Clinical review

Improving occlusion and orofacial aesthetics: orthodontics

Susan Cunningham, Elisabeth Horrocks, Nigel Hunt, Steven Jones, Howard Moseley, Joseph Noar, Crispian Scully. 

Malocclusion is the abnormal positioning of the teeth or jaws. It is a variation of growth and development and can affect a person's bite (occlusion), ability to clean teeth properly, gingival health, jaw growth, speech development, and appearance.

View larger version (172K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Patient with crowded teeth and malocclusion (top) and after orthodontic treatment (bottom)

The shape and size of the face, jaws, and teeth are mainly inherited, but environmental factors can also have an impact. Factors as diverse as skeletal muscle pathology¹ and sucking a digit (thumb or finger) can substantially influence the growth of the face and dentition.

Treatment of disorders such as crowded or protruding teeth may improve both aesthetics and oral function. In addition, prominent teeth can be damaged easily during childhood. The dental specialty most concerned with problems of facial growth, development of occlusion, and the prevention and correction of associated anomalies is orthodontics. The improvement of occlusion and aesthetics using restorative dental techniques is discussed in the next article.

	Orthodontic care

Top Orthodontic care Orthognathic surgery Cleft lip and palate... References

The demand for orthodontic treatment is increasing to such an extent that an objective index of orthodontic treatment need (IOTN) has been established to ensure that resources are directed to patients with the greatest clinical need and who are likely to benefit most. ^{2 3}

Apart from a thorough history and examination, photographs of the face and teeth and models of the teeth are used to provide a record and facilitate treatment planning. Several types of radiograph may also be needed. Most commonly used are panoramic radiographs, which show all the upper and lower teeth in biting position as well as any teeth still developing within the jaws, and a lateral cephalometric radiograph, which shows the relation of the teeth and jaws to the face and base of the skull.

Treatment

Tooth extraction
Carefully controlled removal of selected primary teeth may be prescribed to facilitate the eruption of the permanent teeth into their correct position. Orthodontic treatment may also require healthy permanent teeth to be extracted when there is dento-alveolar disproportionthat is, a discrepancy in the size of the jaw in relation to the teeth present. Some malocclusions cannot be treated successfully without removing permanent teeth, though tooth removal is contraindicated in other situations. Typically, premolars are selected for extraction since this maintains aesthetics, but other teeth may be extracted if they are heavily filled, decayed, or have poor long term prognosis. Only very rarely are anterior teeth extracted for orthodontic reasons.

Tooth movement
Treatment involves moving the teeth through the supporting alveolar bone to the desired position. This must be carried out slowly and carefully to avoid pain or damage to the teeth. It is done by means of fixed or removable appliances (braces) that gently move the teeth and supporting alveolar bone until they are in the desired position. The braces consist of brackets, made of metal, ceramics, or plastic, and an archwire that connects them. The teeth are moved by adjusting the pressures on them via the archwire. Springs or elastic bands may be used to help. The appliances are tightened periodically, and some discomfort is then felt for a few hours. It should be noted that placement and removal of orthodontic bands can cause a transient bacteraemia, and in cases with a risk of infective endocarditis appropriate antibiotic cover should be administered. ^{4 5}

View larger version (91K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Dentition of a 21 year old man who would benefit from orthodontic treatment to relocate spaces in lower jaw before bridges are placed to correct aesthetic appearance

View larger version (214K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Profile view of patient with protruding mandible (top) and after orthognathic treatment (bottom)

Orthodontics in children and adolescents
Most orthodontic treatment is carried out during childhood since the teeth can then most readily be moved. Some problems are treated most effectively when the child is actively growing, and, for this reason, the timing of referral is critical. This particularly applies to children with very prominent upper teeth and a small lower jaw. Failure to treat at the appropriate age may mean that orthodontic correction of the problem is not feasible and that the patient will require orthognathic surgery at a later stage. All children should be screened at about 9-10 years of age by their dental practitioner, and appropriate referral for a specialist opinion instigated where necessary.

Orthodontics in adults
Orthodontics is increasingly used in adults. This may involve orthodontics alone or orthodontics together with intervention from another dental discipline. Thus, orthodontic care may be required when teeth need to be moved to allow ideal restorations (such as crowns or bridges) to be placed.

	Orthognathic surgery

Top Orthodontic care Orthognathic surgery Cleft lip and palate... References

When there is a severe skeletal discrepancy or there is no growth allowing orthopaedic correction, orthodontics alone will not solve the problem. Patients who present with severe dentofacial problems (such as an extremely recessive or protruding mandible or facial asymmetries) may require a combination of fixed braces to place the teeth in an ideal position followed by maxillofacial surgery to reposition the jaws in the correct relationship (orthognathic treatment). This form of treatment is undertaken when growth is complete and can produce marked improvements in facial and dental appearance and in oral function. These improvements often lead to improvements in patients' self confidence, their ability to interact socially, and how they are perceived by others.⁶

Distraction osteogenesis, the forcible lengthening of bone, is being developed for patients with severe dentofacial problems, including adults and some children with syndromes manifesting severe deformities (such as the midfacial deformity typical of Crouzon syndrome).

	Cleft lip and palate and facial syndromes

Top Orthodontic care Orthognathic surgery Cleft lip and palate... References

Cleft lip and palate
Cleft lip and palate is the most common congenital deformity in the craniofacial region, with an incidence of about 1 in 700 live births. The presentation may range from a bifid uvula, often associated with a submucous cleft, to a complete bilateral cleft of the lip and palate. Submucous clefts are often not recognised early as there is apparently an intact soft palate, but the muscle alignment is abnormal and may give rise to poor speech development.

View larger version (87K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Palatal view of patient with cleft lip and palate

Facial syndromes
Some syndromes affecting the craniofacial region are relatively minor (such as cleidocranial dysplasia), but others are much more severe (such as first arch syndrome, Crouzon syndrome, and Apert syndrome). Many require orthodontic care, conducted in major regional craniofacial centres. Orthodontists also play a role in diagnosing systemic conditions that affect facial growth or development of the dentition, such as acromegaly or Marfan's syndrome. These may require orthodontic or surgical intervention to correct the associated problems.

	Acknowledgments

Crispian Scully is grateful for the advice of Rosemary Toy, general practitioner, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire.

	Footnotes

Susan Cunningham is lecturer, Elisabeth Horrocks is consultant, Nigel Hunt is professor of orthodontics, Steven Jones is consultant, Howard Moseley is consultant, Joseph Noar is consultant, and Crispian Scully is dean at the Eastman Dental Institute for Oral Health Care Sciences, University College London, University of London (www.eastman.ucl.ac.uk).

The ABC of oral health is edited by Crispian Scully and will be published as a book in autumn 2000.

	References

Top Orthodontic care Orthognathic surgery Cleft lip and palate... References

1.	Hunt NP. Muscle function and the control of facial form. In: Harris M, Edgar M, Meghji S, eds. Clinical oral science. Oxford: Wright, 1998:120-133.
2.	Brook PH, Shaw WC. The development of an index of orthodontic treatment priority. Eur J Orthod 1989; 11: 309-320[Abstract/Free Full Text].
3.	Otuyemi OD, Jones SP. Methods of assessing and grading malocclusion: A review. Aust Orthod J 1995; 14: 21-27[Medline].
4.	Erverdi N, Kadir T, Ozkan H, Acar A. Investigation of bacteremia after orthodontic banding. Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 1999; 116: 687-690[CrossRef][Medline].
5.	Khurana M, Martin MV. Orthodontics and infective endocarditis. Br J Orthod 1999; 26: 295-298[Abstract/Free Full Text].
6.	Cunningham SJ, Hunt NP, Feinmann C. Psychological aspects of orthognathic surgeryA review of the literature. Int J Adult Orthod Orthognath Surg 1995; 10: 159-172.