Does quality of life improve with orthodontics in adults?

Why do adults become the orthodontist’s patients? Reasons for considering orthodontic treatment are esthetics, functional, psychological or combinations hereof. The treatment could be of short duration to a few years, carried out by the orthodontist only, or in multi-disciplinary fashion, with a team of one to several additional members, such a general dentist, dental/medical specialists, and/or other professionals.  In the management of adult patients with dental, dentoalveolar and skeletal malocclusion the orthodontists might consider various options, such as, no treatment, ‘growth modification’, camouflage treatment, and orthognathic surgery. In adults with mutilated dentitions orthodontics might be an integrated part of the overall treatment. What are the treatment changes, and does quality of life improve with orthodontic means in adults? The lecture addresses those questions, is clinically orientated and based on evaluation of the orthodontic literature.

Urban Hagg, Emeritus and Honorary Professor, The University of Hong Kong

DDS, Cert Orthodontics, Odont Dr/PhD University of Lund, Sweden;
Chair Professor, Postgraduate Program Director in Orthodontics, Associate Dean, The University of Hong Kong;
Guest/Visiting Professor: Peking Medical University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, West China University of Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Fourth Military University
Lifetime Achievement Award 2016 (Chinese Orthodontic Society)
Sheldon Friel Memorial Lecture 2010 (Eur Orhtod Soc)
Fellowship ad hominen RCSEd 2001; Member of Angle Society of Orthodontists (USA)
Served as President College of Dental Surgeons of Hong Kong and Hong Society of Orthodontists, Vice President of Asian  Pacific Orthodontic Society,
Published 18 book chapters, 220 refereed papers, 10 non-refereed papers, 300 abstracts
Research interests: Growth and Development; Growth Modification; Quality of Life, Treatment Need, Treatment and Treatment Outcome.