[Adult treatment as therapy of dysfunction].

Adult orthodontics often is to be considered as the prophylactic treatment for the disordered stomatognathic system. The enlarged facilities of diagnosis enable the orthodontist to investigate the reasons of the functional disorders, like neglected or insufficient orthodontic treatment in the growing patient or inconsiderate extractions. For many functional disorders with different reasons adult orthodontics is the causal therapy. Orthodontic treatment is also able to reduce the prosthetic therapy and to improve the prognosis for preserving the natural structures. Enlarged, continuous diagnosis and a high degree of postgraduate education must be required for successful adult treatment.