On Jul 2, 3:49*pm, oralhea...[at]comcast.net wrote:
- quote -



Regardless of what we dentists might like to think, the fact is that
the vast majority of orthodontic patients undergo treatment to improve
their appearance.

To the general public, it's all a matter of looks -- and the "American
standard" has evolved over the years to include attractive teeth.

Whether we like it or not, today Americans with crooked or unsightly
teeth are regarded in much the same way as people who don't change
their underwear.

We dentists might have other reasons to advise orthodontic treatment,
such as improving occlusion, or improving alignment pre-
prosthetically. But the fact is that most orthodontic patients are
there because they want even, white teeth.

- dentaldoc

Before we know if a treatment works for any disease, we have to
accurately diagnosis a disease, stage the disease, and then follow the
treatment.

First, the April JADA 2008 issue shows that orthodontic treatment is
not bone loss neutral, but probably causes bone loss. If
orthodontic treatment causes bone loss, we should ask why.
Also, if orthodontic treatment does not increase one's chances of
keeping one's teeth, we should ask why?

Second, what is periodontal disease? Most people confuse periodontal
disease with bone loss. This is a major problem.

There are many causes of bone loss. When is it caused by bacteria
antigens vs bacterial presence? When is it caused by a compromised
host? When is caused by trauma? When is it caused by forces?

Why don't children get periodontal disease? It therefore must be an
adult disease. Why? A very important Why!

What is a compromised host? Is the patient a smoker?

Why doesn't periodontal disease follow Koch's postulates?

Are the insurance companies following diagnosis and treatment and
outcomes? Insurance companies follow many things, are they following
this?

Bone loss everywhere in the body is caused by an imbalance between
bone forming cells and bone resorbing cells.

Why do biofilm invasions occur in compromised hosts? How do you
define a compromised host?

Is the incidence of this disease rising, falling, or staying the
same? What kind of disease is this if we don't know?

Is this disease similiar to any other diseases in medicine?

What kind of functioning occlusal scheme does the patient have?

.....David DiBenedetto, DMD. dentists and author of "Insider's
guide to gum disease, orthodontics, and dentistry. What is not taught
in dental school." Maybe the title should be what dental educators
are afraid to teach.