Carlalberta Verna

Carlalberta Verna, Basel

CURRICULUM VITAE

Theodore_Eliades Carlalberta Verna is Professor and Chair at the Department of Orthodontics and Paediatric Dentistry at the University Centre for Dental Medicine in Basel (UZB), Switzerland since 2013. She obtained her dental degree from the University of Ferrara, Italy, where she completed her doctoral thesis in 1989. She completed a Ph.D. at the University of Florence, Italy in 1996, in collaboration with the institute of Anatomy of the University of Modena. She continued her research activities at the Department of Orthodontics and at the Institute of Pathology at the University of Aarhus, Denmark, where she completed, in 1999, a second Ph.D. She received her orthodontic training under Professor Birte Melsen at the University of Aarhus, Denmark. From 2002 to 2012 she served as an Associate Professor in Orthodontics at the same University, where she is still attached as visiting Professor. Her research focus is on bone turnover in the craniofacial region, bone modelling and remodelling during orthodontic tooth movement under physiological and pathological conditions, and 3 dimensional analysis of orthodontic and orthopaedic treatment. Her clinical focus is on the treatment of patients affected by Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, of asymmetries, and on the use of rational biomechanics. Professor Verna is author or co-author of several peer reviewed publications that have been rewarded at international levels. She is full member of the Angle Society East Component, and she is in the editorial board or reviewer for international scientific journals.

ABSTRACT

Orthodontic biomechanics in patients with periodontal disease

The biomechanical approach for periodontally compromised patients differs from that of healthy patients. The force level has to be kept as low as possible, and the loads should be evenly distributed with root-controlled movements, thus keeping the moment-to-force ratios constant. The treatment goals are often limited to the re-establishment of a proper interarch relationship and satisfactory esthetic and periodontal results that can be maintained. The biomechanical system necessary to achieve the goals has to be established. The active and passive units must be clearly identified. Vertical-control mechanics should be considered not only to correct the tooth position but also to control the cone effect. The PDL should be loaded in a uniform way. The types of tooth movement which ensure this type of loading, include translation and controlled tipping. To achieve translation, the line of action of the force has to pass through the center of resistance of a tooth or a group of teeth. The moment should be sufficient to achieve root control and to avoid round tripping of the teeth as happens when the force is applied at the crown level. The constancy of the moment-to-force ratio protects against round tripping, which would promote undesired cell activity, and therefore decrease treatment time. The group of teeth that needs to be displaced should be moved along a line of action determined during the planning phase. According to the different clinical situations, different lines of actions may need to be planned. Relevant clinical cases will be shown.