Should you add or increase primary and transitional orthodontic and orthopedic care in your dental practice? By Chris Baker, RN, DMD Q: What’s in a smile? A: An outstanding life! His soccer teammates and oppo-nents always notice it. It dazzles his brilliant wife; it engages his professors, fellow students and colleagues. All these beliefs are due to a gorgeous smile. His smile is the “it” in each. 26 May/June 2011 JAOS T hink how you will feel being able to further trans-form the lives of the chil-dren in your practice, while being busier in your practice with the life-changing treatments you can offer your patients and their parents? A recent Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article, “The 8-Year Old with a Perfect Smile,” published Novem-ber 16, 2010, shows the clear support of early treatment by the American Association of Orthodon-tists (AAO). The article observes that the number of children 17 and younger receiving orthodontic treatment grew 46% to a decade high of 3.8 million in 2008, and even more now. In my pediatric practice, about 85% of the 7-10 year olds are in or have been in, orthodontic treatment. Even the President of the AAO, Dr. Lee Graber, estimates that he recom-mends treatment for 15-20% of the 7-10 years olds in that he sees. Those of us in the pediatric and GP community have been leading
Journal of the American Orthodontic Society May-June 2011: Page 26
