The future of dentistry: How will personalized medicine affect orthodontic treatment?

Gustavo ZANARDI, William R. PROFFIT, Sylvia A. FRAZIER-BOWERS

Scientists are rapidly developing and employing diagnostic tests in medical diagnosis based on genomic, proteomics and metabolomics to better predict the patients’ responses to targeted therapy. This field termed ‘personalized medicine’ combines human genome, information technology, and biotechnology with nanotechnology to provide treatment based on individual variation versus population trends. Similarly, within the last 30 years, orthodontists have seen the introduction of modern appliance designs, digital records, advanced imaging capabilities, and the integration of soft tissue esthetics into diagnosis and treatment planning. It is relatively easy to see how these introductions have advanced the specialty. However, when considering the influence of genetics on contemporary orthodontics, the advances are perhaps not as obvious. The views presented here are based on the central tenet that applying genetic knowledge to the field of orthodontics will augment the current differential diagnosis of malocclusion, permitting recognition of different types of malocclusion that are etiologically discrete and so might respond to treatment in different ways. This would undoubtedly change the way clinicians choose therapeutic modalities in the future. [...]

How to cite: Zanardi G, Proffit WR, Frazier-Bowers SA. The future of dentistry: How will personalized medicine affect orthodontic treatment? Dental Press J Orthod. 2012 May-June;17(3):3-6.

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