What is orthodontics, and who is an orthodontist?
Orthodontics is a specialization of dentistry that focuses on fixing teeth and jaw alignment issues. This is crucial as misaligned teeth (malocclusion) can lead to long-term dental and oral health problems.
A doctor who specializes in this specialty is called an orthodontist. They are dentists specializing in improving dental irregularities. They treat dental flaws such as crookedness, overbite, underbite, and overcrowdedness or misalignments.
From straightening a person's teeth to realigning their jaws using braces and other devices, an orthodontist can help maintain oral health and appearance, enhancing one's ease of chewing.
Education and training and requirements for orthodontists
Undergraduate college, dentistry school, and orthodontic school are the three phases of an orthodontist's education. Following dental school, orthodontists undergo a two-year to three-year orthodontic residency program.
Orthodontists undergo intense training in the orthodontic residency program. Here, they learn about orthodontics, which deals with the safe and proper movement of teeth and the growth patterns of the teeth, jaw, and face (dentofacial orthopedics).
The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), open to all orthodontic experts, is exclusive to orthodontists. Additionally, only medical professionals who have graduated from dental school and successfully completed a two—to three-year orthodontic residency program are eligible to use the title 'orthodontist.'
Orthodontists vs. dentists
Both dentists and orthodontists specialize in dental care and obtain similar education. While dentists can diagnose, treat, and care for various dental problems, orthodontists are specialists in one branch of dental science.
After dental school, general dentists must pass the National Dental Examination to obtain their license. Meanwhile, an orthodontist must obtain a specialty certification in orthodontics before they can practice.
You must visit a dentist for common dental problems such as cavities, toothache, decay, gum disease, or oral infections. They can also conduct tooth extractions and refer you to a specialist if required. Dentists can keep you on track with oral hygiene and preventative care with teeth cleaning and whitening services. Meanwhile, orthodontists can treat temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ), malocclusions, and other similar issues.
Common tooth problems addressed by orthodontists
Orthodontic treatment is pivotal in addressing and improving a range of tooth issues. Knowing what these are can be crucial for individuals seeking solutions to enhance the aesthetics and functionality of their teeth, as it can help them make the most of their sessions.
Typically, you can see an orthodontist near you if you need help with the following:
- Protruding front teeth: This condition develops when the upper front teeth enlarge too far forward, creating an overbite. It can result from sports injuries or falls, affect one's appearance and self-confidence, and can be attended to by fitting corrective equipment like braces.
- Crowding: It arises when insufficient jaw space prevents proper tooth alignment. Orthodontists may strategically remove one or more teeth to create the necessary space and address such an alignment problem.
- Impacted teeth: This concern occurs when an adult tooth does not emerge fully from the gum or bone. It can be fixed by orthodontic treatment, guiding the tooth into its proper position.
- Crossbite: It occurs when upper teeth fail to come down in front of lower teeth during clenching, possibly due to the lower teeth being longer. An orthodontist can fix this issue by suggesting corrective equipment.
- Asymmetrical teeth: They stay visible even when the mouth is closed and can be treated easily by orthodontists.
- Deep bite, or overbite: It happens when upper teeth excessively overlap lower ones during clenching. An orthodontist can fix this issue using braces or aligners.
- Reverse bite: This concern arises when upper teeth bite inside lower ones during clenching, posing a risk to teeth. Orthodontics can fix it by using specialized therapies.
- Open bite: When one closes their mouth, it results in a distance between the upper and lower teeth. An orthodontist can help lower this gap and improve the patient's bite.
- Underbite: Occurs when the lower teeth enlarge too far forward, or the upper teeth go too far back. In such cases, orthodontic intervention, in the form of wires or braces, becomes necessary to correct the bite.
- Spacing: This is the opposite of crowding and arises when there are gaps between teeth due to a missing tooth or insufficient tooth coverage. It can harm the gum, and orthodontists can treat it by moving the teeth together.
- Diastema: Diastema is the clinical term for gaps between your teeth. While these gaps can occur anywhere in your mouth, they are most common between your two front teeth. While this condition typically does not negatively affect your dental health, it can sometimes be a symptom of gum disease.
- Midline discrepancy: The midline of your teeth is the dividing line between your upper and lower central teeth. When you look in the mirror, this line should accurately bisect your nose and the space between your eyebrows. Midline discrepancy, or teeth midline shift, refers to an asymmetry in your midline. While not a cosmetic concern, this condition can lead to dental issues like cavities and teeth grinding.
- Rotated tooth: A rotated tooth is a dental abnormality in which your tooth dislocates from its original position inside its curvature, resulting in narrow dental passages and curves that are difficult to clean. This condition can increase your chances of accumulating plaque, developing gum disease, and losing the affected tooth.
Beyond these dental irregularities, orthodontists can also adeptly address functional concerns like teeth grinding, clenching, and jaw-related issues. In case of any oral health issue like the ones stated above, seeking a consultation with a qualified orthodontist near you can ensure personalized solutions for your specific concerns.
How do orthodontists treat patients?
Orthodontists develop a treatment plan for each patient based on in-person examinations, 2D or 3D X-rays, photographs, and teeth molds. They also employ various appliances, such as traditional braces and invisible aligners, to solve dental issues.
After assessing the condition, an orthodontist typically suggests the best supportive care and treatment based on the patient's dental imperfections.
Some of the dental restoratives used by orthodontists include:
- Palate expanders: Palate expanders are frequently used during childhood to help the child's jaw open up and make room for new teeth. Children's facial bones are simple to move and manipulate as they grow. Palate expanders serve as a preventive measure, eliminating the necessity for tooth extractions or other intricate dental procedures.
- Braces: Braces can shift your teeth into the desired position over time. An orthodontist typically uses a combination of bands, wires, and brackets to apply force on your teeth and move them into place.
- Clear aligners: A clear aligner is an alternative to braces. It comprises custom-made, clear aligner trays instead of wires and brackets. You must keep switching to the next set of trays in the series every couple of weeks until your teeth shift into the appropriate positions.
- Retainers: After completing treatment, your orthodontist will recommend using a retainer with braces or clear aligners. The retainer keeps the teeth from moving out of place again. Your doctor will also inform you about how long you need to wear them and provide care instructions, if any.
- Headgears: Orthodontic headgear, a device dentists use to fix malocclusion, aligns your child's teeth and jaws by placing gentle pressure on them. Over time, the device encourages their still-forming jaw bones to align, curing conditions like underbite, overbite, and overjet. Depending on their purpose, orthodontic headgear can be of various types, including high pull, cervical pull, and reverse pull.
Typically, orthodontic treatments can last between 12 and 18 months, but the timeframe can vary from individual to individual. Your orthodontist will keep you apprised of the progress of the treatment at every visit and make modifications based on the changes.
When should a child see an orthodontist?
The American Academy of Orthodontists advises that children get their first orthodontic examination by age seven. The primary reason is tooth development at that age. Early orthodontic evaluation helps determine if a kid has an issue or if their condition is a typical developmental variation. An orthodontist can also often forecast whether a child's mouth will be large enough for permanent teeth when they are about seven years old.
The second justification for examining a young child is that many illnesses are much easier to cure if discovered when a child's natural growth processes are still active. For instance, a palatal expander appliance can successfully repair a child's crossbite at that age because a child's jaw is still developing. Oral surgery might eventually be necessary to address this problem if left untreated for later.
Orthodontic treatment may also be beneficial for other conditions typically seen in children, such as mouth breathing, thumb sucking, tongue pushing, and premature or late loss of baby teeth.
What happens on the first visit to an orthodontist?
When you visit the orthodontist for the first time, the staff will perform some preliminary tests. While the patient is on the dental chair, the orthodontic technician or assistant may take digital pictures or X-rays of the mouth and teeth. The orthodontist subsequently uses these X-rays and photographs to examine their teeth positions and identify the problem.
The technician or orthodontist may also make a mold (or impression) of the teeth in which the patient's exact tooth size and shape will be left behind. This can help them identify treatment decisions for their teeth.
Furthermore, the orthodontist will examine the patient's teeth, mouth, and jaws. If the patient has a problem eating or swallowing or their jaws occasionally click or snap when they open their mouth, the doctor may ask them to open wide or bite their teeth together. After diagnosis, the doctor will inform them about their dental health and whether any treatment is required.
How frequently must one visit the orthodontist after wearing braces?
People wear braces for different durations but typically for one to three years. During this time, one must continue to schedule routine dental visits to clean teeth and check for cavities.
After removing their braces, many children must still wear a retainer to keep their teeth in place. During this time, frequent orthodontic visits are also necessary.
Finding the right orthodontist near you in Houston, Texas
Even though finding quality practitioners is crucial to maintaining oral health, finding the best orthodontist in your vicinity can be challenging. Fortunately, platforms like Zocdoc can provide users a quick and secure way to book an in-person or online consultation with a doctor. For instance, if you stay in Houston, Texas, you can easily input your illness, location, insurance provider, and plan on the Zocdoc website. Based on your preferences, the top orthodontists in your neighborhood will be listed in the search results.
To identify in-network providers near you, use Zocdoc's insurance detector or select your carrier and plan from the drop-down option at the top. When booking an appointment on Zocdoc, the website prompts you to share details about your insurance or to acknowledge that you are paying out-of-pocket. Some healthcare providers need you to provide insurance information to schedule appointments. If you do not have insurance or do not want to use insurance for your appointment, you can always find another suitable provider on Zocdoc. For more insurance-related queries, check Zocdoc's patient help center.
Zocdoc helps you make informed choices by letting them choose doctors based on medical education, training, and certifications. You can also read verified patient reviews and discover how each specialist is rated. Based on these, you can select the best orthodontist near you.
Zocdoc users can also schedule appointments for the same day, up to 24 hours in advance, on the weekend, or after 5 PM, depending on their doctor's availability. With Zocdoc, all appointments are quick, cost-free, and secure.
Statistics on oral health in Houston, Texas
According to the Houston State of Health, Harris County has about 74 dentists per 1,00,000 population.
Oral health has been a concern in Texas, especially among children. The Texas Department of State Health Services has found that in 2022-23, nearly 53 percent of kindergarteners and 67 percent of third-graders had tooth decay. The same source also indicates that Texan children aged between 1 and 5 were significantly more likely to have excellent or perfect teeth (86.3%) than children aged between 6 and 11 (73.1%).
Sources
KidsHealth
American Association of Orthodontists
Discover Orthodontics
Houston Health Department
Healthline
Cleveland Clinic[1]
Cleveland Clinic[2]
Medical News Today[1]
Medical News Today[2]
TruCare Dentistry Roswell
Perfect Smile Doc
Ivanov Orthodontics
