Treatment objectives and treatment planning.

Treatment planning is perhaps the most challenging aspect of orthodontic treatment. Each patient is an individual and must be treated as such. A conscientious clinician must avoid casting every patient into stereotyped treatment. This article has attempted to present one way to aid and guide the clinician in the methodical thought process necessary in making treatment decisions. An accurate diagnosis and a rational treatment plan are the essential criteria for the achievement of the three major goals of treatment: esthetics, function, and stability.