The Duchess and the French orthodontist

On Saturday the Daily Telegraph carried this article about the Duchess of Cambridge and how 'pioneering' French orthodontist Didier Fillion has used 'micro-rotations' of the teeth to produce 'harmonious asymmetry' and give her a natural look, according to Dr Fillion's friend Bernard Touati.

I do think the Duchess has a lovely smile, I'm so pleased she hasn't gone down the route of porcelain veneers and instead chose orthodontics to help her, but I do have a few problems with the way this article portrays what she has had done. Let's leave aside for now the breach of patient confidentiality (it's NOT ok to tell your friends about your clients) and read between the lines of the article.

Harmonious asymmetry
I don't see much that's asymmetric about Kate's teeth. I'm sure if you used an accurate measuring device you'd be able to pick up small differences, but it's what the eye sees that counts. I'm not sure why an orthodontist would deliberately aim to leave asymmetry but there will always be some imperfections when the natural teeth are kept. The only way to get that perfectly even, perfectly white 'American' smile is with porcelain veneers, and even with that type of treatment a natural look can still be achieved if wished.

Micro-rotations
If something is 'micro' then are we able to detect it? I would never claim to be able to align teeth perfectly, I can get close to perfect, but perfect does not exist. There will always be 'micro-rotations' (see above!)

Lingual braces
There is little information to tell us what Kate actually had done to her teeth. This is not the first article to suggest she has had treatment by Dr Fillion, who could be called a dental pioneer in lingual braces. Lingual braces are like traditional fixed braces but attached to the back of the teeth (tongue side=lingual). Put them on the back and nobody can see them. Dr Fillion runs a respected course in lingual orthodontics in Paris and has developed his own system called Orapix. However, there are orthodontists all over the UK using lingual braces and it is growing in popularity amongst orthodontists and clients who'd like straighter teeth but prefer discreet braces.
I've been using the technique for five years and about 20% of my adult clients now choose lingual braces. As an orthodontist it is a challenging technique but I now feel comfortable using it and look forward to seeing my lingual clients. Almost anyone who is suitable for standard fixed braces is suitable for lingual braces, though they require a bit more time to get used to and cost more.
Take a look at the British Lingual Orthodontic Society website (you'll see Didier Fillion is the president) for more information and to find an orthodontist near you, or have a look at my own website. You don't need to be a princess or travel to London or Paris to get a smile like Kate's.

We may never know exactly what the Duchess has had done with her teeth but they do look lovely, straight yet natural. You can certainly be sure we will be seeing a lot more of her smile!