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ePaper created 2018-03-13, 09:28:55 | version 1.38.0
editorial | Dr Luis Carrière Specialist in ortho- dontics and dentofacial orthopaedics The power of orthodontics Dear Readers, Sometimes as orthodontists we tend to simplify what our specialty is about. Behind the simplicity—straight- ening teeth—there is a wide spectrum of facial, func- tional and physiological effects that we will generate, all of them intimately interconnected. The patient’s soft tissue is not self-supported, so an adequate volumet- ric amount of hard tissue underneath sculpts the facial harmony. Orthodontics affects important dental, skele- tal, functional, postural, physiological, articular, facial and psychological areas for the patient. It is a powerful spe- cialty in which the teeth are only a part. As orthodontists, we are responsible for accomplishing a balanced mid- and lower third of the face by managing a correct functional and anatomical relation between the maxillae and mandible, harmonising the position of the teeth into an aesthetic interrelation, achieving a functional occlusion. Ultimately, we sculpt the patient’s soft tissue, providing facial proportion and a harmonic smile design. In addition to aesthetics, correct functional occlusion and tooth alignment will promote a healthy condition of the maxillae and mandible, gingivae and teeth, preventing many potential systemic diseases related to periodontal or dental sickness. This rare ability of our specialty to change the extrinsic traits, the facial features, and maintain simultaneously the facial icon, while enhancing the patient’s positive facial features, can also achieve the opposite effect by promot- ing the patient’s negative facial features, maybe obstruct- ing the patient’s airway or ending up with incorrect func- tionality of the stomatognathic system. Today, a new treatment modality has arisen in ortho- dontics, commonly known as “do it yourself”. This devel- opment signals that it is time to start teaching society about the real power of orthodontics. Dr Luis Carrière Specialist in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopaedics ortho 1 2018 03