We ask you to read the following to share with you some facts about orthodontic treatment which, like any medical or dental treatment, includes some limitations. This information is routinely supplied to anyone considering orthodontic treatment in our offices.
Informed consent is a requirement facing all medical and dental practitioners. It is the responsibility of my staff and myself to provide each patient with enough information so that the patient understands the extent of the problem, benefits of treatment, risks of treatment, treatment alternatives and consequences if no treatment is performed.
Orthodontics is an elective procedure; therefore, we want you to read the following information and ask myself or my staff any questions. After you are completely satisfied with our explanations, consent to treatment by signing this “Informed Consent Document”. This is standard procedure in our office.
The purpose of this document is to inform the patient and/or parents of what they may expect during orthodontic treatment to point out the potential risks or problems that may be encountered before or after treatment. Some facts which must be considered include:
PATIENT COOPERATION
As a rule, excellent orthodontic results can be achieved with informed and cooperative patients. Patient cooperation is one of the most important factors in determining whether treatment is completed on time. The key to successful treatment is a joint effort by the patient, parents, orthodontic practitioner, and the staff working together.
To help achieve the most successful results, the patient must do the following:
1. Keep regularly scheduled appointments
2. Practice good oral hygiene, including brushing, flossing etc.
3. Wear orthodontic appliances as indicated
4. Wear elastics if necessary
5. Eat proper foods so as not to dislodge the braces (brackets, bands)
6. Wear retainers after braces are removed
Failure to adhere to the instructions can lengthen the treatment time and can adversely affect the quality of the treatment results. In extreme cases, it could be necessary to discontinue orthodontic treatment.
CAVITIES, SWOLLEN GUMS, WHITE SPOTS
Orthodontic appliances do not cause cavities or swollen gums, but because of their presence, food particles and dental plaque are retained and the potential for problems is increased. Cavities, swollen gums, and white spots (decalcification) can result from lack of brushing and flossing and poor oral hygiene and need not occur if good oral hygiene procedures are closely followed. The permanent white lines (decalcification) that are sometimes visible around the area of the brackets signal the early stage of a cavity. Sugary foods and between meal snacks should be eliminated.
If a bracket or band becomes loose, the patient must return to the office as soon as possible, otherwise the possibility for a cavity exists. Missed appointments could result in tooth damage due to undetected loose bands. In addition to regular monthly visits for orthodontic work, we suggest that orthodontic patients see their dentist at least twice a year for examinations and cleanings.
LOSS OF TOOTH VITALITY
Loss of tooth vitality (nerve within the tooth dies) can occur with or without orthodontic treatment. It is usually related to a previous injury to the tooth and may even be a result of a large cavity or large restoration. The tooth usually discolors and requires root canal treatment to maintain the health of the tooth.
ROOT RESORPTION
Progressive shortening of the roots of certain teeth may occur in some individuals with or without orthodontic treatment. This is a negative side effect that occurs rarely with fixed appliances or braces. Root shortening (root resorption) can be caused by trauma, injury, excessive forces, impaction of teeth, prolonged treatment, and hormonal imbalances. Certain patients seem more predisposed to root resorption than others. No one seems to know exactly why, nor can one predict for certain when it will occur.
Slight root resorption usually presents no problems for patients who have normal root length and healthy gums and bones. If the patient has advanced gum disease with resultant loss of supporting bone, then root resorption could cause the tooth to be lost sooner.
UNFAVOURABLE GROWTH
In the case of younger patients, the treatment plan will be determined on the anticipated amount and direction of facial growth. On occasion, the facial growth does not occur as predicted, and it may be necessary to recommend a change in treatment objectives and procedures. Abnormal growth is a biological process and is beyond the dentist’s control.
Growth patterns can be adversely affected by finger, thumb, or tongue habits. Persistent mouth breathing (abnormal breathing pattern) may cause facial growth to occur in a more vertical direction. My philosophy is to treat problems early and not surgically. Only in extreme cases will jaw surgery be necessary to correct the problem.
JAW JOINT PROBLEMS (TMJ)
Some patients experience jaw joint (temporomandibular joint) problems prior to, during and after orthodontic treatment. Usually, multiple factors cause this condition. Some of the signs and symptoms of jaw joint (TMJ) dysfunction include headaches, neck aches, earaches, dizziness, fainting, pain around the eyes, clicking jaw, popping noises, inability to open mouth wide, and in severe cases, pain and locking of the jaw.
Many people experience these symptoms independent of orthodontic treatment and some are even referred for orthodontic therapy to correct theses conditions. Occasionally, a patient may experience some of the jaw joint symptoms during the movement of the teeth in orthodontic treatment, but hopefully the will subside after treatment is completed.
However, jaw joint problems are not all “bite” related, as tension appears to play a role in the frequency of severity of jaw joint pains. The problems are more common in females and seem to get worse with age, and in many cases, muscle spasms are the cause of the pain. The emotional state of the person predisposed to this problem is a factor and the symptoms may fluctuate wit the emotional state of the individual.
During the records appointment, we attempt to determine the seriousness of the TMJ (jaw joint) problem and then try to minimize the signs and symptoms throughout the treatment. In some cases, functional orthopedic appliances such as an expansion appliance, lower jaw advancement appliance (Twin Blok, Rick A-Nator), Anterior Sagittal Appliance, etc. are helpful in preventing of treating these problems.
ENAMEL REDUCTION
Reshaping the teeth before, during, or after treatment may be recommended to provide room for alignment, improved appearance, and stability. This reduction of the out layers of enamel seldom presents a problem with enamel integrity or causes any increase in the number of cavities.
TOOTH SIZE DISCREPANCY
If after orthodontic treatment, minor spacing occurs between the teeth because of small or abnormal tooth size, bonding (white filling material) or porcelain veneers may be suggested to fill in the spaces. This improves the esthetics and stability of the case.
TREATMENT TIME
The treatment time can vary with the difficulty of the problem, cooperation of the patient, and individual response to the orthodontic treatment. Lack of facial growth, poor cooperation with the elastics or appliance wear, poor oral hygiene, broken appliances or missed appointments are all important factors which could lengthen treatment time and affect the quality of the results. The normal treatment time with braces is about 24-30 months. However, this can vary considerably in some cases. This time does not include “Phase 1” treatment or the “Orthopedic Phase” (where the orthopedic appliances are utilized while some of the primary or “baby teeth” are still present).
DISCONTINUING OF THE TREATMENT
Treatment will be discontinued for lack of patient cooperation, including poor oral hygiene, broken appointments, lack of wear time of the appliances or elastics, and in cases where, to continue the treatment, would unfavorably influence the dental health of the patient. Prior to the discontinuance of treatment, the patient or parent will be thoroughly informed of the reasons and hopefully will agree.
RELAPSE
Relapse has been described as a movement or shifting of the teeth back to their original position after the braces have been removed. It is probable that all patients may experience at least some movement of the teeth once the braces have been removed. In the late teen or early twenties, some patients may notice slight crowding of the lower front teeth. This is particularly evident if their teeth were extremely crowded prior to treatment.
This minor relapse can occur even with good cooperation throughout the active and retention phases of treatment.
The problem of late crowding of the lower teeth occurs in many people with or without orthodontic treatment. Some reasons for crowding included the eruption of the wisdom teeth, the growth pattern of the jaws r the muscle balance of the lips and tongue. Muscle balance plans an important role in the stability of the case. There must be a balance of the muscles of the lips and cheeks outside and the tongue inside. Muscle instability can occur with patients with allergies involving swollen adenoids and tonsils who must therefore breathe through their mouths. If the patient has a persistent tongue thrust swallowing habit, there will be a greater chance of relapse. Habits such as nail biting, thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, and mouth breathing can cause teeth to become crowded.
To minimize relapse, it is important to eliminate habits as well as wear the retaining devises as directed. Failure to ear retainers may result in undesirable tooth movement for which we cannot assume responsibility. It is important for patients to keep their appointments during the retention period and to always wear their retainers, except while engaged in contact sports or cleaning the appliance.
OUR TREATMENT GOAL-THE BEST TREATMENT POSSIBLE
Our treatment objective is to always obtain the best treatment results possible. However, orthodontics is not a perfect science and, in dealing with problems of growth and development, genetics, stress, and patient cooperation, achieving an optimal result is not always humanly possible. No guarantees can be given as to the orthodontic finished result, as the retention and results depend too much upon the patient cooperation and other factors beyond the dentist’s control.
