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PUBLISHED IN DUBAI www.dental-tribune.me March-April 2017 | No. 2, Vol. 7 Functional & Cosmetic Excellence: Revitalization of a Proven Treatment Philosophy By Dr. Straty Righellis, USA & L. Douglas Knight, USA Functional and Cosmetic Excellence (FACE TxTM) is an approach to ortho- dontics treatment that establishes measurable treatment goals for six elements that form the basis of com- prehensive, interdisciplinary, high- quality orthodontic care: • Functional occlusion • TMJ health • Facial balance • Optimal dento-gingival esthetics (smile design) • Periodontal health • Stability For each of these goals, the origina- tors of the FACE TxTM discipline have defined specific elements that create a framework for the systematic eval- uation of the esthetic and functional needs of each patient and a method to assess treatment results. These treatment goals are supported by reputable studies published in well- respected, peerreviewed journals. Sharing these goals and the means to achieve them with an interdisci- plinary team—the orthodontist, the dentist and/or other specialist(s)— provides you, the orthodontist, an opportunity to work with esteemed colleagues to create outstanding re- sults for beauty, health and function. Building successful practices is an important side benefit of this ap- proach. Developing the skillsets required to manage and function within FACE Tx interdisciplinary treatment teams increases the com- plexity of cases one can treat. The collaborative interaction with ex- perts in their respective fields (pros- thodontists, periodontists, cosmetic and general dentists and surgeons), who ascribe to the same principles of tooth positioning and jaw function, creates a knowledge base to treat to predictable, on-time, optimal results while meeting and/or exceeding pa- tients’ expectations. As a result, one’s referral net-work expands with re- sultant practice growth. Worldwide Program of Instruction FACE Tx offers one of the world’s only postgraduate interdisciplinary continuing educational programs. Offered in numerous countries to university-trained orthodontists, it provides didactic instruction and hands-on experience. Through a series of 5 to 7 one-week sessions, a team of established ducators and practitioners convey this unique curriculum. The associated FACE Tx fraternity incorporates a lifetime learning forum for thousands of doctors who have adapted FACE Tx principles to their practices. The FACE Tx teaching staff builds on each participating clinician’s knowl- edge base. The full-time faculty— Drs. Jorge Ayala (Santiago, Chile), Renato Cocconi (Parma, Italy), L. Douglas Knight (Kentucky, USA), Do- mingo Martin (San Sebastian, Spain), Jeffrey McClendon (New York, USA), Straty Righellis (California, USA), and Carl Roy (Virginia, USA)—all manage active private practices and have ex- tensive educational and clinical ex- perience. The teaching faculty com- bines considerable years of skills and knowledge to formulate the FACE Tx approach to diagnosis, treatment planning and execution. Defining Functional Occlusion, Smile Esthetics and Facial Balance A number of orthodontic disciplines specify functional occlusion as a pri- mary treatment goal, but few articu- late criteria for its measurement or, for that matter, incorporate gnatho- logical measurement protocols. Dr. Domingo Martin defines functional occlusion by what it is as well as what it is not. (See above.) While functional occlusion serves as the foundation for the FACE Tx approach, the discipline further dif- ferentiates itself by integrating facial balance with dento-gingival esthet- ics for a comprehensive approach to diagnosis, treatment planning and execution. Dr. Renato Cocconi and surgeon, Dr. Micro Raffaini, have ana- lyzed the standards for optimal facial balance and dento-gingival esthetics and have quantified the relation- ship of the inclination of the upper incisors with the alar base and the pedestal of the nose. These elements are important diagnostic findings for the development of specific treat- ment goals and metrics to assess the esthetic quality of treatment results. Dr. Jorge Ayala has quantified the range of optimal facial balancing el- ements of various ethnicities, which is essential to strengthening our abil- ity to apply the highest standards of care across various cultures. From this data, he developed the first VTO- and STO- based orthodontic and or- thognathic surgery treatment plan- ning systems that incorporate soft tissue. From this research and these practicing orthodontists, along with the other clinicians in the group, comes a refreshing approach to life- long learning that is not only didac- tic, but clinically realistic. It can be readily applied to one’s day-to-day practice. What the FACE Tx Course Teaches During the comprehensive one- to two-year FACE Tx program instruc- tion, participants develop a solid foundation of knowledge and skills in the following areas that is clini- cally practical: • In-depth evaluation of joint func- Figure 1a-d. The elements of a mutually protected occlusion: (a) optimal overjet and overbite in centric occlusion; (b) right working excursion; (c) right balancing excursion; (d) right protrusive excursion tion and occlusion • Mounting models with the most up-to-date instrumentation in simu- lating patients’ jaw movements • Latest analytical techniques to as- sess facial balance and esthetic smile design • Multidisciplinary case diagnosis and computer assisted treatment planning (VTO) • Efficient and simple treatment me- chanics with self-ligating appliances • Establishing one’s own interdisci- plinary treatment team • Treatment and practice manage- ment strategies and marketing tech- niques to enhance one’s interdisci- plinary network; and • Knowledge of the type patients one can treat successfully and language to use that will offer patients choices The FACE Tx teaching faculty shares proven techniques about how to adapt course instruction to clinical practice. There are several keys to successful treatment outcomes: 1) See everything before you begin ÿPage E2 SEPTEMBER 7–9 SEPTEMBER Grimaldi Forum MONACO REGISTER TODAY! europeandamonforum.com