Orthodontics. Part 6: Risks in orthodontic treatment.
Orthodontics has the potential to cause significant damage to hard and soft tissues. The most important aspect of orthodontic care is to have an extremely high standard of oral hygiene before and during orthodontic treatment. It is also essential that any carious lesions are dealt with before any active treatment starts. Root resorption is a common complication during orthodontic treatment but there is some evidence that once appliances are removed this resorption stops. Some of the risk pointers for root resorption are summarised. Soft tissue damage includes that caused by archwires but also the more harrowing potential for headgears to cause damage to eyes. It is essential that adequate safety measures are included with this type of treatment.
Travess
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Senior Specialist Registrar, Orthodontic Department, Leeds Dental Institute, Clarendon Way, Leeds LS2 9LU, UK.
Roberts-Harry
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Sandy
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D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000473:pathology; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005115:Extraoral Traction Appliances / Q000009:adverse effects; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D009969:Orthodontic Wires / Q000009:adverse effects; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010519:Periodontium / Q000293:injuries; D012307:Risk Factors; D012391:Root Resorption / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D017001:Tooth Demineralization / Q000517:prevention & control