Orthodontics[1] (in English: Orthodontics) is a field of dentistry concerned with the study and treatment of malocclusions and jaw problems (malocclusion), diagnosis, prevention, and correction of misaligned bite patterns that may be the result of irregular teeth, or of disproportionate jaw relationships ( between the upper and lower jaws), or both. [2][3][4][5] It can also focus on modifying facial growth, known as maxillofacial surgery.
orthodontics
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official name
orthodontics
branch of
Dentistry Modify the value of a property (P279) on Wikidata
Type
Specialization (Dentistry)
the field
dentist
required education
Dentistry, specialized training
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orthodontics
Abnormal alignment of the teeth and jaws is common. Approximately 50% of the population, according to the American Association of Orthodontists, has a malocclusion severe enough to benefit from orthodontic treatment. : although this figure has fallen to less than 10% according to the AAO’s own statement when referring to medically necessary orthodontics. There is a lack of strong scientific evidence of the health benefits of orthodontic treatment – a fact that academic journals and professional associations in the field of orthodontics have been slow to acknowledge.[6] [7] Treatment can take anywhere from several months to a few years and involves the use of braces and other devices to slowly move the teeth and jaws. If the malocclusion is very severe, jaw surgery may be used. Treatment usually begins before a person reaches adulthood as bones can move more easily in children.
Orthodontic treatment may deal with the alignment of the teeth only, or it may be by monitoring and adjusting the growth of the face and jaws. In the latter case it is best defined as «dentofacial orthopedics».
Orthodontic treatment can be for purely aesthetic reasons with regard to improving the general appearance of patients’ teeth, and it can be to rebuild and change the external appearance of the face (orthodontics changes the lower two-thirds of the face). Orthodontic treatment may aim to restore and regulate oral functions such as articulation, chewing and speech.
