J. Faber
Mar 1, 2016
Citations
0
Influential Citations
3
Citations
Journal
Journal of the world federation of orthodontists
Abstract
both orthodontists and patients tend to opt for partial treatments. For instance, it is probably unwise to provide a comprehensive 3year treatment for an 85-year-old individual, but these very same people might see their QoL and oral health improve if they undergo a 3-month treatment. Our specialty has been historically associated with the treatment of children and teenagers, and this concept has gone a long way towards impairing the expansion of treatment benefits to the seniors in our societies. How this association came into being is not completely understood, but this prejudice has definitely exerted a dramatic impact on the population. Orthodontists should be aware of this predicament and clinicians, researchers, and orthodontists associations should challenge this status quo, engaging our specialty into the efforts to improve elderly people QoL. The time has come to rethink the scope of orthodontics. For many years we were led to believe that our professional mission was to forge beautiful smiles. Evidence however supports the claim that our work transcends this noble yet limited purpose. We improve the patients’ breathing patterns; we improve function, enhance esthetics and self-esteem. In summary, the ultimate goal of orthodontics is to improve quality of life. We must strive to extend the benefits of orthodontic treatment to older people, and fight with all our might the deep-seated preconception that orthodontic treatment is strictly for youths.