Evidence for orthodontic interventions is lacking.

Abstract

Dear Sir, I read with interest a recently published “perspective in your journal on “A roadmap of craniofacial growth modification for children with sleep disordered breathing: a multidisciplinary approach” [1]. As I feel that some of your regular readers will not be conversant with the orthodontic literature around this subject, I felt it would be worth raising a few issues about the poor quality of the evidence base for several statements made in this article. Given the lack of evidence-based recommendations for treatment and the frequent misquoting of the literature mentioned above, I believe that this published “perspective” should be treated with a degree of skepticism by Doctors and Dentists when discussing orthodontic interventions for children under their care. You will note above that I have referenced a recent white paper published by the American Association of Orthodontists [2]. This paper was written by medical and dental experts in sleep medicine and dental sleep medicine to create a document designed to offer guidance on the suggested role of the specialty of orthodontics in the management of obstructive sleep apnea in children and adults.