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Objective: To compare young people’s experiences of wearing a range of orthodontic appliances. Design: A cross-sectional, qualitative study with purposive sampling. Setting: UK dental teaching hospital. Participants: Twenty-six orthodontic patients aged 11–17 years. Methods: Patients participated in in-depth semi-structured interviews. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. Results: Young people reported physical, practical and emotional impacts from their appliances. Despite these reported impacts, participants described ‘getting used’ to and, therefore, not being bothered by their appliance. Framework analysis of the data identified a multi-dimensional social process of managing everyday life with an appliance. This involves addressing the ‘dys-appearance’ of the body through physically adapting to an appliance. This process also includes psychological approaches, drawing on social networks, developing strategies and situating experiences in a longer-term context. Engaging in this process allowed young people to address the physical, practical and emotional impacts of their appliances. Conclusion: This qualitative research has identified how young people manage everyday life with an appliance. Understanding this process will help orthodontists to support their patients.

Part 2 of this series of two articles addresses the Hall Technique for preformed metal crowns. It will discuss the need for an effective child and dentist friendly method to restore carious primary molars. The technique is described in detail and the evidence for its effectiveness and acceptance by children, parents, dentists and dental educators is presented. CPD/Clinical Relevance: Dentists and dental care professionals should be aware of the evidence to support the adoption of the Hall Technique.

This article outlines how sounds are produced and how speech and language develop, in the child. The assessment of speech by a speech and language therapist is briefly described. It then discusses the evidence for an impact of occlusion, and the loss or absence of teeth on speech. In summary there is a possibility that the loss, absence or malalignment of teeth may affect speech but unfortunately the evidence base is weak. CPD/Clinical relevance: Dental care professionals should understand the development of speech and how dental health potentially affects speech.

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