Facial Orthotropics
the Science of Guiding a Childs Growing Face

The principals of orthodontic treatment have hardly changed for the last 100 years. Some teeth are extracted to make room and the remainder are aligned with fixed Braces. However, research shows that the face can be damaged and the teeth usually go crooked again unless a brace is worn for the rest of the patient’s life. This was the concern that brought a group of Dentists, Orthodontists, Chiropractors and other health workers together, from all over the world, to open a site that provided the public with enough information to make their own informed decision. The rest of this site contains information for patients, dentists and orthodontists which we hope they will find helpful.

Parents are often not told of newer treatments such as Orthotropics® which aims to guide the growth of the jaws while the child is young and can provide the same or better results as Orthodontics without the need for extractions. Orthotropics® also has the advantage that the teeth stay straight afterwards and the face is usually improved sometimes dramatically (button here to good facial change).

Few parents realize how malleable the facial bones of a young child are and how small things like leaving the mouth open or bad corrective treatment can damage a child’s appearance for ever (see below). If your child’s face does not look quite like the other children’s, ask for advice before they are eight. Recent research has shown that Prevention is better than Cure.

Some faces grow forwards (horizontally) and are good looking with straight teeth, while others grow more downwards (vertically) and may look plain with crooked teeth. Most orthodontic treatment increases vertical growth (see illustrations below) Some clinicians claim that ‘Functional’ or ‘Orthopaedic’ treatment will avoid extractions and vertical growth but this is unlikely in the long-term, so it is wise to ask for written confirmation that the direction of growth will not be increased and that there will be room for all 32 teeth.

Vertical Growth Damages Faces	Horizontal Growth Improves Faces
This child’s face was damaged by vertical growth following orthodontic treatment. Vertical growth is associated with thick lips, receding chins, protruding noses, sloping foreheads and tired eyes.	This boy received Orthotropics®. Although his front teeth stuck out both jaws were encouraged to grow forward. Few other techniques achieve this because they pull the teeth back. Horizontal growers retain naturally straight teeth for a life time.

In short fixed ‘Train Tracks’ (braces) are the quickest way to get straight teeth but risk damaging the face. Also with ‘Train Tracks’ extractions are almost always necessary before or after treatment and a brace will be needed for life to hold them straight afterwards. Provided the child is young enough and wears the appliances as instructed, Orthotropics® can find room for all 32 teeth and avoid the need for surgery, ‘Train Tracks’ (braces) and retainers. However, it is a highly skilled treatment and requires patients to learn to keep their mouths closed which can be difficult for some children.

All orthodontists are legally obliged to tell their patients about alternative methods of treatment, especially if they are recommending irreversible procedures such as extractions or surgery. Unfortunately not all do so. If your orthodontist did not give you ‘Fully Informed Consent’, you will have a good case for legal redress. The girl below was not told there was an alternative to having extractions and her top teeth were pulled back.

Unfortunately it is not possible for us to advise individual patients and we suggest that if you have a problem you discuss it with your general dentist. If he is not familiar with the concepts discussed here, you could ask for a referral to a local orthodontist or alternatively go to ‘Where to get treatment’ on this page. Orthotropic clinicians are divided into three groups.

Qualified Members are dentists, who have taken additional training in orthotropics®
Registered Members are clinicians who have some experience in growth guidance.
Supporters agree with the general principals but have no training in Orthotropics®

CAUTION. Whoever is providing treatment it is wise to ask the following questions.

1. How many permanent teeth will be taken out initially and how many more may need extracting later. Sadly most children who receive conventional retractive orthodontic treatment will lose four premolar teeth and nearly half of them will not have room for their wisdom teeth, leaving them with 24 teeth. If the growth has been properly controlled there should be room for all 32 teeth.
2. Will surgery be necessary? It will not be required following Orthotropic® treatment unless the treatment is not properly applied, or the child is too old or they fail to keep their mouth closed.
3. Ask your clinician if they feel confident of avoiding an increase in the vertical growth of your face? It is your right to be told about all types of treatment and be warned of likely problems. Insist on a photo of your face taken from the side before treatment and monitor the changes that follow (see above).