Orthodontics is a specialty of dentistry dedicated to the study and treatment of misaligned teeth. Orthodontic treatment can help fix the teeth of patients in need of treatment and bring them into the correct position in the most sustainable way possible.
What is orthodontics?
Orthodontics deals with the prevention and treatment of problems of the dentition, which can be a result of irregular tooth growth, diseases or misalignment of the jaws. The German term Kieferorthopädie is a derivation of the technical term of the Greek Orthodontia (from orthos “straight or right” and odous “tooth”). It deals with the prevention and treatment of problems of the dentition, which can be a consequence of irregular tooth growth, diseases or misalignment of the jaws. Treatment within the framework of orthodontics can focus on punctual, purely dental procedures or be accompanied by the control and adjustment of the growth of the skull. Dental procedures for aesthetic reasons with a view to improving the general external appearance of a patient also fall within the field of orthodontics. In this regard, some orthodontists specialize in reconstruction of the entire jaw area.
Treatments and therapies
Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that specializes in patients with incorrect positioning of teeth (anomalies). The treatment and manipulation of various aspects of facial growth (dentofacial orthodontics) and the shape and development of the jaw are also part of orthodontics. An orthodontist uses a variety of dental appliances, including arches, plates or braces, to affect the following malocclusions:
- Wide gaps between teeth
- Different alignment of the tips of the teeth
- Crooked teeth
- Protruding front teeth
This is to optimize oral functions such as speech or nutrition, improve the long-term health of gums and teeth, or prevent excessive wear of teeth in the long term. A treatment of dentition anomalies in orthodontics refers to a disruption in the interaction between the lower and upper dental arches as a result of injury, frequent thumb sucking or congenital anomalies. Thumb or finger sucking can cause localized deformation of the teeth and supporting bones, which are contained during orthodontics. If a patient’s jaw is too narrow, there may not be enough room for all the teeth. Removing one or more teeth can make room for the others. Orthodontics treatments also include:
- An open bite
- Overbite
- Underbite
- Crossbite
In general, the malocclusions to be treated with orthodontics do not affect physical health and are not considered a disease. However, if the malocclusions have a massive impact on the shape of the face and appearance, embarrassment and individual feelings of shame can lead to a lack of self-confidence and even depression.
Diagnosis and examination methods
As part of orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning, the treating orthodontist must identify the various characteristics of an anomaly or dentofacial deformity and define the nature of the problem. In order to be able to optimally plan the course of action, a thorough recording of possible reasons for the malformations is also part of the orthodontic diagnosis (etiology). The goal is to design a treatment concept that includes the patient’s individual needs and wishes. Last but not least, this requires the doctor to explain the treatment strategy in detail in a way that allows the patient to understand the scope of necessary orthodontic interventions. In order to assess the condition of the patient’s teeth and to make a prognosis about a probable development of the dentition without treatment, the following diagnostic procedures are used:
- Recording the complete medical and dental health history to date.
- Clinical examination
- X-ray examinations of the teeth and jaw (orthopantomogram).
- Production of plaster casts of the teeth
- Acquisition of the position of the lower jaw to the upper jaw (jaw relation).
The diagnosis includes dentoalveolar findings, which describe the tooth movements in the depressions of the jaw bones, as well as a description of the factual status of tooth eruption (dentition stage). In orthodontics, findings are also made about the oral and facial musculature, which presents findings about mouth closure, breathing and tongue resting position. Early diagnosis is essential for effective use of orthodontics, since the duration and scope of treatment are closely dependent on timely start of necessary interventions. In orthodontics, this is usually infancy.
