Dentist's invention brings relief to patients with braces
By: christen beck
Issue date: 11/21/08 Section: News
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The invention, created by Dr. Roberto Carrillo, reduces pain by locating the insertion spot for miniscrews commonly used in orthodontia. Before the "Miniscrew Implant Placement Guide Kit" was created, implanting miniscrews accurately, without hitting a tooth's root, was not a fool-proof procedure.
Director of Technology Development Lynne Opperman said the invention's prototypes were first built and tested 18 months ago. He said the placement kit will benefit less-experienced dentists.
"Young and less experienced dentists are very enthusiastic about the device. Dentists already experienced with miniscrew implant placement might find them less helpful," Opperman said. "However, as miniscrew implants are a relatively new technology, most dentists are not familiar with their placement, and should find the guide very helpful in placing these devices."
Miniature screws are available in a variety of sizes and serve many purposes, including binding wires for the movement of teeth in orthodontics to decrease pain. Prior to this invention's inception, it was difficult for orthodontists to find a method for inserting miniscrew implants without touching the roots of the teeth.
"If you touch the root of the tooth, it's extremely painful for the patient," said A&M System Senior Licensing Manager Page Heller. "[The orthodontist is] going to be saving having to redo a patient that has pain from having an implant located in the wrong position."
The placement kit resolves the implant placement problem. This kit was specifically designed to insert miniscrew implants accurately, without hitting the root.
"What our dentist has come up with is a method of using a guide when you take X-rays of the teeth that you can put temporarily in the patient's mouth, and it gives you a grid that you can work off of," Heller said.
The grid allows orthodontists to navigate their way around a tooth's root to avoid causing a patient pain when they insert the miniscrew. Orthodontists have to examine X-rays to estimate the root's location.
The patent-pending guide remains in the laboratory stages, miniscrew implants are marketable, Heller said.
"The market for these things is huge. The dental implant market is projected to be $3.5 billion by 2010. Just for the orthodontic use [the market is] half a billion dollars."
When Heller visited the Texas Life Science Conference in Houston he came across inquiries about the invention ranging from small businesses to venture capitalists. He said that orthodontic specialists have reacted positively.
"I think that it will be very popular," he said. "In fact, they tried it in the clinic in the College of Dentistry, and every clinician that has tried it wants it. They [ask], 'When can I get this?'"
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