As the West Virginia University School of Dentistry Department of Orthodontics celebrates a 50th anniversary milestone, faculty look forward making a difference with new technology and exceptional providers. 

(Click for information on the Sept. 10 continuing education event and anniversary banquet.)

Program Director

Dr. Khaled AlSharif has joined the department as the graduate program director. He is already preparing the curriculum for the 2024 accreditation site visit and has implemented a new cadaver course to teach residents how to place temporary anchorage devices (TADs). 

Technology

The orthodontic clinic acquired a new pan/ceph machine with the help of alumni. The new equipment is capable of taking a panoramic view of the crestal bone level as well as bite wings.

"I think our residents will enjoy the quality of the radiograph and use it for research," Dr. Peter Ngan, department chair, said. 

A second iTERO intraoral scanner has also been added to the clinic. 

"As we prepare our residents for private practice after graduation, they will be equipped with digital orthodontic skills to treat adult patients with clear aligners," Ngan said. 

Additionally, a 3D printer, donated by Dr. Larry Kalaskey and a few additional alumni, will allow residents to begin to make retainers and simple aligners for WVU Dental orthodontic patients. Current residents and faculty have already ccmpleted training with the printer and software. 

"This is a new challenge for our residents and an opportunity to move our orthodontic education to the next level," Ngan said. 

The Department of Orthodontics has recently been published by the Asian Pacific Orthodontic Society (APOS). 

An experts corner submission on Early timely orthdontic treatment: Treatment of unerupted maxillary laterals was published April 10, 2021. The publication looked at a need for more information as to which treatments are the most effective and less costly if they are initiated timely in the mixed dentition.

The APOS also published the original article Comparison of skeletal and dentoalveolar changes
between pure bone-borne and hybrid tooth-borne and bone-borne maxillary rapid palatal expanders using cone-beam computed tomography The objectives of the study were to compare the skeletal, dentoalveolar, and periodontal changes between two types of microimplant-assisted rapid maxillary expansion appliances: The bone-anchored maxillary expanders (BAME) and the tooth-bone-anchored maxillary skeletal expander (MSE).

Alumni Board Certifications

Dr. Martin Avey (WVU Ortho ’16)

Dr. DoBin Choi (WVU Ortho ’17)

Dr. Mohamad Sarraj (WVU Ortho ’20)

Dr. Ghaddy AlSaty (WVU Ortho ’19)

Dr. Joanna Song (WVU Ortho ’20)

Dr. Michael Johnston (WVU Ortho 1998)