One of our life missions is to share with others ideas which seem to make sense to us. We believe it is important to test ideas and submit them to scientific scrutiny to the degree possible in a profession like orthodontics which is based on clinical practice with almost infinite uncontrolled variables. Some of the articles on this site are scientific and some are anecdotal based on 30+ years of clinical practice and observations. We encourage you to read these articles carefully and to feel free to share them with others who might benefit.
William M. Hang, DDS, MSD
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In Dr. Hang’s travels to find better ways to do orthodontics, he was fortunate to meet Dr. John Mew from London in March of 1990. Dr. Hang views Dr. Mew as the most critical thinker ever in the orthodontic profession. Dr. Mew had summarized and connected many ideas in a way that no one ever had done thereby providing a philosophy which made total sense to Dr. Hang. Prior to that time orthodontic treatment and scientific research were quite separate with much of what is done in clinical practice either at odds with or not supported by research.
Clinical research on humans which can yield meaningful results is exceedingly hard to do for ethical and procedural (double blind studies, control groups, etc.) reasons. This article published in the World Journal of Orthodontics (peer reviewed) compares traditional orthodontic treatment results with results achieved using Biobloc Orthotropics™. Since the subjects for this study are identical twins (identical DNA) a critically important variable is removed. The differences in facial balance over a decade after treatment was complete, as determined by a lay panel of judges, are profound and significant for any parent who values their child’s facial appearance. |
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Cranio is a peer reviewed journal read by the majority of doctors who treat temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems and associated pain patterns. The article details changes to the airway in a group of more than 50 of Dr. Hang’s consecutively treated Biobloc Orthotropics™ patients. The pre and post treatment airways were evaluated from lateral head x-rays using a sophisticated computer program of geometric morphometrics. The author, Dr. David Singh, is a consultant to the National Institutes of Health, has over 70 articles in the research literature, and has a long history in academic research.
The long term significance of the improvements in the airway with this technique shown in this study can only be imagined. Dr. John Remmers, the Harvard trained physician who coined the term Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), views OSA as a structural problem resulting from an airway made small by poor jaw position. From his perspective a bigger airway would tend to decrease a person’s chances of developing OSA. No promises for future health or longevity can be implied from this article, but all health care practitioners who treat OSA who have seen these figures are excited to know this can be done. You decide how this might impact your family members. |
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Dr. Hang was asked to write an article for the Journal of the American Orthodontic Society. It appeared in 2007 and has been submitted for an award given by an association of dental journal editors for the best article of the year. The title pretty much says it all. Ideas which are helpful to people of all ages are presented with case illustrations. |
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Dr. Hang was asked to speak at the 20th Annual Session of the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain in Oklahoma City. He was asked to review the changes in orthodontics in that 20 year time frame, compare them to the present, and suggest a future direction for the profession. This presentation was so favorably received, Dr. Hang was asked to summarize these ideas in this Guest Editorial in Cranio (peer reviewed journal read by most TMJ practitioners). |
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This study is the “companion” study to the airway study published in the Journal of Craniomandibular Practice in April, 2007. Using the same group of Dr. Hang’s patients who had received Biobloc Orthotropic™ treatment, Dr. Dave Singh analyzed the soft-tissue profiles to assess what changes could be attributed to Biobloc Orthotropic™ treatment.
Dr. Singh used 14 landmarks on lateral head photographs to help assess the direction of growth in patients treated with Biobloc Orthotropics™ and an untreated control group. It was found that patients treated with Biobloc Orthotropics™ had a more consistent growth direction of approximately 45 degrees. The untreated group had facial growth that was less consistent and more vertical (longer faces).
The conclusion, therefore, was that “soft tissue facial changes associated with Biobloc (Orthotropic™) treatment are consistent with a more balanced facial profile.” For the first time in the history of the orthodontic profession the results of this study contradict the long held belief that vertical growth (unfavorable) cannot be conservatively (non-surgically) altered to horizontal (favorable) growth. |
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There is a lot more to to dentistry today than meets the eyeteeth. For one thing, there is growing evidence that links periodontal disease with a higher risk for heart disease and stroke. Plaque that builds up in teeth is not the same as plaque in blood vessels, but researchers believe that either some of the bacteria that causes periodontitis may be connected to other diseases, or that perhaps the inflammation of the diseased gums spreads throughout the body. While ongoing studies to determine the exact cause-effect relationship are underway, the link between good oral health and good heart health seems strong enough to merit getting the kids to the dentist early and often. |
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