title: Psychological aspects of orthodontics in clinical practice. Part two: general psychosocial wellbeing.
abstract: Orthodontists tend to treat/see their patients on a systematic, recurrent basis, often during crucial stages of psychological development. Therefore, they have a pivotal role in identifying a number of psychological as well as of psychiatric disorders. Effective communication is crucial and unfortunately, it is often underestimated in a busy clinical practice. Aim of part two of this article it to review the role clinical orthodontics and the orthodontist-patient relationship have on the patients' psychosocial wellbeing, including effects on self-esteem, bullying and harassment by peers, and even several psychiatric disorders, such as anorexia/bulimia nervosa, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorders. Due to the complexity and importance of these issues, the orthodontist may play a dynamic role, not only in the management of dental malocclusions, but at times, as "psychologist" and a counselor to the patient.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Orthodontics, Department of Oral Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. ali_ukra@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ukra
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bennani
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farella
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D003142:Communication; D003376:Counseling; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D012919:Social Behavior