Dimitris Stasinopoulos

Young children, adolescents and adults show an ever-growing interest in the comprehensive treatment of malocclusions, while comfort, treatment duration and stability of its outcome mix in an interplay with growth -or lack thereof- and biological limitations.

The resulting complexity of the orthodontic problem requires a sound understanding of its underlying factors and an evidence-based approach for its treatment.

While classic Orthodontics still rely heavily -with good reason- on the use of fixed appliances, the leaps in aligner technology since the turn of the century provide the orthodontic patient with an efficient and less visible alternative for the treatment of certain malocclusions.

Such a treatment is provided either through cooperation with the leading aligner companies or by designing and manufacturing the aligners in-house.

Whether the malocclusions require a classic approach or a modern one, the success of each treatment always relies on the correct diagnosis and planning.

The use of intraoral scanners, digital radiographs and their respective software utilities provides the clinician with accurate findings in a time-efficient manner, while reducing the exposure and discomfort for the patients and helping them better visualize the objectives of their treatment.

Significant skeletal discrepancies or untimely loss of primary teeth, especially if left untreated during the earlier stages of growth development, add a significant measure of complexity to the treatment and often lead to compromises in the outcome.

With the current plethora of skeletal anchorage devices, most of the previously problematic skeletal and dental orthodontic interventions have now become routine procedures, reducing the need for teeth extractions or later surgical treatments.

Some malocclusions, especially in patients with a genetic background and/or a disadvantageous and pronounced skeletal growth pattern, are often just one of the symptoms of a more complex medical condition and as such, they require a close collaboration with other medical disciplines.

Maxillofacial surgeons, Sleep Medicine specialists, Endocrinologists and Pediatricians count among the specialties which must come together and provide a comprehensive treatment of such conditions.