Too much, too early, too long, too bad: German Orthodontics in the Light of Health Services Research
A summary article on specific deficiencies in German orthodontics. Unfortunately, these shortcomings, such as the often too early commencement of treatment and the absurdly long treatment durations, appear to be almost ineradicable. On the one hand from the local tradition, on the other hand for financial reasons, German children will probably have to accept an […]
Orthodontics: too much, too early, too long!
Orthodontics: too much, too early, too long! In Germany, with two-thirds of each year too many children are treated orthodontically. In addition, orthodontic treatments are usually started too early and performed with obsolete removable appliances. The small patients pay for this with treatment durations that are about twice as long in Germany as they should […]
The Damon Bracket – A Review
For years, the Damon Bracket has been pushed into the market as a groundbreaking product that has heralded a turn of events in orthodontics. After several dozen quality studies about this bracket we know that, apart from the time saved in the dentist’s chair, none of the claimed benefits can be proven: in this review, […]
Does my Child Really Need an Orthodontic Treatment?
In Germany clearly too many children, precisely almost two thirds of each year, are treated orthodontically. But it is even worse that these treatments are regularly started too early, i.e. before the age of ten years, and many of them are performed with unnecessary and outdated removable appliances. Consequently, orthodontic treatment duration in Germany is […]
Orthodontics: Aggressive Marketing and Inefficient Treatment
Summary of my presentation at the Congress of the Public Health Service in Reutlingen on 29 April 2016, published in the journal Zahnärztlicher Gesundheitsdienst. In Germany, almost 70% of all adolescents are treated orthodontically, which is an extreme international peak. It is discussed how the German orthodontists contribute. Also internationally striking are the excessive treatment […]
Randomized controlled studies
For some decades randomized controlled studies (RCTs) have been the gold standard for evaluating therapy effects in medicine. This kind of studies give the most concise and reliable answer for clinical questions. Unfortunately, dentistry lags behind in that respect, and in orthodontics there are still many conservative colleagues who debate the need for such high-standard […]
Orthodontics in Germany: aggressive marketing and inefficient treatment
An article covering two important issues: first unethical promotion of orthodontic treatment by promising health benefits which are hardly scientifically proven. And second, some conspicuous traits of orthodontic treatment unique to Germany in comparison to other countries. In Germany, more children are treated than in any other large industrialized country, the treatments are nowhere as […]
Letter to: Kochel J, Meyer-Marcotty P, Witt E, Stellzig-Eisenhauer A. The effectiveness of the Bionator in the class II therapy: A comparative long-term study. Fortschr. Kieferorthop. 2012, volume 73, pp. 91-103 Journal of Orofacial Orthopedics / Fortschritte der Kieferorthopädie 2013, volume 74, pp. 75-76
Unfortunately, people will always try to produce particularly good study results by just reviewing the very best cases out of a large number of the patients who have been treated. Such ‘cherry picking’ makes it possible to present really good study results. So, studies of this nature are not worth the paper they are printed […]
Myths and Facts in Fixed Class II Therapy. In: Baxmann M. Hrsg., Fixed Equipment Class II Therapy. Proven methods and latest developments. Quintessenz Verlag, Berlin 2012, chapter 10, pp. 68-76
Here you can find my chapter for a textbook dealing with modern orthodontic treatment concepts, which was published by one of the most recommended scientific publishing houses in Germany. The term of myth is related to old beliefs in orthodontics that it was possible to control skeletal and facial growth by means of so-called “functional” […]
Book Review: M. Cohen (ed.): Interdisciplinary Treatment Planning: Principles, Design, Implementation
Quintessence Publishing, Berlin, 2008. Journal of Orofacial Orthopedics / Fortschritte der Kieferorthopädie 2009; volume 70, no. 6, pp. 544-545 Download PDF (47 KB) (English)
Book Review: J.C. Türp, C. Summer, A. Hugger (ed.): The Puzzle of Orofacial Pain – Integrating Research into Clinical Management
Volume 15 of the series “Pain and Headache”. Karger, Basel 2007. Journal of Orofacial Orthopedics/Fortschritte der Kieferorthopädie 2009; vol. 70, issue 2, pp. 176-177 Download PDF (46 KB)