Aim

To enable the student to diagnose orthodontic problems, assess their severity, their need for treatment, the optimum treatment time and the need to refer to a specialist; to construct fixed retention appliances and to handle orthodontic emergencies.

Learning outcomes

The student, at the end of the 9th semester, should be able to:

1. Identify and describe the most common orthodontic appliances, their indications of application, and their principle of action.
2. Describe the tissue reactions during orthodontic treatment and the potential negative effects of orthodontic treatment on dental and periodontal tissues.
3. Cite the most common cases of tooth agenesis and describe alternative treatment options.
4. Describe cases where orthodontics may help with the overall treatment of patients with periodontal, prosthetic, or other problems (e.g. skeletal abnormalities or sleep apnea).
5. Describe the mechanism of obstructive sleep apnea, diagnostic methods, effects, and alternative therapies.
6. Describe the effect of functional factors on the craniofacial complex, by analyzing their mechanism of action, and the corresponding morphological results.
7. Describe the mechanisms of facial cleft formation and report causative factors.
8. Describe the types of facial clefts and their treatment protocol.
9. Clinically recognize existing dentofacial anomalies, and anticipate those likely to occur in the future.
10. Identify clinically existing causative factors and describe how to eliminate them.
11. Identify clinically morphological features that may be due to functional problems.
12. Apply clinical diagnostic procedures to identify and evaluate functional problems.
13. Describe the possible progression and long-term effects of a dental abnormality on the function and health of the dentofacial system.
14. List methods to prevent or intercept a predicted anomaly and analyze their strengths and weaknesses.
15. Report alternative treatment plans and analyze their strengths and disadvantages.
16. Identify problems of malocclusion that they are unable to cope with as a general dentist, and indicate the appropriate referral age for comprehensive orthodontic treatment.
17. Select the appropriate time and treatment method, with justification.
18. Suggest alternative treatment plans in simple cases that require collaboration with prosthetic dentistry, periodontology and other specialties.
19. Be familiar with the problem of relapse of tooth abnormalities and methods of retaining the result.
20. Construct and places fixed retention appliances.
21. Handle emergency situations associated with orthodontic treatment by providing first aid to patients.
22. Be familiar with the range of therapeutic methods of contemporary Orthodontics.

Content

Clinical examination. Diagnosis of cases by examination of diagnostic records. Laboratory construction of fixed retainer. Laboratory exercise in handling orthodontic emergencies. Observation of comprehensive orthodontic treatment in the Postgraduate Clinic. Orthopedic appliances. Functional appliances. Relapse and retention. Sequelae during orthodontic treatment. External root resorption. Tissue reactions. Temporomandibular joint. Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome. Clefts. Orthognathic surgery. Agenesis of lateral incisors. Collaboration with Periodontology and Prosthetic Dentistry.

Educational methods

• Group seminars.
• Clinical training.

Criteria for successful completion

• Attendance of at least 90% of the seminars and clinical training.
• Success in final written examination.