Dentists: Specializing in Orthodontics

Dentists are medical professionals who deal with oral health care. Dentistry is a branch of medicine that focuses mainly on the oral cavity and the many problems that plague it. Among these is the problem that is addressed by orthodontics. Orthodontics is a specialty in dentistry that includes but is not limited to the study and the treatment of improper bites. A bite is the way that the teeth and the jaw settle when the oral cavity is closed. Improper bites, otherwise known as malocclusions can be corrected by orthodontists. This field of dentistry can be done for the reason of aesthetics and can also be performed to return the function of the oral cavity. In many cases, the goal of the patient and the dentists is to achieve a better looking smile.

Initially, patients are brought to the oral health care provider for a consultation and assessment. He will then recommend a treatment that is most suitable for the patient. There are factors that can influence the diagnosis of the professional ad these includes, but is not limited to, the age of the patient and the form of the patient’s jaw or bite.
The Basic Concept

The basic premise of this field is to utilize wires and other materials to help with the correction process. These wires, also called juste, are placed or threaded into brackets which are attached to the teeth. The pressure that the wires put on the brackets by tightening the wires allows the teeth to move gradually into their right position. This is the basic concept of the more common brace that many children go through during early puberty. The wires are tightened every few weeks in order to guide the teeth accordingly. Dentists who specialize in this field of dentistry also use other means to correct and teat malocclusions. These appliances come in many different forms. Expansions, headgears and plates can also be used by the oral health care provider to realign the jaw and the teeth.

Reconstructive dentistry is also another aim that these professionals can do. Many children and even adults have dental problems that extend far more than just malocclusions or crooked pearly whites. In some cases, reconstructing the jaw is another task that falls on these professionals. Some younger children can use appliances that guide their teeth as they grow. These appliances are made from a firm material that is shaped to conform to the child’s jaw. These have spaces where the teeth are supposed to go and these spaces guide the teeth accordingly. There is a limit as to when and how long this kind of device can be applicable. Dentists always ask the patients and their parents (for children) to come back for regular checkups in order for him or her to assess the progress of the individual.

The use of braces and other dental appliances was often dreaded by patients, especially the younger generation. Dentists who specialize in orthodontics have made some changes to the way that these appliances are used to minimize the dread that children often feel when wearing them