Appointment Intervals and Orthodontic Tooth Movement

Orthodontic Treatment Clinical Trial

Official title: A Randomized Clinical Trial Investigating the Effect of Appointment Intervals on Orthodontic Tooth Alignment

Status Recruiting

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate rapidity of tooth alignment in a randomised clinical trial of orthodontic patients allocated randomly into two different appointment intervals groups. First group will be reviewed every two weeks to adjust their braces while the second group will be reviewed every 8 weeks.

Clinical Trial Description

Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry concerned primarily with the correction of dental crowding or tooth malalignment. The first phase of fixed appliance orthodontic treatment is concerned with tooth alignment and relies upon a rapid and predictable response of the appliance system to the forces applied by the aligning archwire. The appropriate length of time between orthodontic appointments, generally called the 'appointment interval', has been the subject of debate for many years. Doctors all have their own preferences, based either on what they were taught in their orthodontic specialty programs or on community norms. Little evidence has been presented in the orthodontic literature to support these biases. The appointment interval may influence tooth alignment rates and treatment time along with other variables, such as periodontal status. Accelerating orthodontic tooth movement can significantly reduce treatment duration and the risk of side-effects. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Orthodontic Treatment

• NCT number: NCT04050657
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
• Contact: Prof. Martyn Cobourne
• Phone: 02071888028
• Email: martyn.cobourne@kcl.ac.uk
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: December 1, 2019
• Completion date: May 1, 2022