How orthodontic research can be enriched and advanced by the novel and promising evolutions in biomedicine

Abstract

Recent advances in developmental, molecular and cellular biology as well as biomedical technologies show a promising future for crossing the gap between biomedical basic sciences and clinical orthodontics. Orthodontic research shall utilise the advances and technologies in biomedical fields including genomics, molecular biology, bioinformatics and developmental biology. This review provides an update on the novel and promising evolutions in biomedicine and highlights their current and likely future implementation to orthodontic practice. Biotechnological opportunities in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopaedics are presented with regards to CRISPR technology, multi-omics sequencing, gene therapy, stem cells and regenerative medicine. Future orthodontic advances in terms of translational research are also discussed. Given the breadth of applications and the great number of questions that the presently available novel biomedical tools and techniques raise, their use may provide orthodontic research in the future with a great potential in understanding the aetiology of dentofacial deformities and malocclusions as well as in improving the practice of this clinical specialty.