Start with the patient question
Each guide is built around a practical question an adult orthodontic patient may ask: what a treatment term means, what usually happens, what can vary and when professional advice is important.
Use a source hierarchy
For medical and treatment claims, preference is given to established professional organizations and public health services, followed by peer-reviewed research when a question requires more detail. Commercial pages, social-media posts and anonymous forum claims are not treated as primary evidence for medical facts.
Check the scope of the evidence
Research in orthodontics may apply to a particular age group, appliance, diagnosis or study population. Articles should avoid presenting a finding from one narrow group as if it automatically applies to every adult with braces.
Separate evidence from treatment decisions
Published evidence can explain common principles, risks and options, but it cannot determine the right treatment for an individual reader. Decisions about extractions, expansion, jaw surgery, periodontal care, IPR, TADs, medications or emergency treatment require an examination by the reader's own qualified clinicians.
Handle uncertainty clearly
When professional approaches differ or evidence is limited, the article should say so rather than force a single answer. The goal is to help readers ask better questions at their own appointment, not to diagnose them online.
Psychological and social topics
Articles about confidence, embarrassment, dating or self-esteem distinguish ordinary social experiences from mental-health diagnoses. Group-level research is not used to promise that orthodontic treatment will improve an individual's confidence or wellbeing.
Revisions
Sources and wording can be updated when newer guidance becomes available, when a reference breaks, when an error is reported or when a page needs clearer context. See the Corrections Policy for how factual issues can be reported.