Abstract

The scientifically unsubstantiated 120-year old classification of Edward Angle and its accompanying non -biologically based and arbitrary treatment goals no longer seem relevant or appropriate in modern clinical orthodontics. The author’s review their years of work on identifying biologically based diagnostic terms centered on the clinical morphology of the alveolar bone and introduce a new biologically based and patient centered orthodontic classification. This classification accepts a patient’ s natural dentition within their own individual genetic morphologic appearance, rather than subjective or arbitrary “ideals”, emphasizing treatment goals of improving alveolar bone morphology by maintaining stable occlusion.

Keywords

malocclusion, clinical experience, esthetic, stable, functional occlusion, cosmetic dentistry, lingual position, single tooth, maxillary teeth, dental spaces, proclination, mandibular arches, maxillary lateral incisors, orthodontic, intercuspation