The 6 Elements of Orofacial Harmony

Introduction to The Six Elements of Orofacial Harmony©™ and The Six Elements Orthodontic Philosophy©™

• Lesson program
• The state of the specialty
• Defensible treatment goals for teeth, arches, and jaws
• The Six Keys to Optimal Occlusion™
• The Straight-Wire Appliance
• The Six Elements of Orofacial Harmony©™

Research at the Andrews Foundation™ over several decades has led to treatment goals that are both optimal and universal called The Six Elements of Orofacial Harmony©™. In this lecture you will be introduced to the origins and significance of the Six Elements©™.

Duration: 1 h 57 min

Diagnosing Individual Arches (Elements I, III)

• Lesson program
• Defensible treatment goals for individual arches
• The importance of diagnosing arches rather than malocclusions
• Classifying arches (not malocclusions)
• Evaluating jaw widths
• Incisor positions that are compatible with health, function, and esthetics
• Interim Core Discrepancy (ICD)
• Differentiating an extraction versus a non-extraction arch

A critical distinction between the Six Elements Orthodontic Philosophy©™ and other contemporary philosophies is the separation of individual arches from the malocclusion for purposes of diagnosis, classification, and treatment.

The characteristics of an optimal arch will be described (Element I) as well as the methodology for diagnosing and classifying arches. Jaw widths (Element III), though skeletal in nature, must also be evaluated as part of arch diagnosis.

An accurate method for evaluating skeletal width discrepancies will be described.

Duration: 2 h 1 min

Arch Treatment

• Lesson program
• The stages of arch treatment
• Bracket design
• Standard Straight-Wire brackets
• Translation brackets
• Bracket sets
• Bracket siting
• Efficient and effective arch treatment strategies
• Force systems

Arch treatment is largely based upon the Interim Core Discrepancy (ICD) learned from diagnosis. The ICD will indicate: extraction vs. non-extraction, which brackets to be used, and the force systems needed to correct the length of the arch. All stages of arch treatment including aligning, leveling, arch width, arch shape, and arch length will be explained. Bracket design, bracket selection, bracket siting, archwire sequence, archwire shape, and force systems are all critical to success.

Duration: 1 h 52 min

Jaw Diagnosis, Classification, and Treatment (Elements II-V)

• Lesson program
• Goals for jaw positions in all three dimensions
• How to diagnose jaw and chin positions
• A new 3-D positionally-correct classification system for the jaws and chin
• Treating jaws via orthopedics and/or orthognathic surgery
• Principles normal facial growth
• The limitations of facial growth modification

Jaw position diagnosis and classification is contingent on the presence of optimal (Element I) arches. New goals for AP jaw positions, jaw widths, jaw heights, and chin prominence will be described as well as a new system for classifying jaw positions in all three dimensions. Once classifying, treatment strategies for jaws will be covered.

Duration: 1 h 57 min