CASE STUDY In clinical epigenetics view, chil-dren’s growth and development, life quality and school performance all start with Alignment, Breathing, Circu-lation. This means orthodontic practi-tioners and all dentists need to expand their viewfinders from cosmetic dentistry to oral-systemic health, from tooth-centered orthodontics to ortho-pedic-centered Epigenetics. Takeaway from HL’s Case 1. HL’s jaw growth and facial changes did not come from just an appliance. Switching epigenetics for Best Face requires bone-building nutri-tion and nasal breathing, plus avoiding ubiquitous toxins. 2. Clinical epigenetics starts with educating parents, which in turn starts with professional training. Seeing Old Problems with New Eyes Missing epigenetic blockers in orthodontic diagnosis eventually contributes to post-treatment issues, relapse and Impaired Mouth Syndrome, as shown in the cases of HR and SZ. Said issues were success-fully managed with epigenetics solu-tions. The third case of HL utilizes epigenetics from the start and no orthodontics to date. Clinical epigenetics is about facil-itating full jaw growth to bring on Best Face and airway. This is a radi-cal departure from classical orthodontics’ heavy reliance on arch wires. How would you want your own child treated, or yourself? Clinical epigenetics is also about knowing how to eat and avoiding toxins that can contribute to skele-tal malocclusion. Optimal oral facial growth takes constant vigilance by committed parents, and constant learning by clinicians. The good news: predictable success remains possible despite all the modern ills. The Case of Camilla “How can I bring up Camilla in the healthiest way?” My son Franklin who is a professional chef on staff in Baylor College of Medicine asked when my granddaughter Camilla was born. This question inspired me to write Your Child’s Best Face . Knowing how to cook whole foods fresh at home is a personal wellness skill more vital than tooth-brushing, given the toxins in our environment and fast/processed foods at every turn. 51 Approxi-mately 95% of all meals in Camilla’s life has been personally prepared by chef Franklin at home. The next slides documented Camilla’s oral facial growth as a living example. The case of Figures 30 & 31 show Camilla's oral-facial growth examplifying epigenetics. Epigenetic nurturing is sorely missing in our society today. Our patients are too busy juggling work with parental duties within 24 hours. Fast, processed and “convenient” foods has become the norm, which can contribute to skeletal malocclu-sion and nasal obstruction leading to Impaired Mouth Syndrome and orthodontic relapse later. 52 Conclusion This article means to promote long term orthodontic success, since straight teeth with miserable owners are among the most frequent new patients in my practice. Sufficient orthopedic foundation for all the teeth AND patent upper airway is the key to orthodontic success long term. This requires a paradigm shift in the minds of orthodontic practitioners from classical mechanics for aligning teeth to growing jaws and airway. Epigenetics has ushered in a new era. It’s time we grow new eyes to see past the silo of Angle’s orthodontics and recognize orthodontic practitioners’ potential to accomplish far more than just straight teeth. Clinical epigenetics offers not only a new root-cause solutions for www.orthodontics.com Summer 2023 21
Journal of the American Orthodontic Society Summer 2023: Page 21
