It seems that the demand for orthodontic treatment among adults is rising continually. The primary reasons behind this trend are the growing awareness of modern orthodontic procedures and the availability of less noticeable appliances than traditional metal fixed appliances. Adults’ decision-making process and preference for orthodontic treatment methods are poorly understood. Understanding these factors can help develop personalised care and support adult patients in making informed treatment decisions. A recent qualitative study of adult orthodontic patients investigated these factors.  ..read more

It seems that the amount of research on the relationship between orthodontics and breathing is growing. Although this is an encouraging development, we must exercise caution when making over optimistic inferences based on research findings. This new paper highlighted a study that examined a crucial question on the effects of RME.  But are the conclusions valid?  I have had a close look at this paper. Sleep-disordered breathing is a common and significant issue, with primary snoring (PS) being the mildest form and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) being the most severe. The prim ..read more

“The gardener plants an evergreen Whilst trampling on a flower I chase the wind of a prism ship To taste the sweet and sour The pattern juggler lifts his hand The orchestra begin As slowly turns the grinding wheel In the court of the Crimson King”. What is he on about now? During my teenage years, I spent a considerable amount of time listening to UK progressive rock music. One of my all-time favourite songs is “The Court of the Crimson King”, which is the title track of the debut album of the British band King Crimson. The song is about a mythical court that is governed by nature, symbolism ..read more

The debate between extraction and non-extraction in orthodontics has been ongoing since the dawn of time. Over the years there have been three main groups with differing views. The first group believed every patient needed teeth extracted, the second group treated everyone without extractions, and the third group, the largest, carefully evaluated each patient’s case and decided whether to extract teeth based on their professional judgement. After analysing the factors that affect the decision to extract teeth, investigators have found that dental crowding is the most common influence. While th ..read more

Almost one in three students report bullying at school. This may have significant short- and long-term effects on their mental and physical health. A recent study from the UK highlights the significance of malocclusion to bullying. It is well-established that certain features of malocclusion, such as crooked teeth, can make students a target for bullying. Teasing is often a motivator for orthodontic treatment. Surprisingly, this area of orthodontic care has not been extensively studied. A team from the beautiful County of Kent in the UK did this study. The Journal of Orthodontics published&nbs ..read more

It’s about time that we had some interesting papers on sleep disorders, orthodontics, and malocclusion. These topics have been discussed a lot on this blog, but the research covered so far has been low quality. Moreover, the evidence quoted in discussions and social media has been almost nonsensical. Therefore, this new paper on childhood sleepiness comes as a breath of fresh air. Studies have estimated that 4-11% of children suffer from sleep-disordered breathing, which may be associated with their craniofacial morphology. Typically, treatment is done in collaboration with an otolaryngologist ..read more

The role of orthodontics in the treatment of temporomandibular disorders is rather confusing and controversial. A new clinical practice guideline has recently been published. Martyn Cobourne takes us through this important piece of work. I think that this will be as controversial as my RME and breathing post a couple of weeks ago! Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are the second-most common cause of chronic pain (pain that lasts for ≥3 months) after lower back pain. They are now classified as a primary pain condition in the chronic pain coding system of the International Classificati ..read more

We are all familiar with the story of self-ligating brackets, specifically the Damon appliance. Many of us may also remember the claims made by Damon Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) that suggested faster treatment, greater comfort, and even the ability to grow bone. However, these claims did not hold up to scientific scrutiny, and the orthodontic profession was misled.  Now, a new development in brackets and wires called LightForce is being heavily marketed with claims of faster treatment times, reduced visits, and greater efficiency per patient. But the question remains: Is Lightforce the new ..read more

Last week, I wrote a post on the effects of RME or watchful waiting on paediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnoea. This attracted a lot of comments and sparked some controversy. As is customary with my blog, I always offer a blog post to anyone who offers a different perspective from mine. Dr. Dave Singh has taken me up on this offer and provided his viewpoint. Prof Dave Singh is an Adjunct Professor in Sleep Medicine at Stanford University, USA. He is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the World Sleep Society. He invented the first palatal expander to be FDA-cleared for the ..read more

In the last decade, researchers have done several clinical trials and systematic reviews to understand the short-term effectiveness of different retention regimes. One of the significant questions that they are trying to answer is the comparative efficacy of bonded and vacuum-formed retainers. A recent study has investigated this issue in detail. I have written several blog posts about retainer research, and after reviewing various papers, it appears that there are not many significant differences between the two main types of retainers. Therefore, when deciding on a retention regime, it is im ..read more