Ce. Shelton et al., DECREASED TREATMENT TIME DUE TO CHANGES IN TECHNIQUE AND PRACTICE PHILOSOPHY, American journal of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics, 106(6), 1994, pp. 654-657
A study was conducted to evaluate the impact of practice modifications
on treatment time for patients in a private orthodontic office. Two p
atient groups were studied, consisting of Class I nonextraction, adult
dentitions treated by one of the authors. One group (28 cases) was tr
eated with the standard Begg technique and conventional motivation, hy
giene, and finishing practices. The other (25 cases) was treated with
the Tip-Edge appliance along with specific modifications to motivation
, hygiene and finishing techniques. The average treatment time for the
Tip-Edge group was 12.80 months versus 20.89 months for the Begg grou
p. The use of motivational techniques and a specific mission and philo
sophy within a private orthodontic practice can help reduce total trea
tment time. The Tip-Edge appliance may reduce treatment time in Class
I nonextraction therapy.