RIGA | 11 MAY 2024

At what age should orthodontic treatment start? Although the debate is still open and scientific data cannot answer this question by giving a number, there is no question about the fact that early treatment is beneficial for several types of malocclusions characterized by skeletal and or functional problems. Maxillary deficiencies, both in the transverse and in the A-P dimensions, are one of the most common problems requiring an early onset of treatment. Starting treatment at an early stage, in the deciduous or early mixed dentition, will in many instances increase overall treatment time, since a second phase in the permanent dentition will be probably necessary, and should therefore be done only when the real benefits outweigh the increased costs of a longer treatment. What should we treat at an early stage? When is it wiser to wait? Why is it so convenient to treat maxillary deficiencies early and which tools should we use? The course will answer these questions, focusing on the principles of a sound diagnosis and highlighting, with the presentation of several clinical cases, the use of new generation tools used in daily clinical practice for the treatment of transverse maxillary deficiencies, skeletal class III malocclusions and other common orthodontic problems.

Dental degree at the University of Rome “La Sapienza”. Postgraduate education and Master of Science in Orthodontics at the University of Aarhus, Denmark. Founder and first President of the European Postgraduate Students Orthodontic Society (EPSOS). Past President of the Italian Society of Biomechanics (SIBOS). Past-President of the Italian Association of Specialists in Orthodontics (ASIO) 2018-19. Active member of SIDO (Italian Society of Orthodontics). President Italian Academy of Orthodontics 2022.  Member of the EOS (European Orthodontic Society) and WFO (World Federation of Orthodontists). Winner of the Houston Research Award of the EOS (2006) and of the First Prize Award for Clinical Research of SIDO (2006). Winner of the Beni Solow Award of the EOS 2010. Diplomate of the Italian Board of Orthodontics and the European Board of Orthodontics. Visiting Professor University of Ferrara and University of Rome Cattolica (Italy). Private practice in Rome, limited to orthodontics.