Course Description
Orthodontics continues to grow in clinical demand, particularly among adult patients and individuals who benefit from interdisciplinary dental care. Many general practitioners are interested in broadening their orthodontic skills but may not have access to structured, evidence-informed training to support their learning. Strengthening this knowledge can help clinicians liaise more effectively with orthodontic specialists or broaden their own practice by thoughtfully integrating orthodontic care. The course also supports new specialists by reinforcing core principles and building confidence in foundational orthodontic decision-making.
Fundamentals of Orthodontics is a comprehensive continuing education course developed by the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry to address this need. The program offers a solid approach to orthodontics through lectures, demonstrations, and simulation-based exercises. Participants will build a strong foundation in diagnosis, treatment planning, and the management of feasible and predictable orthodontic mechanics.
By the end of the course, participants will be equipped with the essential knowledge and practical skills needed to begin providing safe and effective orthodontic care for the types of cases most frequently encountered in general practice. General practitioners will also develop the insight necessary to thoughtfully assess more complex situations, appreciate when specialist collaboration is warranted, and recognize cases that may require more extensive training.
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- Conduct complete orthodontic assessments and diagnostic workups, including cephalometric tracing and model analysis
- Differentiate among sagittal, vertical, and transverse malocclusions and formulate appropriate treatment plans
- Understand and apply biomechanical principles of tooth movement
- Design and implement interceptive and comprehensive orthodontic treatment plans for Class I, II, and III cases
- Gain proficiency in bracket placement, wire sequencing, and finishing techniques
- Compare fixed appliance and clear aligner mechanics for various case types
- Manage retention strategies and perform retainer fabrication and adjustment
- Collaborate in interdisciplinary treatment planning
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- You must bring a digital camera (can be a point-and-shoot or SLR) for intraoral and extraoral photos (NOT a phone camera).
- You must bring a laptop with required software installed. Instructions for downloading and installing the software will be provided prior to the start of the course.
- A basic examination kit will be provided. You will be required to bring specific orthodontic instruments including Wire Bending Pliers. A list of required instruments will be provided in your course material.
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Meeting 1: Foundations of Diagnosis and Records
January 2026- The Six Keys to Normal Occlusion
- Fundamentals of Craniofacial Growth and Development
- Orthodontic Clinical Assessment and Record Collection
- Analysis of Orthodontic Records:
- Extraoral and Intraoral Photography
- Digital Scans and Model Evaluation
- Radiographic Interpretation
- Cephalometric Tracing and Digital Analysis
- Diagnosis of Sagittal, Transverse, and Vertical Disharmonies
- Soft and Hard Tissue Analysis: Identifying Biological Boundaries
- Smile Aesthetics
- Keys to Effective Communication
Hands-on Session: Extraoral/intraoral photography, cephalometric tracing and analysis
Meeting 2: Appliances and Orthodontic Mechanics
February 2026- Edgewise Orthodontic Appliance Systems
- Bracket Types and MBT Prescription (McLaughlin, Bennett, Trevisi)
- Direct Bonding Techniques for Bracket Placement
- Molar Bands: Indications and Placement
- Archwires and Orthodontic Auxiliaries
- Fundamentals of Orthodontic Mechanics
- Orthodontic Forces and Moments
- Types of Tooth Movement: Tipping, Torquing, Translation
- Treatment Staging:
- Aligning and Leveling
- Space Closure
- Archwire Sequencing
- Finishing Protocols
Hands-on Session: Bracket placement, archwire insertion, lacebacks, tiebacks, bendbacks
Meeting 3: Class I Malocclusions and Interceptive Treatment
March 2026 |- Establishing the Orthodontic Timeline: When to Start and Finish
- Diagnosing and Managing Class I Malocclusions
- Deviations in Normal Dental and Craniofacial Development
- Interceptive Treatment Strategies:
- Open Bite, Crossbite, and Space Management
- Serial Extractions
- Auxiliary Appliances:
- Transpalatal Arch (TPA)
- 2×4 Appliance
- Lip Bumper
- Palatal Expanders
- Palatal Crib / Tongue Spurs
- Diagnosing and Managing Vertical and Transverse Disharmonies
- Extraction vs. Non-Extraction Approaches
- Comprehensive Treatment Planning: Goals, Mechanics, and Procedures
Hands-on Session: Fabrication and adjustment of TPAs, expanders, lip bumpers
Meeting 4: Class II Malocclusions and Functional Appliances
April 2026- Diagnosis and Treatment Planning for Class II Malocclusions
- Orthodontic Timing: Intervention and Completion
- Extraction vs. Non-Extraction Protocols: Mechanics and Archwire Selection
- Class II Elastics
- Distalization Appliances: Headgear, Pendulum
- Functional Appliances: Twin Block, Sander’s Appliance
- Use of Anchorage Devices: Nance Button, Temporary Anchorage Devices (TADs)
- Comprehensive Treatment for Class II Cases: Clinical Goals and Mechanics
Hands-on Session: Functional appliance workflow, from digital impressions to appliance delivery and monitoring; loop mechanics
Meeting 5: Class III Malocclusions
May 2026 |- Diagnosis and Management of Class III Malocclusions
- Orthodontic Timing: When to Start and Finish
- Reverse Pull Headgear: Petit and Delaire Facemasks
- Extraction vs. Non-Extraction Protocols
- Class III Elastics
- Comprehensive Treatment Strategies for Class III Malocclusions
Hands-on Session: Delivery and management of reverse pull headgear
Meeting 6: Orthodontic Finishing and Retention
September 2026- Finishing Procedures
- Bracket Repositioning
- Finishing Bends: Tip, Torque, Rotation
- Arch Coordination
- Finishing Checklists
- Settling Techniques
- Appliance Removal: Clinical Procedures and Best Practices
- Retention Protocols
- Fixed Retainers
- Removable Retainers
- Long-term Retention and Management
Hands-on Session: Placement of bonded lingual retainers
Meeting 7: Clear Aligner Therapy and Interdisciplinary Treatment
October 2026- Comparing Fixed and Aligner Mechanics
- Case Selection for Clear Aligner Therapy
- Introduction to ClinCheck and Digital Planning
- Aligner Mechanics for Class I, II, and III Cases
- Managing Interdisciplinary Orthodontic Cases
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Please arrive within 30 minutes before the course start time to sign in.
Staff will be available at the Faculty of Dentistry’s Edward Street entrance to admit participants into the building as this building is not open to the public. If you arrive too early, you may need to wait until staff arrive.
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This course consists of 14 sessions split into 7 weekends.
Each session will be 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Friday, January 30, 2026
Saturday, January 31, 2026
Meeting 1: Foundations of Diagnosis and Records
Friday, February 20, 2026
Saturday, February 21, 2026
Meeting 2: Appliances and Orthodontic Mechanics
Friday, March 27, 2026
Saturday, March 28, 2026
Meeting 3: Class I Malocclusions and Interceptive Treatment
Friday, April 17, 2026
Saturday, April 18, 2026
Meeting 4: Class II Malocclusions and Functional Appliances
Friday, May 22, 2026
Saturday, May 23, 2026
Meeting 5: Class III Malocclusions
Friday, September 18, 2026
Saturday, September 19, 2026
Meeting 6: Orthodontic Finishing and Retention
Friday, October 16, 2026
Saturday, October 17, 2026
Meeting 7: Clear Aligner Therapy and Interdisciplinary Treatment
Note: schedule of course topics may be subject to change
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Complimentary lunch is provided for course participants. Please indicate any dietary restrictions upon registration.
Aside from required equipment that participants must bring, additional hands-on materials and equipment are provided by us for the course.
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There is a $1,000 non-refundable fee.
Cancellations made more than 10 calendar days before the course start date will receive a full refund minus the non-refundable fee. No refunds will be issued for cancellations made within 10 calendar days of the course start date.
Refunds will not be issued for registrants who do not attend, regardless of reason for absence.
Registrations cannot be transferred to another individual.
To cancel your registration, please follow the link and instructions provided in the registration confirmation email. If you are eligible for a refund, the refund will be processed automatically upon cancellation. Please allow 3-5 business days for the transaction to be completed.
Continuing Dental Education (University of Toronto) reserves the right to cancel courses due to insufficient registrations, instructor cancellation, or unforeseen circumstances beyond our control. In the event of course cancellation, a full refund will be issued, and registrants will be notified promptly. We are not liable for any associated losses, damages, or expenses, including travel and accommodations.
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After completing this course, a certificate of completion that indicates the number of Continuing Education (CE) points earned will be sent to you within 7-10 days by email.
Instructor
Dr. Cioffi is a full-time tenured Associate Professor at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry. As a clinician-scientist, he specializes in temporomandibular disorders (TMD), the functional anatomy of the masticatory system, and orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics.
Dr. Cioffi received his training in dentistry, orthodontics, and TMD at the University of Naples Federico II in Italy. He completed a PhD program in oral sciences and a clinical specialty program in orthodontics at the same institution. During his training, he also gained experience at the Clinic of Masticatory Disorders, Centre for Dental Medicine, University of Zurich (Switzerland), and the Department of Functional Anatomy at ACTA (Amsterdam, the Netherlands). Additionally, he completed the dental specialty training and assessment training program (DSATP, orthodontics) at the University of Toronto.
Dr. Cioffi is a board-certified orthodontist and a Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada.
Sponsorship
The University of Toronto, Faculty of Dentistry appreciates the unrestricted educational grants provided for this course by American Orthodontics and Orthodontic Supply of Canada.
