The fascinating world of non-coding RNA and how it may help to unravel the mysteries of tooth movement regulation.

The innovative study presented by Huang and co-workers in this issue of the European Journal of Orthodontics is one of the first giving insight into the mostly disregarded world of non-coding ribonucleic acids in orthodontics. In other fields of science non-coding ribonucleic acids have been shown to play a major role in the regulation of cell metabolism as well as the aetiology of diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and periodontitis. Their pilot study on the possible function of differentially expressed long non-coding ribonucleic acids during mechanical compression of periodontal ligament stem cells, as well as methodological approach of whole-transcriptome sequencing with bioinformatory analyses, provides ample possibilities for future basic orthodontic research, which will hopefully greatly expand our knowledge of tooth movement regulation. This field could provide new therapeutic opportunities and diagnostic and treatment aids for orthodontists as well as our patients. This commentary will discuss the implications and importance of the findings of Huang and co-workers in the context of current research in orthodontics and molecular biology.