PUBLISHED BY Wright Publishing Group, Inc. (727) 808-4578 E-mail: jaos@wrightgrp.com www.wrightgrp.com EDITOR’S WELCOME obstruction. Dr. C brings into focus the last 50 years of early orthodontic treatment and the role airway impairment plays in causing adverse dentofacial development. There is a window of oppor-tunity for ideal growth. Sixty percent of the head is formed by the age of nine. Most patients come into our office for the first time between the ages of three and four. Thus, we have five years to evaluate and alter patterns of growth and development. Recognizing and correcting airway obstruction as well as early orthodontic treat-ment to correct the possible deformities caused by airway obstruction are important to address as early as possible. The studies of Witzig and Spahl 2 suggest that between the ages of 9 and 12 year of age, maloc-clusion becomes 25 percent worse or more severe. “Why wait to correct the problem when we have the option of improving the quality of life for the child now and the adult they will become?” 3 Dr. C will show how important it is to intercept and rectify abnormal growth patterns of the craino-facial structures and improve with what a child lives with now and in the future. Ninety percent of malocclu-sions that occur during devel-opment are dentoalveolar but with the entrapment of the occlusion during growth, skele-tal problems are created. We are beginning to recognize the dangers of doing nothing with enlarged tonsils enlarged adenoids and engorged termi-nates and other sequala that obstruct nasal breathing during the time of growth when these structures have the most impact on facial growth. We know that when we diagnose early and treat early, we increase the opportunity for the patient to develop normally. 4 The earlier airway and growth problems are corrected, the more benefits a child reaps. Dr Robert Ricketts, an internationally-recognized orthodontist and professor said, “One major reason for producing early skeletal harmony in the jaws is that muscle attachment references are changed and both direc-tion and the amount of facial muscle action is altered.” In other words, when the upper and lower jaw bones are in a healthy relationship with each other the muscle’s pull is healthy in both the direction of pull and amount of pull. 5 “The earlier the treatment of dysfunction, the earlier normal function and morphology can be developed, which includes the potential for normal growth.” 5 Orthodontic research has conclusively shown that “bad bites” get worse with age. Imbalances that cause an improper bite only become more intense, the longer they are allowed to exist. An orthopedist corrects bone deformities as early as possible after birth. They do not choose to wait until the child has quit growing, and then fracture the bones and reset them. Early orthopedic and orthodontic treatment as well as recognizing the importance of a good open airway takes advantage of the ongoing growth of a child so that we can use it for their maximum advantage. (Refer-ences available upon request.) ADVERTISING SALES Emilie Hughes (972) 526-0704 E-mail: emilie@orthodontics.com ANNUAL MEETING EXHIBIT MANAGER Emilie Hughes (972) 526-0704 E-mail: emilie@orthodontics.com ADVERTISING & EDITORIAL POLICY The American Orthodontic Society welcomes advertising in its publications as an important means of keeping the orthodontic practitioner informed of new and better products and services for the practice of orthodontics. Such advertising must be factual, dignified, tasteful and intended to provide useful product and service information. These standards apply to all product-specific promotional material submitted to the American Orthodontic Soci-ety. The publication of an advertisement is not to be construed as an endorsement or approval by the American Orthodontic Soci-ety unless the advertisement specifically includes an authorized statement that such approval or endorsement has been granted. The fact that an advertisement for a product, service or company has appeared in an Amer-ican Orthodontic Society publication will not be referred to in collateral advertising. The American Orthodontic Society reserves the right to accept or reject advertising at its sole discretion for any product or service submitted for publication. COPYRIGHT © 2024. Journal of the American Orthodontic Society. The material in each issue of the JAOS is protected by copyright. None of it may be duplicated, reprinted or reproduced in any manner without express written consent from the publisher. All inquiries and/or requests should be submitted in writing to Wright Publishing Group, Inc. via e-mail to jaos@wrightgrp.com. www.orthodontics.com Spring 2024 5
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