How to 'Elongate' Roots via Orthodontic Treatment: The Impact of Biology of Impacted Teeth

It is known that in general orthodontic tooth movement results in root resorption in various degrees. Accordingly, movement of impacted tooth with short or immature roots have largely been contraindicated. At the cellular level, however, it is clear that immature root apices harbor potentially strong apical papillary stem cells. In order to maximize their tissue highly powerful regeneration potential, timely and precise intervention is crucial. For instance, timely and precise orthodontic traction would facilitate root elongation. Our recent publication supports the evidence of orthodontically induced root elongation based on deductive reasoning of the biology of tooth deveopment. In this presentation, we will discuss the paradoxical tooth movement based on biological evidence and demonstrate clinical cases of intentional root elongation via orthodontic distraction for the first time.