Facing the future

Facing the future        

For 16-year old Paisley Laws having orthodontic braces was not the only challenge she faced when she started her course of treatment in 2007. Paisley has Cerebral Palsy, a condition in which impairment to the immature brain affects movement, posture and co-ordination. In Paisley’s case the condition affects her lower limbs, meaning that her balance is poor and she walks slightly differently. Despite having two operations to improve her walking whilst going through her course of orthodontic treatment she persevered with her braces.

Now this diligence has paid off as she has won a prize in a national competition which was created to illustrate the power of orthodontic treatment to change lives. Against the Odds was conceived by the British Orthodontic Society (BOS), which represents the dental specialty of orthodontics; the science and art of correcting irregularities of the teeth, bite and jaws. The entries to the competition were judged by Professor Tim Newton, Professor of Psychology as Applied to Dentistry and Head of Oral Health Services Research at the King’s College London Dental Institute, Sara Wallis, feature writer of the Daily Mirror, and the Chief Executive of the BOS Les Joffe and Professor r David Bearn, who is Professor of Orthodontics at the University of Dundee.

Well won praise

Paisley’s treatment lasted just under 16 months and though that seemed to her like a long time, as she says, “every visit was worth it”. Prior to having braces Paisley had an overjet, which meant her upper teeth and jaw protruded over her lower jaw. She was subsequently very conscious of her teeth and hated how they looked. Her new straight teeth and stunning smile has made a real difference, as Paisley sums it up “I love my teeth now, and my friends and family often comment on how good they look. This gives me a lot more confidence than before I had my treatment.” Paisley is equally rapturous about Dr Jonathan Hunter, the orthodontist who performed the treatment, and his team at York Orthodontics: “It feels like Jonathan’s worked with magic and I can’t thank him and his team enough.”

Sara Wallis, one of the judges of the competition, explains that choosing Paisley as one of the winners from amongst the many patients who entered was an easy decision to reach: “We were so impressed with her bravery and enthusiasm in persevering with orthodontic treatment at a time she was undergoing a number of difficult medical operations.” Psychologist Professor Tim Newton, another one of the judges, added: “Paisley exemplifies the spirit of the competition, which was to show people that people can achieve their goals ‘Against the odds’.”