01 For Some, a Lifelong Wish
Among the many patients I treated during my orthodontic residency, there is one I remember most vividly. She was a grandmother in her late 60s with a pronounced underbite tendency and severely crooked upper front teeth. In truth, there was so much that needed treatment — a by-the-book approach would even have required surgery — that I did not actively recommend treatment to her. But then she said this to me:
"It has been a lifelong regret of mine that my upper teeth are so crooked I can't smile properly. I know it's very late, but I finally have the means to get treatment, and I truly want it."
In that moment I could feel the weight of her life's hardships, and it tugged at my heart to think how deep a lifelong regret this must have been for her. In the end, given her circumstances, this patient received straightforward orthodontic treatment on her upper front teeth only — and when the treatment was finished, I remember how satisfied she was, smiling from ear to ear.
02 A Treatment That Benefits Everyone: Orthodontics
Most treatments are undertaken because there is a clear, specific purpose — usually because an area hurts or feels uncomfortable. However, the treatment process itself often involves trade-offs. In dentistry, a classic example is root canal treatment, where the nerve must be removed to treat a severe cavity. It is the best possible plan for saving the tooth, but in order to treat it, we have no choice but to remove the tooth's nerve and then shave the tooth down to place a crown to protect it.
Orthodontic treatment, however, benefits everyone. There are a few possible side effects, but they occur very rarely and in most cases are not a problem. The advantages of orthodontic treatment are almost too numerous to list:
- The earlier in life teeth are aligned, the more it helps prevent cavities and gum disease.
- Research findings also suggest it can improve indigestion.
- Above all, it improves appearance and raises self-esteem — and the boost in confidence this brings to a person's social life can have a profound impact on their entire life.
One of the most interesting recent research findings I can share is a study on "what first impression malocclusion gives interviewers when applying for a job." According to the survey, interviewers tended to perceive people with malocclusion as relatively "likely to perform poorly at work," while people with well-aligned teeth and harmonious facial features were perceived as "likely to perform well at work."
03 The Treatment Dentists Choose Most for Themselves
Among the dentists around me — including my own wife — a truly large number have received orthodontic treatment themselves. I remember providing orthodontic treatment for junior residents and colleagues back in my residency days.
In addition, according to one survey, dentists ranked orthodontic treatment as the number one best dental treatment. As you can see, orthodontic treatment is a treatment that dentists themselves choose often — and one that benefits everyone.