Rumor 1: There are many complications associated with orthodontic treatment, so it should be avoided if possible.
✔/✗: Incorrect statement.
In reality, the sequelae associated with orthodontic treatment are far fewer than people often perceive. When appropriate appliances and forces are utilized for correction, and patients comply well with treatment, these supposed sequelae can be completely avoided. In the case of adult orthodontic treatment, there are indeed some special considerations.
For instance, adult patients may already have periodontal disease or gingival recession, and in cases of malalignment, there may be insufficient bony support between teeth, which can lead to the emergence of “black triangle” spaces after correction.
This phenomenon is relatively common in adult orthodontic treatment, but it is not a direct consequence of the treatment itself; rather, it is a natural occurrence during the improvement of tooth alignment. To minimize the occurrence of these issues, orthodontists will take into account the impact on the periodontium and tooth roots during treatment, employ gentle orthodontic forces, and control the duration of treatment to reduce adverse reactions.
Rumor 2: Orthodontic treatment cannot be done after a certain age because the teeth and bones have already set.
✔/✗: Incorrect statement.
Orthodontic treatment actually has no absolute age limit. According to documented records, the oldest patient globally to undergo orthodontic treatment was 90 years old, and this patient completed treatment at 92.
In my personal professional experience, the oldest patient I have treated for orthodontic correction was 68 years old. These cases demonstrate that age is not an obstacle to orthodontic treatment.
The key lies in the fact that patients of different age groups should have different treatment goals and methods during orthodontic correction. For some older patients, by selecting appropriate appliances and treatment strategies, proper tooth alignment and occlusion adjustment can be achieved in a short period of time.
This not only helps improve oral function but also creates favorable conditions for subsequent restorative work, such as implant restoration.
Rumor 3: Individuals with periodontal disease cannot undergo orthodontic treatment.
✔/✗: Incorrect statement.
For patients with existing periodontal disease, orthodontic treatment is not only a means to improve tooth alignment but also an important measure to promote overall oral health, often yielding surprisingly good results after treatment.
In managing patients with periodontal disease, the collaboration between the orthodontist and the periodontist is crucial; they act like a “couple” where the periodontist manages the patient’s periodontal health, while the orthodontist employs gentle orthodontic forces during treatment and shortens the duration of treatment to comprehensively ensure the patient’s periodontal health and orthodontic outcomes.
Rumor 4: When children’s teeth have not yet fully erupted, orthodontic treatment, if conducted, will relapse.
✔/✗:Incorrect statement.
Early intervention is crucial in orthodontic treatment, as many dental and jaw malformations require intervention before the completion of tooth replacement. For instance, in cases of maxillary retrognathia, early treatment before tooth replacement is desirable to advance the retrognathic maxilla, thereby facilitating normal tooth growth and limiting excessive mandibular growth.
However, early orthodontic correction must be based on the actual dental development of the child, rather than being conducted blindly. Treatment should be personalized with diagnostic and treatment plans tailored to different developmental stages, such as the deciduous dentition stage, early and late mixed dentition stages.
Additionally, parents should choose experienced orthodontists, as professional orthodontists can accurately grasp the timing and indications for treatment, thereby avoiding overtreatment caused by inappropriate early correction.
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