Esthetic considerations in orthodontic treatment of adults.

Improvement in appearance is the primary reason that adults seek orthodontic care. Proper recognition of the dental and facial esthetic defects at the outset of treatment is the most important key to esthetic success and is, therefore, essential to satisfying the patients' needs. Division of the face and dentition into separate dimensions (transverse, vertical, anteroposterior) can be a useful way of systematically breaking down a complex problem into its component parts so that the optimal treatment plan can be developed for a given patient. For the adult patient, optimizing treatment involves a multidisciplinary team, including the orthodontist and general dentist and possibly an oral surgeon, a periodontist, and an endodontist. Proper coordination of treatment and communication between team members makes the difference between success and failure when ideal esthetics are the goal. Involvement of the patient in selection of alternate treatment plans will be essential to his or her satisfaction.