Abstract Orthodontic treatments can seem overwhelming, burdensome, and uncomfortable for patients, parents, and – when it comes to emergency visits – for orthodontists as well. As we evolve the industry, we must keep the patient’s experience top of mind and put them in the driver’s seat. In her article, Dr. Sima Yakoby Epstein, Founder and CEO of … Read more
Abstract Extraction of first premolars is usually the chosen treatment for Class I severe crowding/protrusion. However, the treatment will be complicated if premolars are with Dens Evaginatus (DE), called Leong premolar, and unilateral scissors bite is present. In this case of an adolescent, the two maxillary second premolars and the mandibular left second premolar and … Read more
Transverse facial growth is the first dimension to complete in the growing adolescent and is often overlooked by clinicians in the absence of a posterior crossbite.1,2 Early diagnosis and treatment is critical for prevention of more invasive treatment modalities such as orthognathic surgery. However, interceptive treatment may not always be feasible as an increasing number … Read more
Orthognathic surgery (OGS), often referred to as “corrective jaw surgery,” involves complex three-dimensional analysis and movements of the maxilla, mandible, and chin. It includes a variety of procedures that can help manage malocclusion, a constricted airway, and esthetics. Traditionally, OGS involved a clinical and surgical workup consisting of collecting several data points, performing a mock … Read more
A patient presents to your office with missing maxillary lateral incisors. What do you do? The answer to this is nuanced and dependent on multiple variables. According to a meta-analysis conducted by Polder et al1 the incidence of agenesis of permanent maxillary lateral incisors differs based on continent and gender, with females having an overall … Read more
Now, more than ever, we keep hearing and reading about how dental hygienists are leaving the profession. New and ever-changing guidelines, critical Quality Assurance programs, and personal burn-out are adding up and causing dental hygienists to explore other career paths. Before you jump ship on a profession you have spent years in school training for … Read more
A 9-year-old female patient visited the orthodontic office for an initial consultation. She presented with a Class II malocclusion, crowding, and high/blocked out canines on the panorex. (Fig. 1A) The patient was placed on a reassessment schedule and returned 16 months later. She presented with an improved arch form that resulted in decreased crowding. A … Read more
Introduction Displaying an optimal amount of gingiva while smiling is one of the critical elements in the ideal conceptual smile.1 In orthodontics and aesthetic dentistry, it is not rare to encounter a patient complaining of a ‘gummy smile’ or excess gingiva on smiling.2 Therefore, it is essential to understand the etiology, biology and management strategies … Read more
Now that Defy Gravity, the University of Toronto’s new campaign, has been launched, the faculty has put together a Campaign Cabinet of alumni who want to help the school achieve its goals. This volunteer group is made up of nine individuals who exemplify service to the school and have not only expressed an interest in … Read more
INTRODUCTION Periodontal diseases are a diverse family of inflammatory conditions that affect the periodontium and negatively impact our oral health.1,2 Orthodontic appliances, such as traditional brackets and wires can create numerous plaque retention sites, increasing the patients’ risk of developing periodontal disease and dental caries.3 The periodontal tissue reaction to the orthodontic appliance depends on … Read more
The congenital absence of one or more teeth is the most common anomaly of dental development in humans. Several terms have been used in the literature to describe this anomaly. Agenesis is considered to be the most suitable term, since from its’ Greek derivation it describes the failure of an organ to develop during embryonic … Read more
Introduction Class II subdivision malocclusions can be difficult to treat because of their asymmetric occlusal relationships. An accurate diagnosis, etiologically based when possible, is essential to perform a correct and efficient orthodontic treatment. The aim of this article is to illustrate a case report treated with customized lingual brackets in association with a simple vestibular … Read more
Keywords: Palatal constrictionMaxillary constrictionSegmented Lefort 1 osteotomyMaxillary expansionPalatal expansion stability INTRODUCTION: Insufficient transverse palatal dimension is a major component of several types of malocclusion.1 This skeletal anomaly is rarely isolated. Most of the time it is in association with a problem of vertical maxillary excess, a mandibular retrognathism or, more rarely, a mandibular prognathism, a … Read more
In North America, there’s a trend toward consolidation of individual orthodontic practices as the specialty evolves – from people and operations to technology and the business model itself. Some have predicted this change, seeing other medical professions consolidating in recent years, including dental, fertility, endocrinology, and even veterinarian clinics. But since most orthodontists are already … Read more
People often ask me how I “do it all” and if I have any balance in my life. Being a working mom with a busy practice isn’t easy. But I’ve discovered that the key to finding work/life balance is to not do it all. I’m a partner at Forest Hill Orthodontics – the same practice … Read more
When my journey as a hygienist began over 15 years ago, never did I believe I would find myself fulfilled in a career as an orthodontic clinician. As a fresh graduate with a suction in my left hand and a scaler in the right, I was going to save smiles, one tooth at a time! … Read more
If you’re like me, you’ve had your share of unsuccessful outcomes and can appreciate the negative feelings that come with them. Just the other week I ruminated over the need to leave posterior spaces on a case that was progressing well in the grand scheme of things. As dental practitioners we tend to be critical … Read more
Last year, Dr. Tim Dumore added fully custom 3D-printed tooth moving tools from LightForce Orthodontics to his treatment options. LightForce, which is headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts, has developed a cloud-based platform to create patient-specific 3D-printed ceramic brackets delivered in patient-specific indirect bonding (IBD) trays that are 3D printed from a proprietary material.1 Dr. Dumore digitally … Read more
The contemporary practice of orthodontics focuses not only on achieving ideal alignment and occlusion, but also on how the teeth relate to the soft tissues of the face. Smile arc is one of the most important factors when assessing and optimizing smile esthetics. In the pursuit of attaining a well-treated orthodontic case, the smile arc … Read more
Objective: To test if there are significant evidence-based differences in effectiveness between self-ligation (SL) and conventional-ligation (CL) brackets, including observation of eight daily, self-ligation clinical techniques. The clinical SL advantages are: 1) using colour elastomers upper 2-2, but converting to a completely ligature-free appliance when poor oral hygiene develops, 2) simple clip-click for coil spring … Read more