Orthodontics

Orthodontics is a dental specialty focused on diagnosing, preventing, intercepting, and treating dental and facial irregularities, particularly malocclusions or misalignments of teeth and jaws. The primary goals are to improve bite function, jaw harmony, oral health, and facial aesthetics by guiding tooth movement and, when appropriate, jaw development.

Treatment typically involves appliances that apply controlled forces to teeth and jaws. Fixed appliances include brackets bonded to teeth with archwires; removable options include clear aligners. Additional devices such as elastics, expanders, or functional appliances may be used to influence eruption and growth. Retainers are used after active treatment to maintain results.

Orthodontic care is usually provided by an orthodontist, a dentist who has completed specialized training after dental school. Diagnosis relies on clinical examination, dental models or 3D scans, photographs, and radiographs such as panoramic and cephalometric imaging. Treatment planning considers factors like crowding, spacing, bite relationships, growth potential, patient age, and compliance.

Common indications include crowding, spacing, overbite, underbite, crossbite, and open bite. Treatment duration varies, ranging from several months to several years, depending on severity, age, cooperation, and complexity. After active alignment, retention is required to preserve results, often with a removable or fixed retainer.

Outcomes generally include improved occlusion, function, and aesthetics, with potential risks such as unintended tooth movement, root resorption, enamel decalcification, gum irritation, or relapse if retainers are not worn. Orthodontics also encompasses interceptive care in children, adult orthodontics, and, when necessary, surgical-orthodontic treatment for substantial skeletal discrepancies.