Abstract

Look Before You Jump! Evidence-Based Decision-Making in Adult Case

by Ono Takashi

Digitalization has been progressing at an unexpectedly rapid pace, making information on orthodontic treatment easily accessible to the lay patients in the public. Meanwhile, the human tendency to interpret things in a self-serving way is called "confirmation bias" (Wason PC. J Exp Psychol. 12;129-140:1960). Confirmation bias is the tendency to seek out information that confirms one's preconceptions or hypotheses while ignoring information that contradicts them. This bias occurs unconsciously and can lead to irrational judgments (Atallah F et al. Am J Perinatol. 38:1277-1280:2021). As you all likely experience daily, orthodontic treatment is no exception to this. This presentation will cover topics such as: Can an impacted third molar erupt after extraction of the maxillary second molar? Can a preceding second primary molar be retained in the case of congenital second premolar absence in the mandible? Can a third molar be leveled and utilized after mandibular second molar extraction? The goal is to help you eliminate "confirmation bias" in complex adult cases and, as much as possible, formulate safe, secure, and prognostically predictable orthodontic treatment plans. Hopefully, this may bridge the gap between the patient’s expectation and orthodontist’s bias.

Learning Objectives

After this lecture, you will be able to estimate eruption of the impacted third molar after extraction of the maxillary second molar
After this lecture, you will be able to know the factors to maintain a preceding second primary molar in the case of congenital second premolar absence in the mandible
After this lecture, you will be able to predict if a third molar can be leveled and utilized after mandibular second molar extraction