The Heart of Dental Monitoring: Why Goals Matter in Fixed Appliance Treatment and Observation
I recently spoke with an orthodontist who uses Dental Monitoring (DM) extensively for aligner patients but was still on the fence about whether it brings the same value to fixed appliance treatment. It’s a common hesitation—after all, aligners lend themselves easily to remote monitoring due to the step-by-step nature of treatment.
But here’s the thing: fixed appliance cases may benefit even more when you fully leverage Goals.
At Varble Orthodontics, we believe Goals are the heart of Dental Monitoring. They transform DM from a passive tracking tool into a proactive clinical system—one that enhances efficiency, precision, and patient experience, whether we’re monitoring braces, expanders, or early observation cases.
FDA-Approved Goals: A Milestone in Remote Orthodontic Care
In a major development, the entire Dental Monitoring Goals feature set recently received FDA approval—a significant milestone that confirms the clinical validity and safety of these tools in orthodontic workflows.
This means the parameters you’re setting—whether it’s molar correction, space closure, or overjet normalization—are not just guidelines, but FDA-recognized clinical benchmarks. These validated goals give us the confidence to treat more decisively, schedule more intentionally, and ultimately improve outcomes.
Goals in Fixed Appliance Treatment: From Passive to Precision
With traditional braces, scheduling is often based on habit—every 6 to 8 weeks—regardless of whether the patient is ready for the next step. Using DM Goals flips that model on its head.
At our practice, we’ve built a goal-driven system to manage our fixed appliance cases. Here are examples of the goals we actively use:
Anteroposterior Goals
Class I canine – RIGHT and LEFT [-1.0 ; 1.0 mm]
Class I molar – RIGHT and LEFT [-1.0 ; 1.0 mm]
Closure of all anterior space(s)
Closure of extraction space(s)
Normal overjet [1.0 ; 3.0 mm]
Transverse Goals
Correction of midline deviation [-0.5 ; 0.5 mm]
Correction of crossbite – RIGHT and LEFT
Vertical Goals
Normal overbite [1.0 ; 3.0 mm]
General Goals
Passive archwire and auxiliaries – UPPER and LOWER
Loss of all deciduous teeth
Each goal acts as a clinical trigger. When a parameter is met, we receive a real-time alert and can schedule the patient accordingly. This approach allows us to:
Minimize unnecessary visits
Accelerate treatment when progress is ahead of schedule
Ensure patients are seen at the right moment for the right adjustment
It’s smarter scheduling powered by actual progress—not assumptions.
Expander and Phase 1 Monitoring: A New Level of Clarity
We’ve also integrated Goals into our Phase 1 treatment tracking, especially for patients in expanders. Rather than relying solely on in-office checks or subjective assessments, we track:
Transverse development
Space closure
This gives us confidence to make timely decisions about retention, follow-up, or transitioning into Phase 2—without the guesswork.
Observation Program: Eruption Tracking Made Easy
In our observation program, DM has become an essential tool—but we keep it simple. The only goal we track is loss of all deciduous teeth.
That one metric is enough to tell us when a patient is transitioning out of observation and into readiness for treatment. Rather than scheduling routine "watch" appointments, we get notified as soon as a critical tooth has erupted, and can move forward with treatment planning.
It’s efficient, effective, and highly appreciated by families who don’t want to take time off work or school for unnecessary visits.
Evolve Your Practice with DM Goals
The real beauty of Dental Monitoring isn’t just in its ability to track—it’s in how it lets you treat smarter.
Goals create clinical clarity, improve timing, and empower your team to act confidently. With FDA-approved standards, real-time alerts, and meaningful insights across both braces and observation programs, it’s never been easier to evolve how you care for patients.
So if you're still just using DM for aligners, you're only scratching the surface. Set goals. Use them. Trust them. And watch your practice—and your outcomes—change for the better.
