Skeletal and dental considerations in orthodontic treatment mechanics: a contemporary view

Orthodontics has undergone a paradigm shift in the last 40 years. There have been both technical and philosophical changes ushered by the development of new appliances, techniques, and by the explosion in the amount of research being conducted all around the world. However, the application of any new concept requires a firm understanding of the fundamentals of orthodontics. This paper presents a broad review of some fundamental concepts of treatment mechanics that enable us to bring about skeletal and dental correction of the presenting malocclusion. The basic concepts of facemask therapy, mechanics, and biology of tooth movement will be discussed with an insight into the challenges facing us in the future.