Adult Orthodontics

POS 556 (Orthodontic Seminar III) – As dental awareness is growing and orthodontic appliances are becoming more socially acceptable, more adult patients are seeking orthodontic treatment. While the approach to treatment in adult patients follows the same process as that for children, the presence of specific issues, which are unique for the adult patient group, makes the orthodontic management of their malocclusions different. The course includes: problem-based learning cases, a review of the relevant literature that discusses the management of adult orthodontic patients, lectures given at previous AAO annual sessions by distinguished clinicians, in addition to special presentations by selected guest speakers.
COURSE GOAL
The goal of the course is to prepare graduate students in orthodontics, periodontics, and restorative dentistry to care for adult patients with complex orthodontic needs.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
This course aims to qualify the students to:
1. Recognize the characteristics of the adult orthodontic patients that differentiate them from the younger patient population.
2. Determine the appropriate approach (adjunctive vs. comprehensive) to adult orthodontic patient treatment.
3. Write the proper sequence of treatment procedures in the interdisciplinary management of adult orthodontic patients.
4. Describe the appropriate orthodontic management of endodontically involved teeth.
5. Identify the special anchorage problems unique to adult patients.
6. Select the best orthodontic management of patients with periodontal problems.
7. Analyze the esthetic periodontal challenges in adult patients and propose interdisciplinary solutions to produce ideal esthetic results.
8. Explain how certain medical conditions and drugs affect the orthodontic treatment.
9. Propose orthodontic management plans for elderly and medically compromised patients.
10. Recognize the special psychological issues (motivation, expectations, and satisfaction) of the adult orthodontic patient.
11. Compare the approaches to accelerate orthodontic treatment.
12. Recognize the capabilities and the limitations of Lingual Orthodontic Appliances and Clear Aligners.