Early Orthodontic Intervention

Wednesday, June 24, 2026
5:00 pm PST / 8:00 pm EST

How to be a more effective advocate for your patients’ long-term dental health.

Early orthodontic intervention, when applied to the right patient at the right time, can meaningfully reduce treatment complexity, prevent irreversible damage, and improve long-term outcomes. Presented by DOCS Education, Dr. Benjamin Chan, a board-certified orthodontist and faculty member at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, will walk participants through the most clinically relevant Phase I conditions you’ll encounter in your practice and give you the tools to recognize them, understand the urgency, and know when to refer.

As a general dentist, you’re often the first clinician to observe developing malocclusions in your young patients. This course will equip you with a clear, evidence-based framework for evaluating crossbites, Class III malocclusion, anterior open bite, arch length discrepancies, and ectopic eruption of canines and first molars so you can proceed with confidence.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the key indications for Phase I (early) orthodontic treatment and distinguish conditions that benefit from early intervention from those best treated in the permanent dentition.
• Recognize and diagnose anterior and posterior crossbites, including those with functional shifts.
• Understand the skeletal consequences of delayed treatment.
• Identify the clinical and radiographic signs of Class III malocclusion with maxillary deficiency and determine the optimal window for orthodontic intervention.
• Evaluate anterior open bite in the mixed dentition, including strategies for habit elimination and appropriate timing of referral.
• Review guidelines for managing arch length discrepancies, including space maintenance and the use of lingual arches, Nance appliances, and expansion.
• Learn to detect ectopic eruption of maxillary canines and first permanent molars using clinical palpation and radiographic sector analysis and understand the interceptive options available.

This webinar is free to attend. We offer 1 CE for DOCS Members and Trial Members who attend the live presentation.

If you are not yet a Member but would like to earn the 1 CE for attending, as well as experience the many benefits of DOCS Membership, consider joining as a Trial Member for only $1.* There is no obligation or risk; cancel anytime.

About the Presenter(s):

Dr. Benjamin Chan is a board-certified orthodontist and Senior Clinical Instructor at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, where he holds dual appointments in the Departments of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry. He earned his DMD and completed his orthodontic residency and Master of Science degree at Tufts, where he has been a faculty member since 2014.

Dr. Chan has spent over a decade as Course Director of the Early Treatment Course at Tufts, which was a program he developed from the ground up for both orthodontic and pediatric dental residents.  This makes him uniquely attuned to the questions and challenges general dentists face when identifying and managing developing malocclusions. He also serves as the interdepartmental liaison between Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, where he created the clinical protocols guiding early treatment diagnosis and referral across both departments.

In private practice, Dr. Chan is the owner of Cumberland Dental Specialists in Cumberland, Rhode Island. He is board-certified by the American Board of Orthodontics and an active leadership member of the American Association of Orthodontists and the Northeastern Society of Orthodontists.

 

*Trial Membership Offer is open to dentists who have not participated in the Trial Membership program within the past two (2) years. After 60 days, if not cancelled, the Trial Membership will upgrade to a Standard Membership at $59.95/mo for a one-year commitment. Refer to terms of service for details.

 

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DOCS Education is designated as an Approved PACE Program Provider by the Academy of General Dentistry. The formal continuing education programs of this program provider are accepted by the AGD for Fellowship/Mastership and membership maintenance credit. Approval does not imply acceptance by a state or provincial board of dentistry or AGD endorsement. The current term of approval extends from 09/17/2000 to 12/31/2026. Provider ID# 217651.