Asymmetries in Aligner Treatments
Ideal mathematical and geometric symmetry is rare in living organisms. Facial symmetry refers to the harmonized balance and agreement between the right and left facial halves of the face in terms of size, shape of skeleton and soft tissues. Smile symmetry refers to arrangement of hard and soft tissues in the mouth between both sides. Asymmetries close to the midline are significantly less attractive than those affecting the lateral aspect of the face, indicating that the visual impact of symmetry on the perception of beauty increases considerably when approaching the facial midline. Therefore projection and shape of the lips, nose and chin pay the main role in facial symmetry as well as hard and soft tissue projections in anterior segment up to premolars are important for smile symmetry.
The selection of treatment modalities—orthodontic treatment alone, growth modification or surgical orthodontics—depends on the severity of skeletal deviation and awareness regarding facial asymmetry, on possibility to modify asymmetric growth and on the anatomy of dentoalveolar structures in order to allow orthodontic camouflage. Symmetry may be improved with the help of interdisciplinary treatment as an additional option of treatment. In some borderline cases, skeletal asymmetry might be masked by dental crowding or spacing, sagittal jaw discrepancy, transverse dental compensation, or even tilted head posture and soft tissue distribution making it difficult to plan and execute the treatment correctly. The aim of the lecture is to discuss and reval the difficulties of treatment planning, possible asymmetric growth modification options, asymmetric mechanics in aligners and its limitations, interdisciplinary cooperation in order to improve esthetics and symmetry of the final orthodontic result.
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Dalia Latkauskienė, DDS, Specialist in Orthodontics, Phd
Office: Kauno Ortodontijos centras, Savanorių pr. 435, Kaunas LT49280, Lithuania
Phone: +370 615 71197
Email: dalia.lat@gmail.com
Website: www.latkauskiene.lt
Date of birth: 26/04/1976
Dalia Latkauskienė graduated cum laude from Kaunas University of Medicine, Department of Dentistry in 1999. After graduation, she continued her studies in Orthodontics at the same university. She obtained her specialist in orthodontics with honors in 2002. Dalia Latkauskiene has applied for Phd degree in 2004 and also continued as a lecturer for postgraduate programs in orthodontics in 2006-2007. She defended her Phd thesis „Herbst- effects on jaws and dental arches in growing Class II patients“ in 2013. Dalia Latkauskienė is currently working as clinical instructor for postgaduate orthodontic students in Lithuanian University of health sciences.
Dalia Latkauskienė is an international speaker. She has presented lectures, seminars and continuing education courses on crowned Herbst appliance, mixed dentition treatment, aligner treatment, adult orthodontics, multidisciplinary treatment and combined orhodontic-orthognatic treatment (together with maxillo-facial surgon S. Grybauskas DDS, MD, Phd) to dental and orthodontic organizations as well as conferences mostly in European Union, Russia and some other Eastern European countries. Dalia Latkauskienė has held in-office courses for local and foreign participants on the topics listed above.
She is author and co-author of several papers in international peer-reviewed journals.
Dalia Latkauskienė is a president of Lithuanian orthodontic society since 2021.
Since 2002, Dalia Latkauskienė has been in full-time private practice. Currently she is practising in orthodontic center in Kaunas.
