Orthodontic Society Strongly Disputes Spurious Claims
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- Published: Tuesday, 19 November 2024 10:15
- Written by Guy Tuggle
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Following a recent Fitness To Practise case the British Orthodontic Society (BOS) has issued a Statement which sets out to clarify its position on the issue of claims that may be made about orthodontic treatment.
As a professional society and charity the BOS promotes the highest quality of patient care through the advancement of scientific research and education. It emphasises that its overriding ’duty of care’ is to patients and it has issued a checklist of spurious claims to help them evaluate the integrity of advice given.
Patients looking to embark on a course of orthodontic treatment are advised to ’proceed with caution and seek alternative advice if they are told that a recommended orthodontic treatment or approach will do any of the following:
- Cause a child’s cheekbones to rise or their jaws to change significantly in position – such changes may occur naturally as part of a child’s development
but the BOS is not aware of this being achieved as part of orthodontic treatment - Cure or cause jaw joint problems – there is no evidence for this
- Improve speech – there is no evidence for this
- Improve breathing disorders – there is no evidence for this
- Improve a child’s intelligence –there is no evidence those patients with crooked teeth or sleep apnoea are less intelligent than others.
The BOS advice adds that ’there is no scientific evidence to suggest patients can change the shape of their face or improve their intelligence by chewing or holding teeth and the tongue in a closed position or indeed making any kind of facial movements.’
The BOS funds research into orthodontics and says it is always willing to consider alternative views ’provided these are backed by scientific evidence.’ It ’welcomes independent thinkers and innovation in orthodontics but all views must be supported by clinical evidence of the highest quality’
Its advice concludes ’If ever in doubt, patients should seek a second opinion.’
A wide range of orthodontic patient information leaflets are available to download from the BOS website.
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