Management of the casual orthodontic patient

Problems related to orthodontic appliances during treatment, such as the repair of broken appliances, are time consuming, often necessitating extra visits with additional costs in time and materials. They can therefore cause significant delays in treatment progress. Causes associated with appliance problems include patient related factors, such as poor compliance, operator techniques and materials used. As orthodontic patients are often treated in a diverse range of clinical settings, with treatment provided by a number of different clinicians, it is essential that members of the dental team are aware of the problems that can be associated with orthodontic appliances and their management.