REIMAGINING ORTHODONTICS

Reimagining orthodontics in the aligners and digital era

The field of orthodontics is undergoing a significant paradigm shift driven by digital technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), and advanced biomaterials. This transformation extends beyond the traditional bracket-based treatments to encompass innovative approaches in diagnosis, treatment planning, monitoring, and patient care. The newly launched `Digital and Aligner Orthodontics` journal is specifically designed to address this evolution, providing a peer-reviewed, open-access platform for rigorous scholarship and evidence-based clinical guidance. It aims to critically evaluate emerging tools and methods, distinguishing genuine clinical value from unsubstantiated claims. The journal also seeks to address the challenges posed by new technologies such as clear aligner therapy, direct-printed appliances, virtual treatment simulation, and tele-orthodontics, particularly concerning treatment accuracy, biological response, patient compliance, long-term outcomes, and ethical implications of proprietary algorithms and closed digital ecosystems. By promoting open access, the journal ensures that scientific knowledge is freely and universally available, maximizing the impact of research and supporting clinicians, researchers, and educators globally. This initiative underscores a commitment to advancing innovation while upholding accountability and fostering a collaborative, evidence-based future for orthodontics.