Innovative Application of Diathermy in Orthodontics: A Case Report

Nunzio Cirulli, Alessio Danilo Inchingolo, Assunta Patano, Sabino Ceci, Grazia Marinelli, Giuseppina Malcangi, Giovanni Coloccia, Valentina Montenegro, Chiara Di Pede, Anna Maria Ciocia, Giuseppe Barile, Antonio Mancini, Giulia Palmieri, Daniela Azzollini, Biagio Rapone, Ludovica Nucci, Ioana Roxana Bordea, Antonio Scarano, Felice Lorusso, Gianluca Martino Tartaglia, Cinzia Maspero, Manuel Nuzzolese, Filippo Cardarelli, Daniela Di Venere, Angelo Michele Inchingolo, Gianna Dipalma and Francesco Inchingolo
Additional contact information
Nunzio Cirulli: Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Alessio Danilo Inchingolo: Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Assunta Patano: Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Sabino Ceci: Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Grazia Marinelli: Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Giuseppina Malcangi: Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Giovanni Coloccia: Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Valentina Montenegro: Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Chiara Di Pede: Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Anna Maria Ciocia: Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Giuseppe Barile: Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Antonio Mancini: Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Giulia Palmieri: Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Daniela Azzollini: Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Biagio Rapone: Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Ludovica Nucci: Multidisciplinary Department of Medical-Surgical and Dental Specialties, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via L. De Crecchio 6, 80138 Naples, Italy
Ioana Roxana Bordea: Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Faculty of Dentistry, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Antonio Scarano: Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
Felice Lorusso: Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
Gianluca Martino Tartaglia: UOC Maxillo-Facial Surgery and Dentistry, Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, School of Dentistry, Fondazione IRCCS Ca Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, 20100 Milan, Italy
Cinzia Maspero: UOC Maxillo-Facial Surgery and Dentistry, Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, School of Dentistry, Fondazione IRCCS Ca Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, 20100 Milan, Italy
Manuel Nuzzolese: Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham NG5 1PB, UK
Filippo Cardarelli: Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Daniela Di Venere: Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Angelo Michele Inchingolo: Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Gianna Dipalma: Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Francesco Inchingolo: Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 12, 1-11

Abstract: Introduction: Several strategies have been proposed in the literature to accelerate tooth movement, many of which are invasive and have numerous side effects, such as surgical techniques (corticotomy and piezocision technique). This research investigates to what extent diathermy can accelerate the orthodontic alignment phase. Materials and Methods: A patient with lower teeth crowding index of the same magnitude was selected. The orthodontic treatment with Nickel–Titanium (NiTi) thermal arc 0.015 in the lower arch was performed, associated with a weekly application of diathermy using the intraoral handpiece. The total duration of treatment was three weeks. During each session, an intraoral transducer was employed to stimulate the hard and soft tissues of the left dental hemiarch, which was also orthodontically aligned like the right one. Results: Comparing the tooth movements of four elements of the two hemiarchies, it was found that, overall, the two teeth examined on the treated side underwent a more significant number of changes than on the untreated side, although not by a significant amount. Conclusions: The use of diathermy, according to the authors, is a non-invasive approach that may speed up the orthodontic alignment phase and reduce treatment duration, resulting in a lower risk of caries, gingival recessions, root resorptions, and patient compliance improvement, without side effects. Further studies and an adequate sample size will be needed to confirm the findings.

Keywords: dentistry; orthodontics; orthodontic brackets; tooth movement techniques; diathermy; electrotherapy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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