title: The midline: diagnosis and treatment.
abstract: The importance of coordinated midlines often is unappreciated as it relates to the treatment plan for the orthodontic case. All three of the patient's midlines--facial, maxillary, and mandibular--must be considered if ideal correction is to be achieved. Proper differential diagnosis of the cause will allow the practitioner to appropriately use either inter- or intraarch mechanics for the resolution of midline discrepancies. Midline correction should be undertaken from the initiation of treatment and once all midlines are coordinated they should be maintained as a guide for any further force systems used in completing the case. Functional, dental, and iatrogenic midline discrepancies are discussed pertaining to their diagnosis and treatment.
authors.affiliation: New York University College of Dentistry.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jerrold
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Lowenstein
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005146:Facial Asymmetry / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009056:Mouth Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D009967:Orthodontic Appliances; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*