Pressure-induced alopecia from orthodontic headgear

Abstract

Every treatment in the dental specialty has its own set of complications, Orthodontic therapy being no exception. Such a problem during the course of treatment puts the specialist in a dilemma as to whether to continue or stop the treatment. One such case in which during headgear therapy, a rare complication such as alopecia was encountered has been dealt with in this paper. This case report shows its effective management while still continuing treatment, thus leading to the desired result. It emphasizes on the importance of maintaining a balance between the benefits and risks of a treatment. Clinical relevance: The use of headgear can lead to the rare complication of alopecia and the clinician should be aware of it. Objective: The reader should understand the psychological implications of alopecia and also to carry out the treatment after assessing the risk/benefit ratio.