JCO - Journal of Clinical Orthodontics

10/02/2026

How do you maintain effective orthopedic forces as the maxilla moves forward during facemask therapy?
As treatment progresses, the biomechanics change—and the force delivered by your elastics may not be what you think.
But there's another important question: How much force should you be using in the first place?
In this Clinical Technique, Malstrom, Ferrer, and Yen discuss age-related force recommendations for facemask therapy and present several practical chairside strategies to maintain appropriate force levels throughout treatment.
From simple elastic modifications to creative facemask adjustments, this article offers techniques that can be implemented immediately in everyday practice.
Are your patients receiving the force you intended from day one to the end of treatment?

10/01/2026

The challenge isn't posterior mesialization—it's controlling the side effects.

Unilateral space closure can be difficult to manage. Anchorage loss, midline deviations, and unwanted changes in canine relationships are common concerns when mesializing posterior teeth.
This Clinical Pearl presents a simple intra-arch technique that combines open-coil springs and Class I elastics to achieve sequential posterior mesialization while maintaining control of the midline and sagittal relationships.

📖 In this article, you'll learn:
• How to perform sequential posterior mesialization using straightforward biomechanics.
• A practical approach to minimizing anchorage loss during unilateral space closure.
• Strategies for maintaining midline position and canine relationships throughout treatment.
• How treatment changes can be assessed with digital model superimpositions.
A simple technique that may help you improve control and predictability when managing premolar agenesis and other unilateral space-closure cases.

09/30/2026

When we evaluate a smile, we clearly distinguish between a diastema, an open gingival embrasure ("black triangle"), and an open incisal embrasure. But do our patients perceive these differences the same way?

This month's JCO article explores how laypersons interpret various forms of anterior interdental spacing and whether different types of spaces influence their perception of smile attractiveness. The findings raise important questions about communication, treatment finishing, and patient expectations.

Read the full article, “Perception of Anterior Interdental Spacing Among Laypersons,” and discover how patient perception may differ from clinical perception (subscriber-only). https://www.jco-online.com/archive/2026/08/504-perception-of-anterior-interdental-spacing-among-laypersons/

09/23/2026

The AAO white paper on sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) has been challenged, criticized, and debated since its original publication. But debate does not change the evidence.

The 2026 update reinforces several important realities: orthodontists have an important role in recognizing risk factors for sleep-disordered breathing and referring appropriately—but SDB remains a medical condition requiring interdisciplinary care. CBCT airway measurements should not be used to diagnose SDB or predict treatment success. Routine frenectomy is not supported as a treatment or prevention strategy. The evidence does not support claims that orthodontic extractions or distalization cause airway obstruction.

Expansion and functional appliances may provide airway benefits in selected patients, but those benefits should not be presented as guaranteed outcomes.

Some can challenge the white paper and can debate its conclusions. But they cannot simply ignore the evidence because it conflicts with their preferred treatment philosophy.

Read last month’s Editor’s Corner: “Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Orthodontics: Understanding the Update.”

09/21/2026

New in the August JCO: “Orthodontic Treatment in Patients with Amelogenesis Imperfecta,” by James Noble, Yona Vandersluis-Solomon, and Neal D. Kravitz.

Amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) is a group of rare genetic disorders that affect tooth enamel development, resulting in enamel that may be thin, sensitive, malformed, and discolored. AI presents unique orthodontic challenges, particularly when bonding to compromised enamel and existing composite restorations.

This article provides practical clinical guidelines for treatment timing, bracket bonding, restorative space management, and retention. The authors discuss strategies to improve bond strength—including surface preparation, adhesion promoters, and delaying archwire placement for one week—as well as the potential roles of lingual appliances and clear aligners.

Successful treatment requires close coordination between the orthodontist and restorative team, with comprehensive orthodontics generally timed near skeletal maturity to facilitate definitive prosthodontic treatment.

09/21/2026

In the August issue of JCO, Technology Editor Marc S. Lemchen, DMD, explores robotics' emerging role in orthodontic practice. From escorting patients and transporting instruments to automating sterilization and providing AI-powered patient education, today’s robots are moving beyond novelty and into practical office applications.

Dr. Lemchen discusses how robotics can reduce repetitive tasks, improve workflow, and let clinical staff spend more time focused on patient care. He also addresses the economics and practical limitations of implementation—including cost, office layout, staff training, and whether robotics makes sense for every practice.

The takeaway: robotics isn’t changing orthodontic diagnosis or treatment planning—it’s changing how the orthodontic office operates. And that future may be arriving sooner than we think. This article is also free for anyone to read: https://www.jco-online.com/archive/2026/08/530-robots-are-real-and-theyre-here-now-a-clinicians-perspective-on-emerging-robotics-in-orthodontics/

09/16/2026

With more than 30 years in clinical practice, Dr. Barry Glaser knows that staying current in orthodontics means never stopping learning.

Throughout his career, Dr. Glaser has been a strong advocate for practical, clinically relevant education, and we’re proud to have his endorsement of the Journal of Clinical Orthodontics.

For generations, JCO has helped orthodontists stay connected to the techniques, technologies, clinical insights, and ideas shaping our profession.

Ready to make JCO part of your regular reading?

Subscribe today at JCO-Online.com.

09/11/2026

Maxillary canines have the longest developmental period and the most complex eruption pathway of any tooth, traveling from their formation lateral to the piriform fossa to their final position in the dental arch.

This long and tortuous journey makes them particularly susceptible to ectopic eruption and impaction.

Adding to the challenge, the developing canine crown lies in close proximity to the lateral incisor root, increasing the risk of adjacent root resorption and further complicating eruption.

🔎 Explore this clinical insight and understand the unique eruption path of maxillary canines
👉 https://www.jco-online.com/archive/2026/07/457-nonsurgical-approaches-to-eruption-of-impacted-maxillary-canines-a-case-series-of-triplets/

Subscribe for more clinical pearls and practical orthodontic insights.

09/10/2026

Our next webinar is next Tuesday at 8:30 PM Eastern time (please pay attention to what time that is for you): Part II of our Nonsurgical Treatment with TADs with Dr. Trevor Nichols! Part I, available now on JCO+, dealt with gummy smiles. This part will cover MARPEs, Class II, and Class III. Free for subscribers, it is $100 for non-subscribers to attend live and $85 to watch the recording (so maybe just subscribe? You get all of JCO too). CE is available for $10. Register at

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09/10/2026

Maxillary canines are essential for both occlusal function and facial esthetics, making their ectopic eruption or impaction a significant orthodontic challenge.

Because of their long and complex eruption path, these teeth are particularly susceptible to deviations during development, potentially leading to ectopic eruption or impaction.

This clinical pearl highlights the importance of understanding canine eruption and recognizing these deviations early to facilitate timely and effective management.

🔎 Explore this clinical insight |
👉 https://www.jco-online.com/archive/2026/07/480-forced-eruption-of-transalveolar-impacted-upper-permanent-canines/
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