Why Are Certain Orthodontic Treatments Successful While Others Fail?

An estimated four million people wear braces in the United States according to the latest reports from the field of orthodontics. Around 75 percent of them are teenagers whereas 25 percent are adults.

Why Orthodontic Treatments fails?

Though orthodontic treatments for tooth and bite alignment issues have high success rates, in a select few cases, they fall short of patients’ expectations. They sometimes don’t offer the level of correction patients hope for or only provide short-term success. When orthodontic treatments fail, it’s generally due to certain common factors.

Poor Planning and Execution

Correcting tooth and bite alignment problems is a lengthy process that requires considerable planning, care, and precision. It begins before braces are even put into place and never really ends after they’re removed. Orthodontists using indirect bonding trays developed via the latest 3-D printing technology for placing brackets generally have higher success rates than those who rely on other methods. From there, ongoing treatment and diligence are the keys to a favorable outcome.

Lack of Patient Cooperation

Orthodontists are responsible for evaluating a patient, developing a tailored treatment plan, putting braces into place, making adjustments as needed, and providing ongoing care and support. They’re also tasked with educating patients on ways of caring for their dental appliances and being proactive in their own treatments. Of course, orthodontists can only do so much.

Patients must do their parts to ensure success, such as avoiding hard or sticky foods, having broken wires repaired promptly, replacing lost and broken O-rings, using retainers as recommended, and practicing good oral hygiene. Unfortunately, patients don’t always follow through with their ends of the deal, and this can cause treatments to fail.

Age-Related Issues

Many studies indicate a patient is never really too old to undergo orthodontic treatment. In fact, some people in their 60s and beyond have successfully had their teeth and bites aligned with braces. That being said, certain age-related factors can negatively affect the viability of orthodontic treatments. These may include tooth wear, bone density, missing teeth, and previous dental or orthodontic treatments to name a few. If orthodontists don’t take those elements into account and adjust treatment plans accordingly, this oversight can negatively impact the overall outcome.

Choosing the Wrong Treatment Plan

Mail-order braces and other “miracle” treatments abound these days. Many people turn to those options with hopes of saving money and avoiding repeated trips to the orthodontist’s office. Though some of them are effective at treating minor alignment issues, there’s no substitute for in-depth treatment continually supervised by a specialist. Those unconventional treatments may promise faster results and greater convenience, but they rarely deliver when it comes to actual success.

Unrealistic Expectations

In many instances, success and failure are matters of perception more so than fact. Patients often develop mental images of what their smiles will look like after orthodontic treatment. When they see their actual results, they’re disappointed. Orthodontists can help reduce the likelihood of patient dissatisfaction by using 3-D modeling software and other technology to show patients the aftereffects of their treatments and paint a realistic picture.

All Things Considered

No medical treatment is infallible. Though braces and aligners have high success rates, bite and tooth alignment treatments aren’t successful 100 percent of the time. Everyone responds to treatments differently, and certain underlying factors can affect the outcome.

At the same time, having realistic expectations from the beginning and following the orthodontist’s instructions and advice to the letter greatly increases the chances of success. This includes using retainers faithfully and keeping all follow-up appointments.