In 1972, when I started my orthodontic residency I learned to treat the upper teeth to the lower teeth. That treatment usually involved headgear, extractions, and Class II elastics or a combination of all three. All these modalities brought the upper teeth BACK to meet the lowers. We were never introduced to any approach which would bring the lower forward.
By the late 1970’s I was deciding these faces were not attractive and actually often less attractive than when I had started the treatment! In the early 1990’s when I learned how to develop both jaws forward I saw the faces look dramatically better! In 2000 I noticed lateral head x-rays on two patients had dramatically increased airways after bringing both jaws forward. In 2001 I measured the pre and post treatment airways on a large sample of traditionally treated orthodontic patients and saw airway reductions with treatment. This really alarmed me.
With about 40 of my 50+ years practicing orthodontics focused on treating “train-wreck” patients for airway related issues, it became very clear to me that Anterior Optimization is necessary to get Airway Optimization.
How cool is it to know that making someone look great also gives them the best airway they might have? What do you want for your family?
