What is "Orthodontics"?

In this day and age, it is common to see or know of someone with braces. For years braces were the most conventional method to achieve perfectly aligned teeth. In recent times, there are many more options for the same goal.

The term "orthodontics" can be broken down into two Greek words - "orthos" meaning straight or correct and "dontics" meaning teeth. Orthodontics therefore describes the practice of managing abnormal positioning of the teeth, jaws and face.

While most regular dentists are perfectly equipped to help you straighten your teeth, an orthodontist who has additional training in orthodontics; a dental specialty in the practice of straightening misaligned teeth or malocclusions (bite problem), go beyond basic dental training and hence has a more specific focus.

The desire for the perfect smile is one of the main reasons why orthodontics treatments are popular, but the purpose of orthodontic treatments transcends mere aesthetics. Orthodontic treatments help to create a healthy bite [straight teeth that meet opposing teeth in the opposite jaw properly] and a good bite makes it easier for you to bite, chew and speak.

Hence, orthodontic procedures have additional benefits besides improving cosmetic appearance.

Benefits of orthodontic procedures:

• Improved overall function of teeth which leads to better chewing and clearer pronunciation and speech
• Reduced risk of dental caries occurring due to the collection of food particles stuck between misaligned or crowded teeth
• Reduced risk of gum injury and trauma due to overbites and malocclusions

Some of the dental malocclusions (bite problem)  that may be corrected by orthodontics include:

• Crowded teeth
  This occurs when teeth competed for space in the mouth and can’t fit normally within the jaws, causing disharmony in the tooth to jaw size relationship
• An overbite bite
  Also known as "buck teeth” or bunny teeth, this occurs when the lower end of the upper front teeth do not touch the upper end of the lower front teeth
• Underbite
  This gives a "bulldog" appearance where the lower teeth are too far forward or the upper teeth too far back
• Cross bite
  This happens when both the upper and lower teeth ends do not meet. It can affect a single tooth or a few tooth
• Open bite
  This refers to the situation when the top and bottom teeth do not touch at the front or back of the mouth when the jaw is fully shut, leaving a space between, leading to them looking “open" at the front
• Spacing
  Unnatural spacing between teeth may result from poorly developed, smaller or missing teeth

Methods of fixing malocclusions include braces, aligners, tooth extraction and surgery.

A detailed analysis by an orthodontist can best determine the orthodontic procedures best suited for the patient. Every patient deserves a tailor-made treatment plan that is designed to achieve the best results.

In the past, orthodontic treatment was believed to be more suitable for children and teens. Today, many adults seek orthodontic treatment to correct long-standing problems. The biological process involved in moving teeth is the same at any age, though treatment may require a longer timeframe for adults. The latest technologies in orthodontics enables orthodontic treatments to be discrete with minimised discomfort. Now anyone of any age achieve a healthy and beautiful smile with the help of orthodontic treatments.

If you need assistance in finding an orthodontist, our dental locator site is available on: https://toothcare2u.com/dentist_profiles/

DISCLAIMER:
The information above should be used as a reference only. Any medical decision should not be taken before consulting a health care professional.
The masculine gender may have been more used in the article, but without prejudice, to make reading easier.