What Exactly is Orthodontics?

Orthodontics is the specialty of dentistry dedicated to diagnosing, preventing, and treating issues related to the alignment of your teeth and jaws.

Think of an orthodontist as an architect for your smile. They don’t just straighten crooked teeth; they carefully plan and guide the teeth, face, and jaw to fit together harmoniously. The goal is two-fold:

1. Aesthetics: To create a beautiful, confident smile.

2. Function: To ensure your bite is balanced, allowing you to chew properly, reducing wear on your teeth, and preventing long-term problems like TMD (jaw joint issues).

The most common time for treatment is during adolescence, but advancements mean adults can now achieve amazing results at any age.

The “Why”: Issues That Orthodontics Solves

Orthodontic treatment addresses problems known as malocclusions (or “bad bites”). These issues are often hereditary or caused by habits like thumb-sucking.

Key issues that an orthodontist treats include:

• Crowding: When there isn’t enough space for all the teeth to align normally, leading to overlapping or rotation.

• Spacing (Gaps): Gaps between teeth, often causing aesthetic concerns or difficulty eating.

• Overbite: When the upper front teeth significantly overlap the lower front teeth.

• Underbite: When the lower front teeth stick out past the upper front teeth.

• Crossbite: When the upper teeth sit inside the lower teeth (instead of outside) when you bite down.

• Open Bite: When the upper and lower front teeth don’t touch, even when the back teeth are biting together.