Modern Orthodontics

What is "modern" orthodontics?

Its a question I've been pondering as it's a term I sometimes use without really knowing what it means. I'm also putting together a talk for our open evening on Thursday and I want to get across what can be achieved with modern treatment.

Is "modern" the last 10 years, the last 30 years, or the last 50 years?

I suppose it can be any of those, and if you look at any 10 year period you can see the changes that have taken place in orthodontics. Orthodontic treatment is much older than you might think, the "father of modern orthodontics" is considered to be Edward Angle who was prominent around about 1900!

For me "modern orthodontics" means the difference between treatment when I was a teenager in the 1980's and now. When I was a teenager few of my peers had braces, and these were generally removable 'plates', fixed braces were relatively uncommon. Braces for adults was an unusual sight. Now fixed braces are more popular, thanks to advances in technology and techniques and the growing awareness of dental health and appearance. There is a wide range of brace types, including tooth-coloured braces, braces hidden behind the teeth, and clear removable aligner braces like Invisalign. Many of these techiniques are not actually new, just easier to use as demand has increased and technology has progressed.

There's a growing trend away from extractions to make space. This is not new either, the extraction debate is as old as Angle himself and will phase in and out depending on current trends and research. Currently the newer methods of creating space are gaining vogue, but in the future these might be shown to have problems of their own and extractions will rise again.

What it all means is that as orthodontists we need to keep abreast of current research and trends. For our patients it means more choice and that there is probably a solution that will suit you.