Orthodontics Flashcards
Topics covered: patient history, EO and IO assessment, IOTN, Lateral Cephalogram, Canines,
Why is important to ask about the patient’s age in an ortho history?
Timing for treatment:
- pre-puberty growth spurt
- may wish to delay treatment until the patient has stopped growing
- mixed dentition
- quicker bone remodelling in younger patients (quicker treatment)
Why is it important to ask about the patient’s gender in an ortho history?
Growth spurt:
- males and females have different growth rates
List 3 different common complaints in an ortho history:
- Aesthetics
- Function
- Trauma
What aesthetic problems might the patient have?
- Crowding
- Increased overjet/overbite
- Open bite
- Spacing
What are the main causes of spacing?
Microdontia, hypodontia, periodontal disease
What may you want to ask if the patient has a Class III incisor relationship?
If there is a FH of Class III incisor relationship.
(strong genetic component)
If the patients speech or TMJ problems are their biggest concern what must you warn them prior to treatment?
That there is no guarantee that speech or TMJ problems will be corrected after treatment.
What questions should you ask the patient regarding their problem?
- Is the problem getting better or worse?
- How long have you been aware of the problem for?
What questions must you ask when taking an ortho DH?
- OH habits at home
- Attendance
- Registered with dentist
- Dental anxiety
- Previous extractions
- Previous orthodontic treatment - what appliance, when did they have treatment, did they complete full duration of tx. (if not why not?)
- TMJ problems
- Caries history/restorations
- Anaesthetic for dental procedures - GA or LA, GA
- Trauma - has treatment been carried out for it, have the adjacent teeth been affected?
What % of roots will shorten 1-2mm following ortho treatment?
90%
What % of roots will shorten significantly following ortho tx?
10%
What habits may result in orthodontic issues?
Finger/Digit sucking
Dummy sucking
Nail biting
Mouth breathing
What else should you note down when asking a pt about habits?
The duration and frequency of the habits
What allergies are especially important to be aware of in orthodontic treatment and why?
- Latex allergy:
- gloves, rubber bands
- important as anaphylaxis is possible - Nickel:
- important as nickel is present in the majority of orthodontic alloys
- however IO reactions are very rare
If latex allergy is suspected, where should you refer the patient?
To a cardiologist
If the patient is allergic to nickel what alternative material could be used for brackets/wires?
- Ceramic brackets
- Cephalon wire coating
Why does the SDCEP suggest that you liaise with a cardiologist before providing orthodontic treatment for a patient that has a heart condition such as:
- Prosthetic heart valve
- Congenital heart disease 3. Previous episode of IE
etc…?
As they may require AB cover for ortho procedures/extractions.
What types of ortho appliances might children with hayfever, find difficult to wear in the summer months?
Removable appliances
If a patient is using a steroid inhaler for their asthma, what may they also be at increased risk of?
Candida
What may you expect to see relative to eruption in a patient that has hyperthyroidism?
Faster eruption
What may you expect to see relative to eruption and roots in a patient that has hyporthyroidism?
Slower eruption
Shorter roots
If a patient has epilepsy and requires orthodontic treatment, what considerations must be made?
- If uncontrolled - avoid appliances:
- can damage self and appliance - Avoid acrylic appliance:
- choking hazard - Phenytoin used to treat epilepsy can cause gingival hyperplasia
- If getting emergency MRI - appliance must be taken off
Why is it important to know the pts height and weight in ortho history?
Need to know this if the patient were to have GA for jaw surgery or impacted tooth - BMI must be of healthy weight
What 3 aspects does the EO ortho assessment assess?
- Skeletal pattern
- TMJ
- Soft tissues
What 3 planes can the skeletal pattern be assessed in?
- Anteroposterior
- Vertical
- Transverse
What 2 methods can be used to assess the anteroposterior plane?
- Visual assessment
- using reference points - Bi-digital palpation
From visual assessment of the anteriorposterior plane, what might the skeletal pattern be classified as if the upper lip and chin are touching the zero meridian line and how might you describe this arrangement?
Class I Skeletal Pattern
Orthognathic (straight jaw)
From visual assessment of the anteriorposterior plane, what might the skeletal pattern be classified as if the upper lip is ahead of the zero meridian line (prognathic maxilla) or the chin is behind the line (retrognathic mandible), or both?
Class II Skeletal Pattern
From visual assessment of the anteriorposterior plane, what might the skeletal pattern be classified as if the upper lip is behind the zero meridian line (retrognathic maxilla) or the chin is in front of the zero meridian line (prognathic mandible) or both?
Class III Skeletal pattern
When using bi-digital palpation to assess a patient’s skeletal pattern, which position should the hand be positing in a Class I Skeletal Pattern?
Arm sits straight
When using bi-digital palpation to assess a patient’s skeletal pattern, which position should the hand be positing in a Class II Skeletal Pattern?
Arm rotates downwards
When using bi-digital palpation to assess a patient’s skeletal pattern, which position should the hand be positing in a Class II Skeletal Pattern?
Arm rotates upwards
Which 2 methods can be used to assess the vertical plane?
- LFH - lower face height
- FMPA - Frankfurt mandibular plane angle
Describe how you would assess the lower face height of a patient?
- Assess in front of the patient
- Divide face into thirds:
- Upper 1/3 - from hairline to Glabella
- Middle 1/3 - from Glabella to Subnasale
- Lower 1/3 - from Subnasale to Menton - Ideally, each third should be equal distance
- can be measured with metal ruler or index finger and thumb - Note down the LFH
- Average LFH
- Increased LFH
- Decreased LFH
Describe how you would assess the FMPA of a patient?
- Assess from the side of a patient
- Using 2 metal rulers, check where the Frankfurt and mandibular planes intercept
- Note down the FMPA:
- Average = planes intercept at occiput
- Low/Decreased = planes intercept behind the occiput, smaller angle, increased horizontal growth, may see deep overbite
- High/Increased = planes intercept in front of occiput, greater angle, increased vertical growth, may see anterior open bite, maxilla softer, teeth move easier
Which 2 methods can be used to assess the transverse plane?
- Birds eye view
- Facial fifths
- reference points: inner canthus, interpupillary points
What might asymmetries be a result of?
Maxilla growth causing an occlusal cant/tilt.
What can an orthodontist provide that may help with TMJ issues?
- Bite raising appliance
- to allow articular disc to heal - Diet modification advice
- Jaw exercises
- Botox
- Surgery/Minor surgical procedures
- last resort
- carried out by maxfax dept
What conditions may cause TMJ pain?
- Trauma
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
- Crossbites with displacement
Which isolated situation may Orthodontics help reduce TMJ symptoms?
If the cause is due to crossbite with displacement.