by Nancy Keates at nancy.keates@wsj.com
The number of children 17 and younger getting orthodontic treatment has grown 46% over the past decade to 3.8 million in 2008,... figure available from the American Association of Orthodontists
The association doesn't break the number down further by age, but Lee W. Graber, the Association's president, estimates that in his own practice 15% to 20% of the 7- to 10-year-olds he sees get treatment.
"Fifteen years ago we rarely saw kids until they were teenagers," Dr. Graber says...
In the U.S., the shift to earlier treatment dates back to around 1990, the year the orthodontists association began encouraging the screening of 7-year-olds, with magazine ads and videos aimed at parents. Better diagnostic technology also has led to more early treatment. Increased insurance coverage has played a role, too...[ Basically saying a market was created to rake in the dough? Shocking!
Question: Who created the market? Answer: The American Association of Orthodontists.
Question: Who convinced insurance companies to increase their coverage? Answer: The AAO? Question: How did they convince insurance companies to start picking up more of the tab? Answer: False or misleading information, junk science?
Same questions to go out to Medicaid. ]
