What Is An Orthodontist?

Yes, What is an orthodontist? Is he like a dentist? Well, an orthodontist is a dentist, but not all dentists are orthodontists. An orthodontist is a dentist who has completed advanced education required by the American Dental Association to be called a specialist in orthodontics.

Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental and facial problems. The technical term for such irregularities is "malocclusion," which means "bad bite." The practice of orthodontics requires professional skill in the design, application and control of corrective appliances, better known as braces, to bring teeth, lips and jaws into proper alignment and attain facial balance.

The majority of malocclusions are inherited, although some are acquired. Inherited problems include crowding of teeth, missing or extra teeth, too much space between teeth and cleft palate, and a wide variety of other irregularities of the jaws and face. Acquired malocclusions can come from finger or thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, dental disease, premature loss of primary or permanent teeth, or the airway being restricted by tonsils and adenoids. Malocclusions, whether hereditary or acquired, may affect not only alignment of the teeth but facial appearance as well.

The orthodontist's goal is to create a healthy and beautiful smile for patients. Crooked and crowded teeth are not only hard to clean and maintain, but may also contribute to conditions that cause tooth decay, gum disease and tooth loss. Other possible complications are abnormal wear of tooth surfaces, excess stress on supporting bone and gum tissue, or misalignment of the jaw joints and result chronic headaches or pain in the neck or face. The importance of a beautiful smile should not be underestimated. A pleasing appearance can contribute significantly to one's self-confidence.

When should treatment begin?

There is no one answer as each orthodontic problem determines its own best starting time. The American Association of Orthodontics recommends that every child first visit an orthodontist by age 7, or earlier if an orthodontic problem is detected. An early examination allows the orthodontist to determine when a child's problem should be treated for maximum improvement with minimum time and expense. For many patients, early treatment achieves results that would have been unattainable once the face and jaws have finished growing. Early treatment also frequently makes the completion of treatment at a later age easier and less time-consuming.

Orthodontic treatment can be successful at any age. In fact, about 25 percent of orthodontic patients today are adults. The health of an individual's teeth, gums and supporting bone is the most important factor in determining the prospects for improving an adult's facial bones are no longer growing, certain corrections are not attainable with braces alone. However, very dramatic facial changes are now possible with a combination of surgery and orthodontics.

How is treatment accomplished?

Custom-made appliances, or braces, are prescribed and designed according to the irregularity being corrected. Braces may be removable or fixed. They may be made of metal, ceramics or plastic. All corrective appliances have one objective, which is to use to gentle pressure to move teeth into to their proper position. Corresponding to this pressure, the body builds new tissue to support the improved position of the teeth.

Braces may present a few inconveniences, but most patients are able to adjust quickly. A good news is that the new techniques and materials used by orthodontists today not only have tremendously decreased the discomfort of wearing braces but also have lessened the frequency of office visits and overall treatment time.

In most cases, active treatment times with orthodontic appliances lasts from one to three years. The actual time depends on the growth of the patient's mouth and face, the severity of the problem and cooperation of the patients. After the braces are removed, a patient may have to wear a retainer for some time to keep the teeth in their new positions.

This is a team effort!

Successful orthodontic treatment requires team effort and this is made up of the patient (and parent when the patient is a minor), the orthodontist and the family dentist. The orthodontist provides the expertise, the treatment plan and the appliances to the correct the problem. The patient must follow the orthodontist's instructions carefully and faithfully so that the teeth move in the appropriate manner according to the prescribed schedule. The regular visits to the family dentists must continue during orthodontic treatment as good dental care and proper fluoride are always important. Successful orthodontic treatment is indeed a effort, and it is through this cooperative effort that the treatment goal can be achieved - a healthy a beautiful smile.