Services

Orthodontic treatments

Orthodontic treatments are usually done after being referred by the home dentist but can also take place at the patient's initiative.

Before the treatment

An assistant evaluates whether the patient qualifies for orthodontic treatment and considers the appropriate time for treatment. If necessary, an application for health insurance is completed. There will be a first consultation. If the initial consultation indicates that orthodontic treatment is advisable, an additional examination follows. This includes:

• Two x-rays are taken for an overview of all teeth and a profile picture.
• Impressions are taken of the teeth in order to make a plaster model of the teeth.
• Digital photographs are taken of the teeth and face.

The treatment assistant uses the photographs and models to make a comprehensive study of the oral condition before treatment takes place. The data collected are studied and discussed at a consultation of the staff members of the Department of Orthodontics, led by Prof. Dr. G. De Pauw.

Diagnosis and treatment plan

A few weeks after the additional examination, the final diagnosis and treatment plan are discussed with the patient (and parents), as are the treatment time and financial implications. The patient can respond and ask questions. If the patient agrees, treatment can be started.

Make an appointment for orthodontic treatment

Congenital facial deformities

Several specialists are involved in the treatment of congenital abnormalities of the lip, jaw or palate. Together they form the cleft team.

What is cleft?

It is a gap in:

• the lip, can be left or right (single-sided) or on either side (double-sided)
• lip and jaw
• lip, jaw and palate
• palate only

The condition occurs with 2 in 1000 children. With its many variants, it is very difficult to predict the outcome of the treatment. Each child grows and develops differently.

Treatment for cleft often takes years and usually only ends until the child is fully grown and between 16 to 20 years old.

The Cause

Cleft is due to a disturbance in the development of the face and/or palate during the first weeks of pregnancy (3rd through 12th week). How this disturbance occurs is not known exactly. Hereditary factors play a role. The chance of its recurrence in the next child depends on many factors.

Make an appointment with the Center for Congenital Facial Deformities