Dr. Nearchos Panayi

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

Nearchos C. Panayi, DDS, DOrth, MOrth, is an orthodontist based in Limassol, Cyprus. He is a scientific collaborator at the European University Cyprus, Dental school and a visiting Research Scientist at the Clinic of Orthodontics,Center of Dental Medicine, University of Zurich, in Switzerland. He studied dentistry at Athens Dental School (1992–1997) and orthodontics at Tel Aviv University (1998–2001) before building his private practice, which has grown into two fully digital orthodontic offices in Limassol and Larnaca, Cyprus. His passion for digital technology encouraged him to use it in orthodontics, and as a huge fan of the in-house 3D designing and printing concept in orthodontics, Dr Panayi has helped develop concepts, ideas, and methods that will transform traditional orthodontics to customized-centered digital orthodontics. He is the inventor of the orthodontic CAD software Ubrackets for in-house designing of customized fixed orthodontic appliances, and he introduced the use of general-purpose CAD software in orthodontics for orthodontic appliance design. He is the editor of «DIY, Design It Yourself Orthodontics» book that was released by Quintessence USA in July 2021. He is a co-author in other orthodontics books and published articles on in –house customized brackets, aligner printing and bracket material research. He is an associate editor of the “Progress in Orthodontics” journal. He is married and has six children.