What is orthodontics, and who are orthodontists?
Orthodontics is a Greek word derived from the Greek words 'ortho' (straight or correct) and 'don't' (tooth), meaning straight teeth. The American Association of Orthodontics notes that Edward H. Angle founded the branch of orthodontics in 1900. This branch oversees the treatment of irregularities in the teeth and jaw.
An orthodontist is a doctor of oral health who focuses on diagnosing, preventing, and treating such teeth and jaw irregularities. They have the training to identify problems that may develop and help avoid them. Moreover, they work with people of all age groups, from children to adults.
Educational qualifications of an orthodontist
Orthodontists undergo a comprehensive educational and training path, starting with their college education, followed by dental school and orthodontic school. After completing their dental schooling, they dedicate two to three years to an orthodontic residency program. This extended training is crucial because most dental schools offer limited orthodontics instruction.
Orthodontic residency programs provide intensive and specialized education for dental specialists, focusing on two key areas:
- Orthodontics: These programs teach orthodontists the proper and safe techniques for moving teeth into their correct positions.
- Dentofacial orthopedics: Dentofacial orthopedics training enables orthodontists to effectively guide the development of teeth, jaws, and the overall facial structure.
After completing their training, orthodontists can pursue board certification, a voluntary process in the United States.
Orthodontist v/s dentist
Orthodontists and dentists play essential roles in oral healthcare, each with distinct qualifications and responsibilities.
Dentists' training is comprehensive, covering the diagnosis and treatment of various oral health conditions, including issues related to teeth, gums, tongue, and overall oral health. They offer X-rays, cavity fillings, extractions, oral surgery, and teeth whitening services. They also oversee oral health, treat gum diseases, and monitor children's dental development. Dentists tend to complete rigorous education, including classroom instruction, lab practice, patient care, and certification exams.
In contrast, orthodontists are specialized dentists focusing on tooth and jaw alignment. Their specialized training in orthodontics equips them with the expertise to diagnose and treat malocclusion, which is the misalignment of teeth and jaws. Orthodontists provide treatments like braces, retainers, and orthodontic appliances and may also oversee facial growth and perform teeth-straightening surgery.
Choosing between them is based on your specific oral health requirements. Dentists are the go-to professionals for general oral health issues and offer comprehensive services.
Orthodontists, however, specialize in correcting bite and teeth alignment problems. Orthodontists often recommend that children see them before age 7, and adults seeking orthodontic treatment can consult with them directly.
Common orthodontic problems
Orthodontic problems include the following:
- Abnormal eruption: An aberrant eruption occurs when a tooth erupts from the gum in an improper position. If impaction prevents the tooth from fully growing, the oral surgeon may need to perform a minor surgical operation to uncover it before starting orthodontic therapy.
- Excessive spacing: Excessive spacing can occur when one or more teeth fail to develop, are removed due to trauma or disease, or a mismatch between jaw and tooth size. Closing the gaps is critical because too much room causes surrounding teeth to slip out of position.
- Crossbite: This results from one or more upper teeth biting inside the lower teeth instead of outside them. Misalignment of the upper and lower jaw frequently causes it. Extending the upper jaw using orthodontic equipment known as a palatal expander may be the solution for a growing youngster.
- Open bite: An open bite is a condition with room between the upper and lower front teeth when they bite together. This is frequently the outcome of tongue thrusting (also known as infantile swallowing style) and prolonged thumb sucking.
- Overbite: An intense bite, or overbite, results from the upper front teeth biting down too far over the lower teeth. Due to a deep bite, the upper teeth may fully cover the lower teeth, forcing the lower teeth to bite into the palate. A difference in jaw size is frequently the cause of this issue.
- Underbite: When the front lower teeth erupt past the front upper teeth, this condition is known as an underbite. Either lower jaw overgrowth or upper jaw undergrowth can cause it. Treatment may include traditional orthodontics and jaw (orthognathic) surgery, depending on the severity.
- Overjet: Overjet, or protrusion, occurs when the lower or upper front teeth jut excessively forward. This could be due to heredity, incorrect jaw development, missing lower teeth, or misaligned molars. The issue may get worse if you push your tongue or suck your thumb.
What are the types of orthodontic treatment?
Many treatment options are available today, including braces, retainers, clear aligners, and invisible, metal, ceramic, and micro braces to help correct teeth. Each of these has its advantages. Orthodontic specialists consider all possibilities based on age, tooth size variations, jaw imbalances, and more before selecting a treatment. The following are the most commonly used orthodontic treatment devices:
- Retainers — are of two types: removable and fixed retainers. Removable retainers are transparent, flexible, and thin. They perfectly fit the teeth's position and shape. Both types of retainers hold teeth in their new positions after active orthodontic treatment with braces. The success of orthodontic treatment depends on wearing retainers as directed.
- Elastics — are tiny rubber bands. They provide additional force to a tooth or set of teeth. They allow teeth to shift into their ideal positions. Depending on the patient's needs, their arrangement may be diagonal or vertical. Wearing them more may put too much pressure on the teeth. Additionally, it is potentially dangerous. Hence, it is essential to wear them as directed.
- Clear aligners — are thin, plastic-like trays that orthodontists adjust to fit a patient's teeth. Like retainers, a set of aligners can also help in tooth movement and readjustment. The orthodontic problem in the patient and the method used to resolve it determines the number of aligners needed to realign teeth. Patients must remove these aligners before brushing and flossing.
- Braces — are of four types: traditional, traditional ceramic, self-ligating ceramic, and self-ligating metal braces. The components of traditional braces are brackets. Both traditional ceramic braces and self-ligating ceramic braces are nearly unnoticeable. Also, they are tooth-colored. Self-ligating metal braces consist of brackets. It remains fixed to the teeth, and wires pass through the slots.
Understanding Invisalign: A new approach to orthodontic treatment
Invisalign is a modern orthodontic solution designed to straighten teeth discreetly. Unlike traditional metal braces, Invisalign aligners are thin, clear, and flexible trays made from a patented thermoplastic material called SmartTrack. Invisalign aligners fit tightly over the teeth and are significantly less noticeable, making them a popular choice for patients seeking a more subtle treatment option. Orthodontists and dentists often recommend Invisalign to patients who prefer an almost invisible treatment for correcting dental misalignments.
Orthodontists use Invisalign to treat various dental issues, including spacing problems, crowding, and certain types of bite misalignments. Specifically, Invisalign helps correct overbite, underbite, crossbite, open bite, gapped teeth, and crowded teeth. While Invisalign proves effective for mild to moderate cases, it may not fully address more complex orthodontic issues. Orthodontists might suggest alternative treatments for severe misalignments, especially if the patient has bridgework or requires extensive bite correction.
Invisalign offers several appealing benefits for eligible people, enhancing comfort and confidence throughout the treatment journey.
- Improved oral health: Without wires or brackets, it is easier to clean teeth properly. Studies also support that removable aligners promote healthier gums by minimizing bacterial growth.
- Fewer emergency visits: Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign doesn't come with the risk of broken wires or brackets, meaning fewer urgent visits to the orthodontist.
- Easy removability: Patients can remove the aligners during meals or while brushing and flossing, making daily routines more convenient and helping maintain better oral hygiene.
While Invisalign provides comfort and discretion, its effectiveness depends on the patient's consistency and oral habits.
- Limited use for complex issues: Patients with severe orthodontic problems may not achieve the desired results with Invisalign alone. In such cases, orthodontists may suggest more comprehensive treatment options.
- Temporary discomfort and food sensitivity: Some patients experience mild soreness after removing aligners, especially early in the treatment. This discomfort can temporarily affect their food choices, making hard or chewy foods less tolerable.
- Requires strict compliance: Invisalign must be worn for 20 to 22 hours daily. Those who frequently remove the aligners risk prolonging treatment or compromising results.
- Removal during eating and drinking: The aligners must be removed during meals and when consuming anything other than water. This can be inconvenient and increase the risk of misplacing or damaging them.
When should your child see an orthodontist?
The American Association of Orthodontists advises that children should see an orthodontist at least by the age of seven. Most children lose their baby teeth by then, and permanent teeth begin to erupt. Problems, if any, become apparent at this age, such as an underbite, overbite, crossbite, and misaligned teeth. In either case, consulting an orthodontist is an ideal option.
Sometimes, parents may notice their child's teeth not fitting together correctly. The child may have difficulty eating, biting, or breathing through their mouth. They may also have impacted canines, which prevent adult teeth from developing naturally.
Many patients visit a dentist only when their child experiences symptoms; however, healthcare professionals do not always recommend this approach. Taking your child for a yearly checkup is ideal, as your dental specialist can screen for any problems beforehand. They may refer your child to an orthodontist near you if necessary.
What should you eat after orthodontic treatment, and what should you avoid?
An orthodontist recommends braces. It is one of the most popular orthodontic treatments that aligns or straightens teeth. Additionally, it improves gaps, overbites, underbites, and other dental issues. While wearing braces, avoiding some foods may be necessary. The most important reason is that they can damage and get stuck in braces. Also, the mouth may be sensitive on the days following the appointment. Hence, eating foods with a more rigid texture that is hard to bite could hurt.
For the first few days, the orthodontist advises sticking to soft meals. These consist of scrambled eggs, soup, pasta, yogurt, mashed potatoes, oatmeal, soft cheeses, cooked or soft veggies, and grains. After getting braces, you should avoid consuming ice cream, thick bread or rolls, citrus, and spicy foods. Additionally, you must refrain from crunchy foods, including fruits and vegetables, popcorn, chips, and pizza crust. Avoid chewy or hard candies as well. You should also not overeat sweets when wearing braces.
Using aligners to straighten crooked teeth is another orthodontic treatment. You do not need to change your diet if you use it. You can take off your aligners when eating to enjoy your favorite foods. However, if you wear a fixed retainer, you should avoid nuts, ice, and popcorn. Also, avoid eating anything that might get stuck between your teeth and the retainer or crack the retainer.
How to find the best orthodontist near you in Brooklyn?
Finding an orthodontist who can guide you through the challenges is difficult. Choosing the right orthodontist is crucial, whether you want to use their services for your own orthodontic needs or are looking for options for your children. Always take time to think about who will best suit your requirements. Zocdoc's mission is to connect patients with the best healthcare professionals.
You can search for a provider by entering your symptoms, preferred location and date, and insurance plan in the website's search bar. If you wish to know what insurance plan you have, submit a photograph of your insurance card to your Zocdoc account, and we will discover and display information about it. For more insurance-related information and answers, visit Zocdoc's patient help center.
Additionally, you can narrow your search to locate providers based on their language, whether or not they treat children, hospital affiliations, and gender.
On Zocdoc, each provider's profile includes their qualifications, affiliations, certifications, experience, areas of specialization, licensure, and other details. Additionally, Zocdoc gathers and updates patient reviews and ratings. Going through these can help you identify the top-rated orthodontist in your area.
You can book both virtual and in-person appointments. To find providers who offer virtual consultation, look for the purple video button on the provider's profile. You can also filter to find those who provide video consultations.
Booking appointments with the best orthodontist near you through Zocdoc is easy, 100% free, and safe.
Orthodontist and Oral Health in Brooklyn, New York
According to the American Association of Orthodontists 2017 Orthodontic Workforce Report, New York has one of the highest percentages of professionally active orthodontists. In 2017, New York had approximately 3.86 professionally active orthodontists per 100,000 population.
Poor oral health outcomes may result from inadequate dental examinations and treatment access. Orthodontists address any decay before orthodontic treatment to prevent further damage. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 13.2% of children (aged 5-19 years) and about 25.9% of adults (between 20-44 years) in New York had untreated dental caries between 2015 to 2018. Also, about 25.3% of adults (aged 45-64 years) and almost 20.2% (aged 65 and over) had untreated dental caries between 2015-2018.
Sources
American Association of Orthodontists[1]
American Association of Orthodontists[2]
American Association of Orthodontists[3]
American Association of Orthodontists[4]
American Association of Orthodontists[5]
American Association of Orthodontists[6]
WebMD[1]
WebMD[2]
Healthline[1]
Healthline[2]
Healthline[3]
Fredericksburg Orthodontics
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Cox Orthodontics
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