Thriving Through Orthodontics

BACKGROUND: Given that orthodontists are exposed to many teens and adolescents who are going through psychological transformations with regards to developing their personalities (Zhou et al. 2014), what role do they play in helping their patients in this critical developmental time? AIM: To systematically review the orthodontic literature for the psychological benefit orthodontics renders to its otherwise healthy pediatric patients, and to give recommendations on how this process can be ameliorated with positive psychology interventions. METHODS: Systematically review the literature using electronic and manual searches and inclusion/exclusion criteria. RESULTS: Initially 2007 results were found and filtered for relevance to 5 articles (Agou et al. 2011; Albino, Lawrence, & Tedesco 1994; Chen, Wang and Wu 2010; Feu, et al. 2013; Dann, et al. 1995). The results (Agou et al. 2011; Chen, Wang, & Wu 2010; Feu et al. 2013) reveal that orthodontic treatment increases the Oral-Health-Related-Quality-of-Life but doesn’t seem to directly affect the psychological parameters per se (Agou et al. 2011; Albino et al., 1994; Dann et al. 1995). CONCLUSION: More can be done within the time period that pediatric patients spend with the orthodontist, including better monitoring of the mental health parameters and targeted positive interventions to improve parameters of wellbeing (Seligman 2011). If implemented these interventions could represent a major public health intervention.