this growth for years. While this WSJ article and Dr. Graber attributes the explosive growth of treatment for children to the 1990 AAO public service ads encouraging early screening for younger children, but the truth is that innovative and talented pediatric and general prac-titioners were successfully using interceptive treatment years earlier. My own mentor and partner, Dr. Walter Doyle, made this treatment modality normal in his practice from the middle 1960s onward. It was his life’s passion to teach others how to treat the child patient as early as possible. And yes, one of the best reasons to treat children is esthetics. It is easier being pretty! The prettiest smile possible is a life-defining gift for every child. As Dr. David Satcher, Surgeon General of the United States, said in 2000, “The importance of the face as the bearer of identity, character, intelligence and beauty is universal.” 1 The research is voluminous. We humans believe deep down that “beautiful is good.” Even babies and little chil-dren prefer beauty. 2 And, the researchers discuss how their find-ings demonstrate that our anthro-pologic instincts may drive our beliefs of “beautiful is good,” 2, 3, 4, 5 because facial attractiveness is a visual marker for genetic quality, health and fertility. 5 The studies are detailed in their findings and, in summary, attractive people are shown to be more competent. 6 Beauty confers competence due to our beliefs about beauty! And as well as providing a child with a life-transforming smile and a great life, interceptive treatment provides the possibility for not just movement of teeth, as in the adolescent, non-growing patient, but as well, orthopedic growth modification and better develop-ment of the condyles and fossae and bones of the face. It’s a no-brainer! We can provide the treat-ment needed in childhood and in adolescence to confer the gift of the healthiest, the most competent and the most beautiful adult. We realize the importance of these gifts and know that the best treatment is usually what is called “early” treatment. Of course, the decision for interceptive pediatric treatment must be based on the “Give them the gift of treatment at the best time in the best way with the best results.” individual child’s needs and unique-ness. Truth be told, it’s the best – with important benefits that late (adolescent) treatment cannot provide. Your American Orthodontic Society, through this outstanding journal and AOS educational courses for exploring and teaching topical and beneficial skills, is a leader in this amazing area. They will help you feel secure with your diagnosis and comprehensive treatment of the child and adolescent patient. This can only occur with a solid understanding of the biologic basis of growth and development, tooth movement and functional appli-ances, mechanical principles, diag-nosis of problems, and efficient clinical application in an afford-able, profitable manner. This is the reason that your AOS courses inte-grate the biological science, physi-cal science, clinical science, and clinical experience, through a logi-cally integrated approach to diag-nosis and treatment. In choosing intensive orthodon-tic training to learn more about primary dentition, transitional dentition and adolescent orthodon-tic patient treatment, look for course content that begins with initial examination and goes through www.orthodontics.com May/June 2011 27
Journal of the American Orthodontic Society May-June 2011: Page 27
