Adverse effects of orthodontic treatment: A review

Abstract

Orthodontic treatment helps to establish a balance between functional harmony and an improved esthetics, yet, rendering such treatment comes across with potential risks in terms of both hard and soft tissue damage. Such potential risks to various hard and soft tissue damages may include enamel demineralization, pulp degeneration, root resorption, gingival enlargement, lacerations, allergic reactions and temporomandibular joint disorders, apart from the fact that the treatment procedure may fail in itself. All such potential risks should be considered and addressed while making the final decision to render orthodontic treatment on an individual. The benefits achievable from the treatment should outweigh the risks involved with it. The orthodontist, thus, should have a thorough knowledge of all the risk factors to which the patient gets susceptible and preventive measures should be taken accordingly. This article reviews the various risks that may be associated with orthodontic treatment and the ways to manage them.