What Is Orthodontics?

Orthodontics is the dentistry branch that addresses the diagnosis, prevention, interception, guidance, and correction of bad bites or dental irregularities, including the use of braces.

A specialist known as an orthodontist is the right person to consult for your orthodontic treatment. These specialists attend two or more additional years of education after four years of dental school.

You might think that straightening your teeth only has aesthetic benefits, but that couldn't be farther from the truth. Crooked teeth can be harder to clean, which can lead to tooth decay or periodontal disease. Teeth that don't fit correctly can make it harder to chew, leading to headaches, shoulder or back pain, and even temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.

Orthodontic treatments involve different types of appliances used to retrain muscles, slowly move teeth, and affect your jaw's growth by placing gentle pressure on your teeth and jaw.

Orthodontic treatments could involve fixed or removable appliances. Depending on how severe your situation, your orthodontist will advise you on which approach is the right one for you.

Fixed appliances include:

• Braces – You've most likely heard of braces – they're the most common fixed appliance. They consist of bands, wires, and brackets. How do they work? The bands are the anchors held in place around your teeth. Brackets are attached to the front of your teeth. Arch wires connect the brackets to the bands. Tightening the archwires puts pressure on your teeth, slowly moving them towards their target position. Braces are usually adjusted monthly and are worn for a few months to a few years.
• Special fixed appliances – These should only be used as a last resort to control thumb sucking or tongue thrusting. Since they're attached to the teeth by bands, they can feel quite uncomfortable while eating.
• Fixed space maintainers – Sometimes, young children lose their teeth prematurely. In such situations, an orthodontist might place a space maintainer in your child's mouth to keep the space open until a permanent tooth appears.
• Removable appliances include:
• Aligners – These are increasingly becoming a popular alternative to traditional braces for adults. Aligners move teeth in the same way as braces, but they are virtually invisible and don't involve metal wires and brackets. If you're using them, you need to remove them while eating, brushing, and flossing.
• Removable space maintainers – These devices are used for the same reason as fixed space maintainers. They're made up of plastic or wire branches and an acrylic base that fits over the jaw. They're placed in open spaces between teeth to keep the teeth apart.
• Jaw repositioning appliances – These appliances are also known as splints. They're placed either on the top or lower jaw and are used to treat TMJ disorders by training the jaw to close in a better position.
• Lip and cheek bumpers – Your lip and cheek muscles might exert pressure on your teeth. In such cases, you can use bumpers to keep your lips and cheeks away from the teeth.
• Palatal expander – This device is a plastic plate that fits over the roof of the mouth. It's used when the arch of your upper jaw needs to be widened.
• Removable retainers – These devices, worn on the roof of the mouth, prevent your teeth from shifting back to their previous position.
• Headgear – These devices slow down the growth of the upper jaw. They also hold the back teeth in place while the front teeth are pulled back.

Here are some problems with your teeth that may require orthodontics:

• Overbite - In this case, the upper front teeth appear to stick out over the lower teeth.
• Underbite - Here, the lower teeth may appear too far forward, while the upper teeth are set too far back.
• Crossbite - You know you have a crossbite when your upper teeth fit behind your lower teeth when your mouth is closed.
• Open bite - Some people have a vertical gap between the front lower and upper teeth when biting down. This is called an open bite.
• Misplaced midline - Here, the center of your upper and lower front teeth don't line up.
• Spacing - In this case, your teeth don't seem to fill up your mouth. There appear to be random gaps or spaces between teeth.
• Crowding - This is what happens when the dental ridge in your mouth doesn't have room for all your teeth.

However, only your orthodontist can correctly determine which orthodontic treatment is right for you. Using diagnostic tools such as clinical exams, plastic models of your teeth, and X-rays, your orthodontist will develop a treatment plan that works for you and your teeth.

We know that there is a lot to consider while looking at possible orthodontic treatment plans. But now that you know more about what orthodontics is, why it's important, and how it works, we hope you're well on your way to experiencing its benefits for yourself!

Oral Care Center articles are reviewed by an oral health medical professional. This information is for educational purposes only. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dentist, physician or other qualified healthcare provider.