Novel Treatment for Dental Ankylosis

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey5 enrolled

Overview

The study is to determine whether one (or two) new method(s) will help treat dental ankylosis. This study tackles the challenging tooth-bone fusion disorder of ankylosis. In growing patients, ankylosis causes significant developmental bone defects due to its inhibition of the vertical growth of the affected alveolar bone area.

Currently, there is no treatment available to reverse ankylosis' pathology and therefore it often leads to extraction of the tooth in young patients to prevent more serious pathological complications. In this study, the investigators will use toothbrush-generated vibration and mini-implant-assisted heavy force delivery approaches to treating ankylosis in deciduous and permanent teeth. If successful, the techniques will completely restore the full eruption capacity of an ankylosed tooth by reversing its pathological development. The purpose of the research is to investigate whether a new treatment approach provides an effective noninvasive or minimally invasive treatment for dental ankylosis. Study participants will be asked to use an electric toothbrush handle to vibrate the ankylosed tooth for 15-60 seconds every day for five days and have a few follow-up visits to the clinic. If the ankylosed tooth is a permanent tooth and the electric toothbrush vibration approach does not work, the participants will be asked to have a six-week period of orthodontic treatment for the tooth with the placement of a mini-implant near the tooth and then have monthly follow-up visits for up to five months.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Dental Ankylosis

Interventions

Electric Toothbrush-Generated VibrationDEVICE

Testing electric toothbrush handle-generated vibration to treat ankylosis of teeth

Mini-Implant-Assisted Orthodontic TreatmentDEVICE

Testing mini-implant-assisted heavy force application to treat ankylosis of teeth

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 6 YearsMax age: 30 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Full informed consent and/or informed assent (minors) * Be willing and able to comply with all study requirements * Male or female * Aged 6-30 * Clinically diagnosed to have either an ankylosed deciduous tooth or a non-third molar mildly- to moderately- ankylosed permanent tooth, and with crown partially visible in the oral cavity. Clinical diagnosis of ankylosis includes the following factors: dental trauma history, infra-eruption with no apparent mechanical obstruction or other cause, contralateral tooth in occlusal contact for over one year, decreased alveolar bone height, no or reduced tooth mobility, and x-ray or cone-beam computer tomography (CBCT) imaging indications of an obliterated PDL space. Ultimately, the diagnosis will be confirmed by lack of tooth movement discovered during orthodontic treatment or when subjected to a heavy force through our study (Phelan M K, et al. 1990). * English speaking (primary language or fluent) Exclusion Criteria: * Severe and extensive ankylosis of permanent teeth as diagnosed through CBCT * Primary failure of eruption with previous orthodontic treatment * Any systemic disorders particularly those affecting bleeding or skeletal health * Any systemic medications * Any mental or developmental disorders that affect patient understanding or compliance * Allergic to our local anesthetic drug * Can pass an infectious disease to someone else right now (e.g., having a flu) * Is pregnant * Has a history of smoking * Have not reached the age of 6 or older than age of 30 * Not cooperative enough during dental examinations * The dentist finds out that he/she is not able to keep the mini-implant, the brackets and the wires in place around the tooth that is being treated * Not fluent in English

Locations (1)

Rutgers School of Dental Medicine

Newark, New Jersey, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change from the Baseline Ankylosed Tooth Position During 9 Months Period

The change of ankylosed tooth position will be assessed clinically and radiographically through measuring the distance (mm) of the lowest (maxillary arch) or highest (mandibular arch) cusp tip to the occlusal plane where full occlusal contact would have been established.

Time frame: For vibration group, it will be on Day 0, 33, 61, 89 if necessary after vibration; for vibration and mini-implant group, it will be on Day 0, 33, 61, 89, 131, 159, 187, 215, 243, 271 if necessary after mini-implant placement.

Change from the Baseline Alveolar Bone Defect Level of the Ankylosed Tooth During 9 Months Period

The vertical alveolar bone defect at the ankylosed tooth position will be assessed clinically through measuring the periodontal probing depth (mm) and radiographically through measuring the distance between the alveolar bone attachment position to the neighboring tooth's cementum-enamel junction (CEJ) in the tooth's long axis direction (mm). The change of these measurements will be recorded.

Time frame: For vibration group, it will be on Day 0 and the last day of visit (Day 33, 61 or 89, depending on the outcome); for vibration and mini-implant group, it will be on Day 0 and the last day of visit from the vibration phase and Day 131, 215 if necessary.

Secondary Outcomes

Mobility of Ankylosed Tooth

The mobility of the ankylosed tooth will be assessed clinically. Mobility will be classified into three Grades: Grade 1: \< 1 mm (horizontal) Grade 2: \> 1 mm (horizontal) Grade 3: \> 1 mm (horizontal+vertical mobility)

Time frame: For vibration group, on Day 0, 6, 33, 61, 89 if necessary; for vibration and mini-implant group on Day 0, 42, 70, 98, 126, 154, 198 if necessary

Ankylosed Tooth Periodontal Ligament (PDL) Obliteration

The PDL obliteration will be assessed radiographically using small field of view Cone Bean Computed Tomography (CBCT) images. Examiner will assess the CBCT images and determine the PDL obliteration area and changes (increased, decreased, disappeared).

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.