Why does my orthodontist need to know all this?

Many diseases common diseases also have an impact on oral health, and can therefore affect the course of treatment.

For instance, Diabetes can increase the risk of periodontal disease.

It's also vital to know  medications interactions, as these may also affect oral health in different ways. If, for example, medication causes dry mouth (as many do), this can increase risk of cavities, since saliva functions in part to wash away food particles and debris from teeth.

Also medication we prescribe won’t be in conflict. For example, if jaw surgery is part of treatment plan, then a medication you take could make it necessary for us to change the type of anesthesia we use.

Successful orthodontic treatment begins with the correct diagnosis, which involves patient interview, examination and the collection of appropriate records. At the end of this process, the orthodontist should have assimilated a comprehensive database for each patient, from which the appropriate treatment plan can be formulated.

Facial asymmetry of varying degrees is present in all individuals. Some people have almost imperceptible asymmetry, whereas others have gross, severe deformities. The significance of the asymmetry is often in the eye of the beholder. A facial asymmetry that may be significant to one person may seem inconsequential to someone else. Significant and sometimes severe facial asymmetries are common in the population. In diagnosing and treating facial asymmetry, health care providers should be aware of the patient’s concerns and be able to diagnose as well as determine the required treatment for predictable and stable correction. Also, realistic treatment outcome expectations must be realized by the patient and clinicians. Of importance, a comprehensive examination should be performed and a specific diagnosis established as to the cause of the facial asymmetry. Failure to recognize and remove or correct the causative factor could result in a compromised or poor result with recurrence of the asymmetry and associated malocclusion. The more severe the deformity is, the greater the difficulty of treatment to achieve facial symmetry. The less experienced and skilled the surgeon is, the greater the compromise in surgical outcomes.

This sheet is bonus to all my students. This examination sheet contains all the information you need to practice clinically with your patients to draw essential information you need to draft your patients treatment plan. We use this sheet in module 2 to record additional information regarding cast analysis, radiographs analysis and photography analysis.

Orthodontic treatment is associated with a number of adverse effects, such as root resorption, pain, pulpal changes, periodontal disease, and temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD). Orthodontists should be aware of these effects and associated risk factors. Risk factors linked to root resorption include the duration of treatment, length, and shape of the root, trauma history, habits, and genetic predisposition.