About

Stefan Cloete

BChD MClinDent (Prosthodontics), CFOO Master Practitioner

My journey with Dento-Facial Orthopaedics began in 2008, when a patient in my chair arrived with serious overcrowding and skeletal imbalance. She had already received three opposing treatment plans and arrived at my Practice understandably confused. Her parents were confused. I was confused. I felt that something should be done, but recognised that I simply did not have the expertise to treat her.

This was incredibly frustrating as I was certain the treatment plans presented would cause further problems – but I did not have the solution. This patient had already undergone multiple extractions and there were further in her plan that would have reduced the amount of healthy teeth in her already under-developed maxilla. Her smile had plentiful gaps and there were impacted teeth due to be removed surgically. That was the precise moment when I felt it necessary to research options and admit that my own limitations would be passed on to this child if I did not expand my own knowledge and experience.

I eventually discovered the Clinical Foundation for Orthopaedic and Orthodontics (CFOO) and embarked upon a decade of academic study and supervision. I documented my cases from the outset of my journey and continue with this tradition today, taking clinical photos from the first discussion appointment, right through to the finished case and beyond. Thousands of completed cases later, I have joined Dr. Skip Truitt in passing on the tenets of the Orthopaedic ethos and have embarked upon training and webinars to support other dentists and orthodontists, so you too can offer choices that were not previously available.

Dentistry is changing. We are observing a new paradigm of choice offered to patients and they are choosing Dento-Facial Orthopaedics over traditional orthodontic treatment. Early intervention means we can work with nature and identify under-developed jaws and overcrowding conditions in children as young as three years old. Using bespoke appliances that arrive within two weeks, we can gently develop the maxilla and/or mandible, so that by the time they reach adolescence, they have room for all erupted adult teeth. You will never look at a patient or overcrowding in the same way again. You will see a Class I or II patient, or a Division II with the eyes of a clinician who can visualise the outcome and achieve it. You will see a trapped mandible as a structure that can be developed and moved into the correct position over time – allowing for healthy tissue to form and maintain this position. With the use of appropriate appliances, a profile and smile can be achieved that will be in proportion to what nature intended. You will also learn why children are not developing to their genetic potential and the options you can provide to your patients to support natural development.

These courses are designed to take you step-by-step through this entire process. You will follow the journey I began over a decade ago, but with easy-to-follow courses that can be streamed or downloaded in the comfort of your own home. DFO Training will provide you with everything you need to see the possibilities – and be able to offer choice without the limitations that prevented me from treating that young patient in my chair. Speaking of her, let’s take a look at what I achieved with this patient – my first DFO treatment plan.

What do you see? Where was her midline? How wide is her smile on the left? Why did she tilt her head to the right when she smiled? What prevented her upper jaw from developing to it’s potential?

Her maxilla was gently expanded over 18 months so that no further extractions were required and the case finished with straight wire. She began smiling for photos with her teeth for the first time in ten years.