It ain't rocket science…

One thing that continually surprises me is how long it takes some people to complete a course of orthodontic treatment. Having had the privilege of working with many really talented clinicians over the past 37 years, I have over the years, drawn up a checklist of top tips that I now teach to the next generation of aspiring orthodontists.

Understanding these key points will ensure that their clinical ministrations are both efficient and effective. As a result, all but the most difficult of cases should be finished, to a high standard, within the often promised 2-year timeframe.

One vital thing is for the treating clinician to develop the skill of identifying at every visit, which particular aspect of the malocclusion is furthest from the ‘finishing line’.

If they can do this, and they ensure that at each and every visit this aspect of the malocclusion is fully addressed, treatment should progress speedily. Failure of the clinician to use this cardinal rule will, however, mean that time is wasted dealing with irrelevancies, which could be addressed at any point during the next 18 months. Wasting time on these issues, at the expense of the crucial aspects of the malocclusion, contributes nothing to shortening the overall treatment time.