ERRORS, DISASTERS AND SOME SMALL SUCCESSES IN ORTHODONTICS -MY CLINICAL STORY | DR. BJÖRN LUDWIG | 6 SEPTEMBER 2024 | ZAGREB

What I wished I have known, learned and respected earlier. At the end of advanced orthodontic training, after studying some basics of dentistry and orthodontics, one is often convinced that major diagnostic and treatment-related errors could now be avoided. After working in orthodontics for several years, this idea changes and one comes to believe in, or at least sees, only problems and errors. For instance, there can be an unusually high rate of bracket loss, damaged retainers, or frustrating treatment results - including relapses. The increasing number of difficult cases in orthodontic practices which do not ‘simply’ exhibit gentle crowding during the last years compound this problem. Severe dental and skelettal anomalies, such as multiple aplasia, trans-located teeth, adults with combined orthodontic and maxillofacial surgery treatment needs, as well as pre-prosthetic tasks, are prevalent in our treatment today. In this lecture the most common and most severe orthodontic problems and errors the lecturer encountered in the last 15 years will be presented. These errors are demonstrated using clinical examples and will be discussed with the current literature. Finally, the question "how to say sorry" will be ethically reflected.

Fundamental diagnostic decision will be discussed:
• Extraction versus non-extraction
• BSSO surgery versus conservative therapy of skeletal anomalies
Treatment techniques will be evaluated:
• Limitation of aligners
• Bracket positioning CAD/CAM or direct placement
• Arch wire selection
• CAD/CAM devices
The question of long-time stability of treatment results, as well as necessary retention devices, must be addressed at the end of the course.

Course Regulations AO East Europe