba, u mlađem uzrastu. RG mogu biti uzrokovane različitim stanjima i oboljenjima i povezane su sa gubitkom dubljih parodontalnih tkiva. Etiologija RG je multikauzalna i uključuje predisponirajuće i kumulativne faktore. Istraživanja su pokazala da mlade odrasle osobe kod kojih je sprovedena ortodontska terapija (OT) imaju dvostruko veći rizik od nastanka RG u poređenju sa osobama koje nisu imale ortodontsko pomeranje zuba. Takođe, uočena je pojava RG u fazi retencije kroz koju prolazi većina ortodontskih pacijenata nakon sprovedene OT. U okviru predavanja, kroz prikaze slučajeva, biće ilustrovani tipični scenariji sa kojima se susrećemo u kliničkoj praksi, a koji zahtevaju interdisciplinarni pristup u terapiji RG. Biće sagledani parodontološki i ortodontski aspekt pristupa u dijagnozi, izradi plana terapije, kao i terapijskim protokolima.
Vjera Perković
CROATIA
STABILNOST ORTODONTSKE TERAPIJE: STARI PROBLEM, NOVI IZAZOV?
Dugoročna stabilnost ortodontske terapije smatra se pokazateljem efikasnosti ortodontske terapije. Iz tog razloga, ortodonti bi uvijek trebali tretirati pacijente s dugoročnom stabilnošću kao krajnjim ciljem. Predavanje će kliničkim slučajevima i pregledom suvremene znanstvene literature dati uvid kako postići stabilnost nakon ortodontske terapije: dati pregled ključnih faktora u planiranju ortodontske terapije, diskutirati smjernice, dijagnostičke parametre, biomehaničke tehnike i posebne okolnosti koje imaju utjecaj na dugoročnu stabilnost ortodontske terapije.
Predrag Janosevic
SERBIA
DEEP WATERS OF ORTHODONTICS-SURFACING FROM A DEEP BITE
At first glance treatment of a deep bite may seem simple — the teeth are overlapping, and we just need to correct them. But beneath the surface lies a complex web of biomechanical, esthetic, and functional challenges.
Much like swimming in deep waters, treating a deep bite requires patience, knowledge, good technique and courage. If we’re not careful, we can easily destabilize the occlusion, provoke relapse, or compromise the esthetic outcome.
To truly understand the story behind a deep bite, we need to have a complete diagnostic foundation. We must be aware of all the specific characteristics that appear at the skeletal level, the facial level, and within orofacial functions in these patients.
This is not a homogeneous group of malocclusions—some patients present with purely dental issues, others with skeletal discrepancies, and in many cases, the two are combined. One thing is clear: there is no room for generalizations in treatment. Every case is a story of its own.
With this lecture we’re diving not just into the deep bite itself, but into everything it takes to safely ‘surface’ from it.
Branislav Vidović
SERBIA
UPRAVLJANJE ESTETIKOM LICA
Uz pozitivne efekte po zdravlje oralnih tkiva i poboljšanje funkcije mastikatornog sistema, unapređenje estetike jedan je od najvažnijih ciljeva ortodontskih tretmana. Pri tome ne mislimo samo na estetiku dentalnih struktura nego i lica kao celine. Na žalost estetika lica je, iako iz aspekta pacijenta možda i najvažnija, u savremenim ortodontskim tretmanima prilično zanemarena, a često i narušena tokom njih i kreće se u suprotnom pravcu od onog koji je proklamovan estetskim normama. Uzrok toga je izostanak opservacija u fazi izrade planova terapije za neophodne terapijske mere koje bi uticale na poželjne promene na licu naših pacijenata tokom terapije ortodontskih anomalija. Nedovoljnost i relativnost znanja o mehanizmima izazivanja promena na licu takođe su jedan od uzročnika smanjene percepcije ortodonata za ove probleme. Zato smo se odlučili da na uzorku od 28 pacijenata ispitamo povezanost promene položaja dentalnih struktura sa promenom veličine Z ugla kao parametrom za procenu estetike lica. Utvrđeno je i potkrepljeno prikazom tretiranih slučajeva svih tipova sagitalnih ortodontskih anomalija da je pomeranje položaja dentalnih struktura kao celine tokom ortodontske terapije u visokoj korelaciji sa promenama vrednosti Z ugla to jest estetikom lica.
Miodrag Popov
SERBIA
NOVA TERAPIJA, NOVI PLAN: BIOMEHANIKA U TRANSFER I RETRETMAN SLUČAJEVIMA
Transfer i retretman slučajevi predstavljaju kompleksan izazov u savremenoj ortodonciji — biomehanički, komunikaciono i pravno. Pacijenti koji dolaze iz prethodnih terapija često su psihološki iscrpljeni i imaju izraženu potrebu za najkraćim mogućim, pravolinijskim tretmanom koji vodi ka stabilnom i estetski zadovoljavajućem rezultatu.
U takvim situacijama nije preporučljivo nastavljati postojeću mehaniku, već je neophodno postaviti novu dijagnozu i biomehanički plan u skladu sa zatečenim stanjem. Poseban akcenat biće stavljen na biomehanikom vođenu terapiju — planiranje sila, momenata i izbor nosača — sa ciljem da se postignu predvidivi rezultati u što kraćem vremenskom periodu.
Pored biomehaničkih aspekata, biće razmatreni i sudsko-medicinski kriterijumi koje je neophodno ispuniti prilikom preuzimanja terapije, uključujući dokumentaciju, saglasnost pacijenta i odgovornost novog terapeuta.
Kroz kliničke primere biće prikazan sistematski pristup ovim slučajevima.
