DentistryOnline courseOrthodontics
Dentofacial orthopaedics for general dentists: growth, diagnosis, functional appliances and adding early treatment to your practice
In Interceptive Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics: When and How?, UK-based educator Stefan Cloete lays out an early-intervention pathway over 8 lessons and about 10.5 hours. He starts with how skull, maxilla and mandible grow and how breathing and swallowing shape them, then moves to a full diagnostic workup, staged planning with arch development, functional appliances for skeletal Class II and III, and finally the business side of offering DFO.
- 8lessons
- 10 h 30 minof video
- 48listed topics
What you’ll be able to do
- Explain how genetics, airway, swallowing and environment steer facial growth
- Examine breathing, profile, TMJ and skeletal balance at the first visit
- Combine cephalometrics, study models and clinical photographs into one diagnosis
- Stage treatment from early mixed to permanent dentition, beginning with arch development
- Fit, adjust and retire functional appliances for Class II and Class III patterns
- Set fees, keep DFO records and explain plans to parents with confidence
Inside the course
Why intervene early
Cloete argues that most dentists look at teeth and gums but overlook facial balance and mandibular function, and follows patients from interceptive care through to the permanent dentition to show the long-term effect.
Growth science and assessment
A two-hour lesson on craniofacial development, including links to airway and TMJ problems, leads into a practical examination and records protocol.
Planning and appliances
Treatment goals are set phase by phase with clear criteria for moving on. The functional appliance lesson covers benefits, shortcomings, adjustments and when to stop, and a separate session compares immediate intervention with watchful waiting.
Practice integration and outcomes
The last two lessons deal with workflow, equipment, fees and growth of this service line, then review complete treatment journeys through retention.
Built for
- General and family dentistsSpot growth problems early and decide what to treat in-house.
- Paediatric dentistsA growth-led framework for functional and orthopaedic appliances.
Curriculum
Lesson 1: Introduction to Interceptive Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics (DFO) (1 h 05 min) 7 topics
- Overview of dentists’ primary focus on treating diseased teeth and gingiva
- Limited consideration of facial structure, balance, and lower jaw function by most practitioners
- Definition of interceptive Dentofacial Orthopaedics (DFO) and its role in clinical practice
- The life-changing effects of early interceptive treatment
- Interceptive DFO as a trending topic in orthodontics
- The importance of identifying developmental issues early, methods to correct them, and the consequences of leaving them untreated
- Follow-up on patients’ journeys from early interceptive treatment to the permanent dentition
Lesson 2: Key Factors Influencing Dentofacial Growth and Development (2 h 05 min) 6 topics
- The formation, development, and growth of the skull, maxilla, and mandible
- The influence of genetics on facial bone structure development
- The roles of function, breathing, and swallowing in dentofacial development
- The impact of developmental imbalances on the airway and TMJ
- Facial growth knowledge to assess skeletal imbalances in patients
- Environmental factors affecting dentofacial growth and development
Lesson 3: Patient Assessment and Diagnosis in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics (1 h 18 min) 7 topics
- Clinical protocols for assessing a patient’s swallowing and breathing
- Step-by-step evaluation of a patient’s facial profile and skeletal balance
- Assessing the health and function of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ)
- Cephalometric analysis to determine skeletal balance
- Conducting a study model analysis to evaluate the dental component
- Protocols for taking clinical photographs
- Protocols for accurate diagnosis and analyzing clinical conditions
Lesson 4: Treatment Planning and Dental Arch Development (1 h 30 min) 6 topics
- Formulating a treatment plan based on skeletal diagnosis
- Protocols for the stages of treatment from early mixed dentition to permanent dentition
- Analyzing factors that modify treatment to accommodate individual cases
- Setting treatment goals for each phase of treatment
- Identifying when to proceed to the next stage of treatment
- Development of dental arches as the first stage of the treatment plan
Lesson 5: Correcting Skeletal Imbalances with Functional Appliances 6 topics
- Functional appliances for correcting skeletal imbalances
- Functional appliances for inducing skeletal changes
- Treatment strategies for skeletal Class II and Class III patients
- The benefits and shortcomings of functional appliances
- Protocols for working with various functional appliances and how to adjust them
- When to terminate the use of functional appliances and proceed to the next phase of treatment
Lesson 6: Early Interceptive Treatment: Diagnosis and Treatment Planning (1 h 01 min) 5 topics
- Diagnosis of clinical conditions requiring immediate intervention and early treatment
- Consequences of underestimating certain conditions for both the dentist and patient
- Analysis of the results of early intervention versus “careful monitoring”
- Step-by-step protocols for creating a treatment plan to correct early-identified conditions
- The importance of early interceptive treatment in clinical practice
Lesson 7: Implementing Dentofacial Orthopaedic Treatments into Your Practice (51 min) 7 topics
- Incorporating interceptive dentofacial orthopaedics into private practice
- Strategies to help dentists start treatment and integrate this new treatment modality
- Structuring your dental practice to improve workflow
- Setting fees for dentofacial orthopaedics and discussing treatment plans with patients and parents
- Patient records in dentofacial orthopaedics practice
- Developing and growing the dentofacial orthopaedic aspect of your practice
- Identifying required equipment and instruments for clinical treatment
Lesson 8: Early Interceptive Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics (DFO): From Diagnosis to Treatment Outcome (58 min) 4 topics
- Analysis of the complete treatment journey of patients through early interceptive DFO
- Evaluation of various treatment options and combinations for different clinical conditions
- Evidence of clinical transformation throughout the complete course of treatment
- Analysis of clinical cases: from diagnosis to follow-up and retention
Before you buy
How long is the functional appliance lesson?
Its running time is not given separately; based on the other lessons it accounts for roughly an hour and a half of the total.
Does it teach fixed braces?
No. The emphasis is on growth modification, arch development and removable functional devices in children.
Do I get CME credit or a certificate?
No. Clinicapedia provides the educational content only — no CME or CE credits, MOC points or certificates of completion are included with this product.
Specifications
| Format | Online video course |
|---|---|
| Instructor | Stefan Cloete |
| Contents | 8 lessons |
| Duration | 10 h 30 min |
| Access | Lifetime, self-paced |
| Department | Dentistry |
| Delivery | Instant download · lifetime re-download |
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