In the old days of orthodontics, orthodontics was locked in the old paradigm of the great Dr. Angle point of view that if an orthodontist were to concentrate on correcting the occlusion during braces treatment, the soft tissue will naturally fall into place and esthetics will be taken care of. Clearly, braces/Invisalign treatment has not borne out this reality and this philosophy has fallen short of reality many times.
There was a time when orthodontists all over the world planned their cases in the pedantic pursuit of idealised angles that had no scientific basis. It was almost as if braces/Invisalign treatment was a “cook book” pursuit and and the standard angle applied to all patients. How this mantra become part of mainstream braces/Invisalign treatment is almost the stuff of how a simple story can become an urban legend that is neither based on fact nor accurate measurement
Over recent times, orthodontists all over the world have started to adopt what is known as a soft tissue generated treatment plan. This places emphasis on the soft tissue profile as the primary consideration during braces/Invisalign treatment. With this approach, the soft tissue profile is more important and indeed ideal occlusions may be sacrificed in order to achieve a more esthetically pleasing end treatment result for orthodontics.
This pursuit of an ideal profile is not just about esthetics but represents an endeavour that reaches into the social well-being and psychological well-being of a patient. This author indeed has seen many an orthodontic case undergo a transformation in confidence and bearing after braces/Invisalign treatment. In the following sections, we will delve into more details the modern day considerations of braces/Invisalign treatment and how an orthodontist arrives at a more relevant and attuned treatment plan which will encompass all aspects and individuality of the patient.
