What is orthodontics?
  • Not many of us are blessed with well arranged teeth or so called ideal occlusion. We very often come across many children and adults having teeth that are protruded teeth or crowded teeth or spaced teeth etc. These irregularities of teeth are called malocclusions and are an important factor in robbing one of a good smile.
  • Orthodontics is the specialization of dentistry, which deals with correcting the bite and arrangement of teeth, therefore improves the smile and function of the teeth.
Proclination of teeth Crowding of teeth Spaced teeth

Shown here are some defects in the arrangement of teeth
Who is an orthodontist?
  • An orthodontist is the dental specialist who corrects your bite and improves your smile by using various types of braces. In other words an orthodontist is a dentist who treats crooked teeth to improve your smile.
What are braces?
  • Braces are appliances that the orthodontist uses to correct your bite. These braces are either fixed on to the teeth or rest against your teeth and bring about the desired movement of your teeth.
Braces Braces

Shown here are some commonly used braces
Why do we need braces?
  1. Improves your smile
    A good smile adds up to the personality of an individual. A fabulous smile makes you attractive and also improves one's confidence levels. Braces improve your smile and therefore improve your appearance.
  2. Improves chewing
    Teeth are an important part of the digestive system. Chewing of  food by the teeth is the beginning of the digestive process before the food is passed on to the tummy. So having a good bite improves the function of the teeth.
  3. Prevents other dental problems
    Crooked teeth prevent maintenance of good oral hygiene. This can lead to other dental problems such as dental decay and gum diseases.
  4. Psychological benefits
    Not having a good smile can adversely affect the appearance and therefore the mental well being of an individual. It tends to make one an introvert and highly self-conscious.
  5. Risk of trauma
    Teeth that are protruding out increase the risk of trauma to them. This is more so in children during play or due to an accidental fall.

What is malocclusion?
Malocclusion can be said to be a deviation from the normal or abnormal arrangement of teeth.


Why do people have malocclusion?
Numerous are the causes of malocclusion. The following are some of the more common causes.

  1. Heredity
    The genes are probably the most important factors. Many disorders in the arrangement of the teeth are inherited.
  2. Thumb sucking and other habits
    Children at times tend to develop habits such as sucking of the thumb or fingers, lip sucking, lip biting etc. Presence of thumb sucking or finger sucking till 2-3 years age does not usually produce any ill effects on the teeth and the jaw bones. Continued sucking of the thumb beyond 4 years of age very often causes protrusion of the teeth and other abnormalities in the bite.
  3. Use of pacifiers
    Children who have used pacifiers for too long tend to develop some problems of the bite
  4. Injuries
    Injuries to the teeth or the bone during childhood may cause abnormalities of the bite.
  5. Dental decay and diseases of the gums
    They may sometimes cause drifting of the teeth and therefore problems of the bite.

 

 

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