Prof. Athanasios E. Athanasiou

New Technologies and their Challenges in Orthodontics – Round Table

The demand for more esthetic and minimally visible orthodontic treatment gave rise to the development of new orthodontic appliances. 3D technology, material evolution and artificial intelligence were used to create and further develop the various types of clear aligner appliances. Throughout the years and with the evolution of this clinical method, this technique has been expanded in treating not only adults but also children and teenagers. Important component of the clear aligner treatment is the placement of a sufficient number of resin attachments on the teeth, few or many depending on the case. This procedure, by removing and bonding again the resin attachments, should be repeated in case of refinement. Documented clinical cases will be presented to exhibit the increased capabilities of clear aligner orthodontic treatment.

Furthermore, the concept of customization and in-house manufacturing has been introduced with the aim to gradually overtake the traditional orthodontic treatment procedures in which appliances are manufactured by external companies. New CAD software enables the 3D designing and printing of customized orthodontic brackets using resin or zirconia in the orthodontic office. Printed aligners seem to have a promising future of aligner treatment printed by the orthodontist in the office following a specific protocol. However, the absence of protocols which will define the way to use these new technologies and the materials have to alert the orthodontic community.

This round table will attempt to address and discuss possible hazards for the patient, the clinician, the orthodontic staff and the environment related to plastic-based materials of clear aligners, the use of the resin attachments, and the need for material and manufacturing workflow testing protocols before using them in the orthodontic offices.

Short Curriculum Vitae

Dr. Athanasios E. Athanasiou is the Dean and Professor of Orthodontics at the School of Dentistry, European University Cyprus. He is Honorary Professor of Orthodontics, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), UAE. He is the President of the Institute of Scientific Affairs of the Hellenic Dental Association. He graduated from the School of Dentistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece, and completed his Orthodontic Residency at Temple University, USA. He earned an MSD from Temple University and a PhD from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. He was President of the World Federation of Orthodontists, the European Federation of Orthodontics, the Greek Orthodontic Society and the Hellenic NARIC. He was President of the School of Dentistry and Professor and Chair of Orthodontics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, Dean and Professor of Orthodontics at MBRU, and Coordinator of Postgraduate Orthodontic Education at Aarhus University, Denmark. He has co-supervised 67 Ph.D. and Master’s theses, has published more than 200 scientific articles and chapters, has made more than 460 scientific presentations in 49 countries, and has edited 5 textbooks. He serves as referee in many scientific journals and international institutions, and is honorary member of several national orthodontic societies. He has received the Edward Cherkas Memorial Award by Temple University, the Zendium Prize by Aarhus University, the Louise Ada Jarabak Memorial Award by the American Association of Orthodontists, the Award of the European Federation of Orthodontics, and the Award for Excellence in Research, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He maintains a private practice limited to Orthodontics in Athens, Greece since 1992.