Preface to COAST 2016 innovators’ workshop on personalized and precision orthodontic therapy

Objective A second focused workshop explored how to transfer novel findings into clinical orthodontic practice. Setting and Sample Population Participants met in West Palm Beach (Florida, USA), on 9‐11 September 2016 for the Consortium for Orthodontic Advances in Science and Technology 2016 Innovators’ Workshop (COAST). Approximately 65 registered attendees considered and discussed information from 27 to 34 speakers, 8 to 15 poster presenters and four lunch‐hour focus group leaders. Material and Methods The innovators’ workshops were organized according to five themed sessions. The aims of the discussion sessions were to identify the following: i) the strength and impact of the evidenced‐based discoveries, ii) required steps to enable further development and iii) required steps to translate these new discoveries into orthodontic practice. Results The role of gene‐environment interactions that underlie complex craniofacial traits was the focus of several sessions. It was agreed that diverse approaches are called for, such as (i) large‐scale collaborative efforts for future genetic studies of complex traits; (ii) deep genome sequencing to address the issues of isolated mutations; (iii) quantifying epigenetic‐environmental variables in diverse areas myofascial pain, alveolar remodelling and mandibular growth. Common needs identified from the themed sessions were multiscale/multispecies modelling and experimentation using controlled and quantified mechanics and translation of the findings in bone biology between species. Panel discussions led to the consensus that a consortium approach to establish standards for intra‐oral scanning and 3D imaging should be initiated. Conclusions Current and emerging technologies still require supported research to translate new findings from the laboratory to orthodontic practice.