Orthodontic Treatment in Oral Health

Dear Colleagues,

The mainstream of modern dentistry in the pursuit of oral health primarily involves interdisciplinary treatment, requiring the close cooperation of both specialists and general dentists.

Currently, orthodontics is not only a field focusing on the interceptive treatment of small children or the elimination of malocclusion in the period of growth and older age, but a large branch is also the preparation of adult patients for implant–prosthetic treatment, or it can be part of the comprehensive treatment of periodontal patients. A comprehensively cared for patient should, after consultation with a general practice doctor, have a treatment plan developed by a team including detailed diagnostics and correct diagnosis of the patient's leading problem, should have elements of hygiene instruction and professional hygienization introduced, should undergo basic conservative treatment and, if necessary, should receive endodontic and periodontal treatment—both non-surgical and surgical—before starting orthodontic treatment. 

When administering new fillings, the general practice dentist should pay attention to the potential need to adjust them occlusally after the end of orthodontic treatment.

Orthodontic treatment can also be a preparatory stage for implant prosthetic treatment. Restoration of space for reconstruction, orthodontic bone regeneration or orthodontic extrusion of broken roots is often an indispensable element of effective implanto-prosthetic treatment.

Taking into account the health of the oral cavity in orthodontic treatment, one should be mindful of the health of the mucous membrane, which is often mechanically damaged during treatment with fixed appliances, becomes superinfected, and incurs bacterial flora changes to the detriment of periopathogens and cariogenic bacteria. The devices may also stimulate autoimmune diseases, potentially producing galvanic currents, or may cause allergic reactions in patients sensitive to nickel. It is also worth considering orthodontic treatment in patients with active diseases of the mucous membranes—can they be treated, and what methods are available today?

In conclusion, this Special Issue is intended to provide the latest knowledge for specialists and general dentists on:

• interdisciplinary treatment, including orthodontic treatment as part of comprehensive treatment;
• orthodontic treatment in patients with general diseases and their manifestations in the oral cavity;
• the impact of orthodontic treatment on oral health in every scale - from micro- to macroscopic;
• in vitro, microbiological, cell pathology tests as well as case reports showing the impact of orthodontic treatment on oral health or, on the contrary, descriptions of failures that help avoid similar mistakes in recipients.

Dr. Monika Elżbieta Machoy
Dr. Agnieszka Lasota
Guest Editors

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