Trauma Risk and Early Orthodontic Treatment

Incisor trauma in the developing dentition is a common occurrence that can have significant long term sequelae. Increased overjet and lip incompetence have been suggested as justification for early orthodontic treatment in the mixed dentition to prevent future incisor trauma. This lecture will review incisor trauma risk factors to assist practitioners in developing a holistic risk assessment for individual patients. This lecture will also present an evidence based review of the effectiveness and efficiency of early orthodontic treatment to prevent incisor trauma.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize that the severity of incisor trauma in the mixed and early permanent dentition is a wide continum, not a single entity.
• Comprehensively assess patients in the mixed and early permanent dentition for future incisor trauma.
• Critcally assess the effectiveness and efficiency of early orthodontic treatment in preventing incisor trauma.