Blog 17: Third Answer

EQ:

What is the most important factor an orthodontist must consider when treating a patient?

My Answers:

To recap...
Answer 1: Orthodontists must understand their patients' needs in order to treat them.
Answer 2: Patient compliance should be taken into account when treating a patient.

And finally...
Answer 3: Timing is key to treating a patient.

3 details to support the answer:

Timing (age-wise) is the difference between planning a one-year treatment and a five-year treatment.

O'Brien, Kevin, PhD. "Effectiveness of Early Orthodontic Treatment with the Twin-block Appliance: A Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Trial. Part 1: Dental and Skeletal Effects." American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics 124.3 (2003): 234-43. Web.

Utilizing the timing of skeletal maturation is an effective means of achieving a desirable outcome.

Kopecky, Geoffrey R., and Leonard S. Fishman. "Timing of Cervical Headgear Treatment Based on Skeletal Maturation." American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics 104.2 (1993): 162-69. Web.

"Optimum treatment timing for Twin-block therapy of Class II disharmony appears to be during or slightly after the onset of the pubertal peak in growth velocity."

Baccetti, Tiziano, Lorenzo Franchi, Linda Ratner Toth, and James A. Mcnamara. "Treatment Timing for Twin-block Therapy." American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics 118.2 (2000): 159-70. Web.

Concluding Sentence:

Without understanding the importance of the age or skeletal maturation of a patient, an orthodontist cannot effectively treat a patient. The entire treatment would be thrown off, as well as the payment plan -- meaning the credibility of the orthodontist would also be at risk since he/she is just judging the patient's occlusion by sight alone.