Orthodontics

Orthodontics is a subspecialty of dentistry. The term “orthodontics” is made up of two Greek words: “orthos,” which means “straight or accurate,” and “dontics,” which means “teeth.” Thus, orthodontics refers to the profession of straightening crooked teeth or malocclusions. Orthodontists are dentists who specialize in the treatment of abnormal tooth, jaw, and face positioning.

Benefits

Orthodontics has additional benefits over improving cosmetic appearance. The benefits for opting for straightening the teeth include:

Improvement of self esteem
Improved function of teeth including better chewing and clearer pronunciation and speech
Reduced risk of dental caries occurring due to the collection of food particles between the teeth
Reduced risk of gum injury and trauma due to overbites and malocclusions

Aim

Cosmetic repair and enhancement of look
Providing a nutritious and functional mouthful
Preventing dental diseases

Orthodontics can help correct the following dental malocclusions:

• Crowded teeth – Tooth crowding or misalignment that may be too large for the mouth. This results in a terrible bite as well as an unappealing appearance. Upper canine teeth are the most commonly

• An open bite is when the lower end of the upper front teeth does not contact the upper end of the lower front teeth. As a result, there is insufficient chewing.

• Deep overbite – This occurs when the top and bottom front teeth are not aligned and the bottom teeth tend to touch the roof of the mouth, causing gum and palate damage. This can result in gum disease, tooth loss, and tooth wear.

• Cross bite – This occurs when the ends of the teeth do not connect. It results in a bad appearance, inadequate chewing, and readily erodible teeth.

• Increased overjet – This is when the upper teeth protrude, which can be caused by thumb or finger sucking. This could also be caused by an uneven jaw bone growth.