Early Orthodontics: Part 1

The timing of orthodontic intervention is contentious and has been debated many times. It has been suggested that problems in the mixed dentition can be fully corrected with interceptive treatment in approximately 15% of cases an improved in 49% of cases (Ackerman and Proffit 1980).

In our view, early treatment that's to be targeted to the needs of the individual and there must be an obvious gain with starting treatment early. The more cases I have observed, I have realised that there is a huge benefit that early treatment when used appropriately.

Not only are the benefits dentally related such as improvement off and increased overjet, the removal of a premature interference leading to a crossbite, space creation for an erupting tooth to name a few but more s, there are huge benefits psychosocially for these young individuals.

In this article, we highlight several cases where early treatment not only improved the dental abnormality but also improved self-esteem, self-perception and confidence.

The Case: Class III Malocclusion

Our 9-year-old patient had a reverse overjet bite with functional shift and was unhappy with his smile.

Findings:

Reverse overjet with functional shift
Hypoplastic first molars
Lack of space for upper lateral incisors
Traumatic occlusion
Poor smile aesthetics

The Treatment: 11 Months

stainless steel crowns upper right first molar and lower right first molar
upper fixed appliance with disclusion with compomer
coil spring activation upper laterals
selective grinding of upper primary canines
retention with upper nights removable Hawley retainer with space for erupting adult teeth
re-evaluation for comprehensive braces when all permanent teeth erupted