CATEGORY 52 AUSTRALASIAN DENTIST Everything is changing quickly. It is often hard to adapt. We have seen our practices change at a rate that is sometimes overwhelming. If we think of our work environment, there have been numerous technological changes. Philosophically, general dentistry has changed because we are involved in so many different aspects of practice. Orthodontics has undergone many detailed changes as well. The abundance of new knowledge available to practitioners is now redefining the way we practice orthodontics and craniofacial orthopedics. Two decades ago, the “airway” was the buzz word. Nowwe have a greater understanding of the influence it has on early growth, facial development, malocclusions, sleep disordered breathing, temporomandibular disorders, and the overall lifetime health of every patient. What is the future? Understanding facial growth is the key. Realizing that the airway is the “keystone” for facial development, and the ideal function of the stomatognathic system affects our thinking even more. These concepts significantly alter our treatment. We now can manage malocclusions very early, effectively treat TMD, and manage sleep disordered breathing with remarkable long-term stability. The craniofacial complex reflects the health of the entire body and is a major determinate of the future health of each individual. Science and dental schools are often slow to stimulate change. It is encouraging that most practitioners are genuinely concerned about the temporomandibular joint and its relationship to orthodontics, and craniofacial pain is now widely understood and is soon to be a specialty. We often struggle between cutting edge lecturers who share anecdotes and opinions, versus what is fact. There is always a lag between new ideas and the acceptance of the scientific community. How we gather data is also changing. Technology and new equipment will aid us, and global sharing of this knowledge is a winner for everyone. We must stay focused on what is best for each patient. If we stay focused, the opinions of today will be the realities of tomorrow. What about evidenced-based? Today we have more industry-driven “data” published by industry-owned magazines. Money for pure research is hard to come by. Money comes from marketing and sales. This changes how we behave as a group. Marketing presents new technologies as a key to making more money. Financial success is important, but the doctor’s personality, knowledge, and skill are best for the patient. We are not treating only teeth but people. When we do this, we have happy, healthy patients. To excel in this area, we need continuing education for life. Dr Joseph Sim, an orthodontist and pediatric dentist once said: “There are at least 6 ways to come to the same result in orthodontics.” The winds of change have now defined better ways to cure the diseases of orthodontics and craniofacial disorders through detailed understanding. Craniofacial Orthodontics™ (CFO) is a science and science evolves. We have seen changes, big changes in the last decade. Our profession claims that it now has the means to treat faster and better with less pain and with better functional and aesthetic results. I sincerely think that it is true and that we can achieve better results than ever before. We talk about philosophies, innovations in orthodontics, advances in modern mechanics, and the ways that orthodontics can increase both smile and facial balance. Like everything else in dentistry CFO™ has changed from being merely part of diagnosis to powerful treatment. CFO™ is more technologically sophisticated than ever before with the introduction of Growth Altering Appliances and physiologybased mechanics. Treatments are more individualized to each patient and the therapeutic arsenal is even better. Creating a balanced equilibrium for our patients must be respected and looked upon as our first goal (occlusal equilibrium, functional equilibrium, postural equilibrium, and other factors that support the physiology of the face). Our goal is to work with the natural and genetic physiological laws of the biology of growth. We are obligated to treat our patients comfortably with the least invasive techniques eliciting very few iatrogenic side effects. The medical aspect of CFO™ is becoming of utmost interest. For the treatment of young patients, the big question has always been when to treat. Some clinicians suggest preventive treatment in the age group of 4 to 6 years (Deshayes, MJ) others speak of interception in the age group of 9 to 12 years or even prefer to wait until growth peaks or the presence of all permanent teeth (Pancherz, H). The reality is that the earlier we treat the more the face is going to adapt to our paradigm of life-long health. The longer we wait, the more our ideal model will have to adapt to the face. u Dr Galella comes to Australia for just one two-day course on the 2nd and 3rd of June, 2023. Ph: 1300 372 743 Web: www.rapidsmilesprovider.com/courses CranioFacial Orthodontics™: the New Paradigm By Dr Steve A. Galella, DDS, IBO, CDE, DFBI EV NTS Visit our booth #265 Microlaser SEE THE SPECIAL ADX23 SHOW OFFERS AVAILABLE www.amalgadent.com.au 1800 806 450 Footer Ads #97.indd 6 19/01/2023 6:37:44 PM
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