The Alexander Discipline: The 20 principles of the Alexander discipline

Book excerpt: About 20 years ago Alexander (orthodontics, Baylor College of Dentistry) launched a new bracket system that, along with innovative treatment techniques and principles, became very popular with both patients and practitioners. Ever since he has been refining his ideas and practices, and here he presents the top 20, including establishing goals for stability, using brackets designed for specific prescriptions, building treatment into bracket placement, exploiting growth to obtain predictable correction, establishing the ideal arch form, following a logical archwire sequence, consolidating arches early in treatment, maintaining consolidation, creating symmetry, using nonextraction treatments when possible but use extraction treatments when necessary, and removing appliances carefully. Amongst his most impressive chapters are those that encourage practitioners to face reality and to commit themselves to excellence.