title: Adjunctive orthodontic therapy in adults over 50 years of age. Clinical management of compensated, partially edentulous malocclusion.
abstract: Increasing numbers of adults, with a wide range of compensated partially edentulous (CPE) malocclusions, could benefit from adjunctive orthodontic therapy. Because loss of teeth is a risk factor for osteoporosis (OP) and restoration of occlusion depends on a positive bone response, all subjects in a prospective clinical trial were screened for OP risk factors and other bone-related metabolic problems. The sample consisted of 16 potential orthodontic patients (3 males, 13 females) over the age of 50. Based on risk factor analysis, six (44%, 1 male and 6 females) were referred for medical evaluation including bone mineral density (BMD) measurement. Ultimately, five osteopenic/osteoporotic patients, along with four patients reporting no significant osteoporotic risk factors, completed multidisciplinary treatment including adjunctive orthodontics. All were successfully treated to what was considered to be optimal esthetics and function with no substantial complications. It was concluded that patients over 50 years of age of both sexes can be effectively treated orthodontically if they have a healthy periodontium, retain an adequate residual dentition, can be controlled medically, and are compliant with treatment recommendations. Overall, orthodontics was a readily accepted, cost-effective aspect of treatment that substantially improved the esthetics and function of patients with moderate to severe CPE malocclusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Facial Development, Indiana University School of Dentistry, USA.
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors