Periodontal considerations during orthodontic treatment

Orthodontic treatment aims at providing an acceptable functional and esthetic occlusion. Tooth movements are strongly related to interactions of teeth with their supportive periodontal tissues. In recent years, due to the increased number of adult patients seeking orthodontic treatment, orthodontists frequently face patients with periodontal problems. Esthetic considerations, such as uneven gingival margins or functional problems resulting from inflammatory periodontal diseases, should be considered in the orthodontic treatment planning. The purpose of this article is to provide a dental practitioner with basic understanding of the interrelationship between periodontics and orthodontics and also to highlight the orthodontics and periodontics interface in clinical practice for optimized treatment outcomes.