11/06/06

The Department of Orthodontics at Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, is recruiting 250 adolescents between the ages of 11 and 16 to participate as patients in the School of Dental Medicine’s discounted braces program.

Case will treat children for $2,400, which is less than half the normal fee. Patients will have the benefit of the most current treatments in correcting abnormal alignment of the teeth and jaw.

“Each patient will have a team that includes both a faculty advisor and a resident orthodontist in the dental school’s graduate program that trains licensed dentists as specialists in orthodontics,” says Dennis Beeson, DDS, director of the orthodontic clinic.

In April 2007, the residents at the School of Dental Medicine will take impressions and x-rays and examine teeth to create a treatment plan. When the new residents begin in July, they will begin to carry out the treatment plan and will continue with the patient for 2 years. Once the braces come off and the patient is in the retainer stage, they will be seen by various doctors in the orthodontic department. Those with extremely difficult occlusions will be referred to Case’s specialty dental clinic to assist in their treatment. Those with minor problems will be referred to their family dentists.

Accepted patients will be treated every 4 to 6 weeks in the first 2 years by the same faculty-resident team.

The parent or guardian of the patient must pay a nonrefundable $100 deposit, applied toward the $2,400 fee, which is due when treatment begins in July 2007. The dental school will work with parents to receive reimbursement through the family’s dental insurance plan.

Parents or guardians interested in having their children participate in the program should email [email protected].

[blog.case.edu, October 24, 2006]