Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that studies the development, diagnosis, prevention and correction of dental irregularities and malocclusions (uneven bites) in order to enhance functionality and personal appearance.

An orthodontist is a dentist who specializes in detecting irregular positioning or alignment of the teeth or jaws and prescribes fixed or removable corrective appliances to achieve the proper positioning.

Some causes of jaw development and alignment problems

• Heredity
• Thumb sucking as a child
• Accidents or trauma
• Premature loss of a primary tooth
• Constantly pressing the tongue against the teeth
• Mouth breathing

Orthodontics can correct the following problems:

• Protrusion of the upper or lower jaw
• Receding chin
• "Gummy smile" (excessive exposure of gum tissue
  above the upper teeth when smiling)
• Excessive spacing between the teeth, or overlapping teeth
• Mouth that won't close properly, even at rest
• Elongated face
• Asymmetric mouth
• Cleft palate

Why orthodontics?

Crooked teeth or misaligned jaws can lead to functional problems. Overlapping teeth are difficult to clean. Such problems may lead to tooth decay and gum disease, or, in extreme cases, to tooth loss.

Misaligned teeth and jaws that do not fit together properly may result in inefficient chewing, excessive wear of tooth surfaces, and pain in the jaw, head, neck or face. They also have an impact on one’s self-esteem.

When to begin treatment

If a generalist dentist detects an anomaly that could later result in malocclusion, he or she can refer children to the orthodontist starting as young as age 7.

However, it is never too late to begin orthodontic treatment; in fact, adults currently account for about one-quarter of orthodontic clients. Unless the patient's growth is crucial to the success of a treatment, orthodontists let their patients choose the best time to begin treatment.

Depending on the treatment required, the orthodontist may prescribe braces, a retainer or another type of fixed or removable custom appliance. These appliances may be made of metal, plastic or ceramic. It may be necessary to extract primary or permanent teeth or undergo maxillofacial surgery.

The treatment may last from six months to four years, depending on

• the severity of the problem
• the goal of the treatment
• the patient’s oral health
• the patient’s age

Patients must pay close attention to diet and oral hygiene. Once the treatment is finished, they must wear a retainer for several hours a day for a certain time or the rest of their lives.

New orthodontic techniques

Three-dimensional modelling now makes it possible to design customized “invisible” braces. There are two main kinds of invisible braces:

• A series of removable clear braces, replaced every two or three weeks (e.g. Invisalign). Their use is more limited than traditional metal braces.
• Lingual, or behind-the-teeth braces or brackets: this type of treatment gives about the same results as traditional methods, but is more expensive.