[Systematic referral in orthodontics: a checklist]

Each orthodontic abnormality has its own ideal moment of referral. For this reason it is important to recognize which orthodontic abnormalities require attention at each dental phase. This article provides an overview of the most relevant orthodontic abnormalities per dental phase and the corresponding time of referral and/or intervention on the basis of rules of thumb and the Orthodontics Checklist . The checklist provides an overview of the developmental phases of the dentition, each with its own orthodontic issues. In order to promote clinical use, an online version is available for reference.