Orthodontic Training in Pediatric Dental Residencies

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the amount and types of orthodontic training in pediatric dental residencies. A twenty-one-item survey was mailed to sixty directors of pediatric dental residencies. Follow-up surveys were sent to those who had not responded. Fifty-two surveys were returned for a response rate of 87 percent. Most programs provided forty-eight formal orthodontic course hours, one-half to one day of clinical orthodontic experience per week, and six to ten case starts for each resident. Most program directors anticipated this amount of experience would increase or stay the same in the future. Though most programs had an affiliated graduate orthodontic program, fewer than half of the programs had an orthodontist on faculty from the affiliated program (43 percent). As expected, orthodontic training varies with different program characteristics. The faculty members teaching orthodontics in pediatric dental residencies are often not from affiliated graduate orthodontic programs. Most program directors do not anticipate a decrease in the didactic or clinical components in the next five years.

Pedodontists’ awareness of orthodontics: An online survey

“…It, thus, becomes clear that respondents provided preventive-interceptive treatment modalities following the findings of other studies. [ 9 14 15 16 17 19 20 ] Comprehensive treatment with fixed orthodontic appliances and using extraoral appliances were reported to be provided by fewer pedodontists unlike found in other studies. [ 14 15 16 17 ]…”

“…[ 9 14 15 16 17 19 20 ] Comprehensive treatment with fixed orthodontic appliances and using extraoral appliances were reported to be provided by fewer pedodontists unlike found in other studies. [ 14 15 16 17 ]…”

“…Furthermore, while many practitioners provided thorough orthodontic therapy, many others gave only minimal treatment or did not give orthodontic treatment at all. Then after, Hilgers et al [ 16 ] investigated the amount and type of orthodontic training provided in pediatric dental residencies, discovering that U.S. pediatric dental residency programs allowed residents to provide orthodontic treatment in different dentitions, beginning with six to 10 orthodontic cases and spending a half-day to a full day per week providing a wide range of orthodontic treatments, and finally, Hilgers et al [ 17 ] investigated whether pedodontists’ orthodontic treatment followed the orthodontic instruction delivered in pediatric dentistry residency programs in 2004. They discovered that the majority of orthodontic treatment delivered by pediatric dental residents was identical to that delivered by diplomates, although residents were exposed to a broader range of orthodontic techniques than diplomates.…”

Pendulum Therapy of Molar Distalization in Mixed Dentition

“…These appliances have drawbacks of anchor loss, proclination of the maxillary incisors, tipping of the maxillary molars and difficulty in keeping the molars in position following distal movements. Space is easier to gain in the maxillary arch 6 7 than in the mandible because of increased trabecular structure of supporting bone and increased anchorage afforded by palatal vault. Table 1 1 - 3 8 shows the applications of pendulum.…”