KEY IDEAS

ABSTRACT

Orthodontics is governed by concepts of treatment that depend upon our orthodontic philosophy. A paradigm shift from hard to soft tissue evaluation affected these concepts and modified completely our vision. Looking to esthetics became our priority and considering it from the frontal and profile views, at rest and on smiling became a must.

Our treatment planning has to consider that we are not treating numbers but individuals. Therefore, we must apply individualized treatment mechanics depending on patient age, facial growth pattern, and the situation of the smile line and lower third projection in the face and try to visualize the evolution of each individual through the fourth dimension of time.

Therefore, a special attention has to be given to the documentation process, the esthetic and functional analysis, as well as to the importance of a complete diagnosis. Having a clear workflow is of tremendous help for setting up clear goals for each patient and proposing the best treatment option, especially in complex cases needing the intervention of a multidisciplinary team.

Once the “Why” and the “What” has been established, then we can decide on the “How”, which will be the most suitable treatment mechanics to use in each specific case.

In this regard, mini-implants have revolutionized orthodontic mechanics and led to the readjustment of our way of thinking. Their use is based on principles that should be respected in order to obtain successful results. These principles include its indications, the choice of its type and location, as well as its way of positioning.

The use of mini-implants pushed the limits of our contemporary orthodontic treatment and offered enormous services to other disciplines in treating complex interdisciplinary cases with much better outcome.

Facing challenging cases needs mastering basic techniques, introducing new technology, and having a clear vision about treatment sequencing and the timing and task of each specialist!s intervention.