ORTHODONTIST CAN HARM CHILDERN!
Making a blanket statement that orthodontists and/or tooth extractions can
harm children, and posting these messages with this type of sensational,
scare tactic headline is akin to posting "PEOPLE DIE DURING HEART SURGERY."
OK I know it's extreme, but let me continue my point. There's more to it
than appears.
Both can be useful, quality of life enhancing procedures, WHEN APPROPRIATE
AND WHEN DIAGNOSIS AND PROCEDURES ARE DONE CORRECTLY, AND WHEN PATIENTS
FOLLOW HOME CARE INSTRUCTIONS CORRECTLY.
However, when an innapropriate diagnosis/treatment plan exisits, e.g.
extracting teeth on a patient whose face or skeletal pattern contraindicates
it, or operating on a patient who has contraindications to surgery, more
harm than good can come of the treatment.
In addition it's important to remember that extraction of teeth is not a
treatment goal, it's a way to reach a treatment goal, along with proper
orthodontic mechanics, and home cooperation. Also, some people's faces
flatten out as they reach puberty, extractions or not, and we as
orthodontists cannot always overcome genetically preprogrammed growth, try
as we might. We can only work with it.
Having said that, our goals are to create an occlusion with proper {*filter*}
and dental esthetics, dental stability, and function. Sometimes those goals
cannot be reached without extraction of teeth and/or orthognathic surgery.
The real key for us is to tell the parents beforehand what the choices are
and to the best of our ability, what the downsides may be. Sometimes the
best answer is not to treat at all, if the choices the parent wants won't
let us reach our goals , or to begin with the parent knowing we'll be
accepting a compromise.
No one ever died because they didn't have straight teeth.
I empathize with you in your anger and with the future problems you'll be
dealing with, but extractions in and of themselves aren't the problem.
Regards,
Jeff Genecov, DDS, MSD
Diplomate American Board of Orthodontics
Quote:
>>England, a Dr. Mew. While he may be on the cutting edge of new
>>technology regarding the causes and effects of {*filter*} growth,
>Dr. Mew's methods are non-extreme, and natrual. The modern orthodontics you
are
>so proud of, Is yanking perfectly healthy teeth from small growing children
and
>then placing headgear on thier faces to prevent growth. Its funny how
somthing
>so barbaric
>is looked uppon as normal.
>Dr. Mew is not alone there are thousands who have seen the light.
>Thanks for your links I hope all parents learn from both schools of thought
on
>this subject. I was not warned of the possible dangers of extractions and I
>regret what happened to my daughter.
