Who is an orthodontist?
Orthodontists are dental practitioners trained to prevent, diagnose, and treat dental and facial abnormalities. They can treat crooked teeth and bad bites and also correctly align jaws. After completing a degree in dentistry, orthodontists undergo specialized training.
Orthodontists use several medical and dental tools, such as headgear, plates, and braces, to treat teeth and jaw problems.
What are the duties of orthodontists?
Orthodontists are responsible for correcting dental irregularities in patients using braces, wires, and other oral appliances. These irregularities may be cosmetic or medical. Treating them can be a long and complex process requiring multiple adjustments.
While the most common procedure orthodontists perform is using braces to straighten teeth, they also address disorders such as cleft palates. Their duties may include the following:
- Identifying abnormalities in the teeth, jaw, and mouth
- Determining the most effective methodology of treatment for correction
- Preparing teeth for braces or other treatments using spacers, arch wires, and other procedures
- Designing, using, and modifying customized appliances
- Maintaining accurate patient records
Are orthodontists different from dentists?
Both dentists and orthodontists are oral healthcare professionals who treat conditions of the teeth, gums, and jaws. However, the difference in their profession lies in their scope of practice, services provided, and education.
General or family dentists, simply called dentists, focus on overall oral health. They treat decayed teeth and place tooth fillings. They focus on preventing oral disease and provide services like teeth whitening and fittings like crowns, veneers, and other cosmetic dental appliances that improve the appearance of your smile. Some dentists can also offer braces and aligners. However, this does not make them orthodontists, as they need to possess specific knowledge of a particular set of dental issues related to the jaws and teeth.
Both dentists and orthodontists attend dental school. However, orthodontists are dental specialists who study full-time in an accredited program in their specialty area for two or more years after dental school. Only after completing this training are they recognized as orthodontists and can offer customized orthodontic treatment. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recognizes trained orthodontists as members.
Regarding the scope of their practice, general dentists offer standard dental care similar to general practitioners. In contrast, orthodontists provide specialty care, and their practice is typically limited to ensuring the correct movement of the jawbones, teeth, facial bones, and soft tissues.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of orthodontics?
Orthodontic treatment has various cosmetic benefits. Furthermore, orthodontic appliances also help provide functional and health-related advantages.
Some ways orthodontic treatment can be helpful include:
- Orthodontists help correctly align teeth. Such teeth are much easier to clean, leading to fewer cavities in the mouth and reducing the chances of tooth decay or loss. Properly aligned teeth also lead to an even bite, which reduces the risk of conditions like gum disease.
- Orthodontists use braces, aligners, and retainers to help straighten teeth, which improves chewing and speech function.
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders may cause severe pain in the joint that connects the jawbones to the skull and muscles that control your jaw movement. Specific orthodontic devices can ease jaw pain caused by such disorders.
- Orthodontic treatments also reduce the risk of dental emergencies and improve oral hygiene.
- Untreated orthodontic issues can lead to expensive dental procedures. Getting an orthodontic appliance can help prevent problems with the teeth and facial structure.
Orthodontics does not have any significant disadvantages. However, achieving results with an orthodontic appliance may be gradual. Depending on the severity of your condition, when the doctor diagnosed it, and your unique needs and goals, orthodontic treatment may take a few months or even one to two years to show results. Additionally, cleaning and maintaining hygiene with orthodontic appliances like braces and aligners can be cumbersome, but it is necessary as improper cleaning may increase the chances of getting cavities.
Which devices do orthodontists use in orthodontic treatments?
Orthodontic appliances can either be fixed or detachable.
Fixed appliances: Certain foods and beverages must be avoided while eating with fixed appliances, including carbonated drinks, hard candy, gum, and other sticky items. Informing your orthodontist about your involvement in contact sports is also crucial since you could need customized gum guards.
The following are some examples of fixed orthodontic devices:
- Braces: Brackets, wires, and bands make up these devices. Bands are firmly put around the teeth and serve as anchors, whereas orthodontists frequently affix brackets to the front of the teeth. Arch-shaped wires get secured to the bands by slipping through the brackets. The orthodontist tightens the archwire to move them in the proper direction and applies tension to the teeth. The braces can be modified or tightened through follow-up monthly visits. The length of treatment may vary from a few months to several years. Typically, braces come in both transparent and colored varieties.
- Fixed-space maintainers: A space maintainer prevents the teeth on either side of a missing baby tooth from migrating into the space until the adult tooth erupts. A wire runs from a band fastened to the tooth closest to the gap to the other tooth.
- Special fixed appliances: These can help reduce thumb or tongue thrusting. However, they can be painful, especially during eating, so they are only used when required.
- Detachable orthodontic appliances: These are for minor issues, like stopping thumb sucking or straightening slightly crooked teeth. Removable retainers are of two different types:
- Metal and acrylic are used to create Hawley retainers. The wire encircles the front teeth, and the acrylic portion fits on the roof of the mouth.
- The other kind is made of clear plastic. It goes over the teeth and resembles an Invisalign aligner.
Removable appliances:
- Aligners: These are substitutes for braces and may be helpful for adults. You can remove them to brush teeth, floss, or eat; they are essentially undetectable to others. The orthodontist will use a thinner aligner for two to three weeks before replacing it.
- Headgear: The orthodontist will fix a strap spanning the backside of the head to a metal wire in the front or face bow. Pulling back the front teeth while keeping the position of the back teeth is intended to stop the growth of the upper jaw.
- Lip and cheek bumpers lessen the strain on the teeth from the lips or cheeks.
- Palatal expanders: A palatal expander aims to widen the upper jaw's arch. It comprises a plastic plate fastened to the palate or roof of the mouth using screws. The bones' joints are forced outward by the pressure of the screws. As a result, the area on the roof of the mouth enlarges.
- Retainers: Orthodontists advise using retainers to prevent teeth from returning to their natural locations after treatment. You could alter them to prevent kids from sucking their thumbs.
- Splints or jaw realignment devices: Doctors can use them in the upper or lower jaw to facilitate normal jaw closure. Splints are frequently utilized for temporomandibular joint conditions (TMJ), which can cause pain and dysfunction in the muscles moving the jaw. To get the best results from your device or therapy, it's critical to carefully adhere to the recommendations for good dental hygiene and your doctor's advice.
When are braces needed?
Your bite, or how your teeth line up while your mouth is closed, will dictate the position of your braces. You must visit an orthodontist near you to get braces if you experience any of the following:
- Overbite
- Underbite
- Crossbite
- Teeth crowding
- Too much space between the teeth
- Open bite
- Missing teeth
The orthodontist will use a bite mold to gauge the problem (or set of problems). You typically bite down on putty or another flexible material to get an impression of your bite. The orthodontist will then utilize a mouth model created from this imprint to complete your braces.
What can one eat after orthodontic treatment?
After undergoing orthodontic treatment, such as braces, it is essential to be mindful of what foods to consume and what to avoid. Certain food items can damage the braces or cause discomfort to the mouth.
It's best to avoid foods that are hard to bite, have a rigid texture, or can get stuck in the braces. During the initial days, it's advisable to stick to soft foods like scrambled eggs, soup, pasta, yogurt, mashed potatoes, oatmeal, soft cheeses, cooked or soft veggies, and grains.
Foods to avoid when wearing braces include hard bread, citrus, spicy foods, crunchy fruits and vegetables, chips, pizza crust, and chewy or hard candies. It is also essential to limit the intake of sweets when wearing braces.
Also, you don't have to change your diet if you're using aligners to straighten your teeth. You can take off the aligners while eating to enjoy your favorite foods. However, if you're wearing a fixed retainer, avoiding foods like nuts, ice cream, and popcorn that can damage your teeth or get stuck between your teeth and the retainer is essential.
What should you expect during the first visit to an orthodontist?
Visiting the orthodontist for the first time can feel overwhelming, but the initial appointment is simply a chance to understand your needs, discuss concerns, and receive expert recommendations. The orthodontic treatment enhances your smile and supports oral health and dental function, which is essential for chewing, clear speech, and overall well-being.
To prepare for your first consultation, bring along your dental and medical history, insurance information, and any questions you have about treatment. This appointment will help you get acquainted with the orthodontist and their team and set a foundation for your treatment.
Your initial visit typically includes seven key steps:
1. Introduction and paperwork: The office staff will greet you and collect essential information like medical history and treatment preferences to create a personalized plan.
2. Initial examination: The orthodontist will examine your teeth, jaws, and bite, often using diagnostic tools like X-rays, photographs, and impressions to assess your needs.
3. Discussion: The orthodontist will explain their findings, discuss potential treatments, and answer questions about the process, duration, and expected results.
4. Treatment plan: The orthodontist will present a customized treatment plan detailing the approach, appliances needed, duration, and anticipated outcomes.
5. Financial consultation: You’ll receive an overview of costs, payment options, insurance coverage, and available discounts.
6. Scheduling: Once you agree, the orthodontist will schedule the following appointments to start treatment officially.
7. Follow-up: The orthodontist will schedule follow-up visits to monitor progress and make adjustments as needed.
This approach ensures a smooth start to your orthodontic treatment, setting the stage for a successful experience.
Find the best orthodontist near you in Las Vegas, NV
Taking care of your dental issues is imperative to prevent them from exacerbating, but finding the right orthodontist for your medical needs can be daunting. Zocdoc is here to make your search for the right orthodontist simple. You can book appointments with the best-rated orthodontists in Las Vegas with just a few simple steps.
On the Zocdoc website, enter your condition, location, and preferred date, and it will direct your insurance carrier and you to a list of top-rated practitioners. You can also use the in-built filters to refine your search. All practitioners listed on Zocdoc have a dedicated profile highlighting their education, training, experience, specialty, and even the insurance they accept. You can also check the verified patient reviews for particular practitioners.
Our online patient support center is here to help you find orthodontists who accept your insurance. Using Zocdoc, you can link your medical, dental, and vision insurance plans to your account; however, you can use only one plan per appointment.
If you have multiple insurance plans, you can include secondary insurance details in the appointment notes. Additionally, if your healthcare provider uses Zocdoc's Intake forms, you can directly enter your secondary insurance information there.
With Zocdoc, you can book in-person or video appointments with orthodontists near you, even on weekends and after 5 pm, depending on the practitioner's availability.
All appointment bookings are fast, free, and secure.
Orthodontist statistics in Nevada and the U.S.
According to the 2018 Orthodontic Workforce Report published by the University Libraries, the American Dental Association (ADA) estimated that around 200,000 dentists were actively practicing in the U.S., with 61 dentists per 100,000 population. During this period, 1,617 dentists were practicing in Nevada, and the state had 55 dentists per 100,000 people.
The report also stated that there were 119 orthodontists, comprising 7% of the total dentist population. Clark County, which houses Las Vegas, had 91 orthodontists, the highest number in the state. The number of orthodontists per 100,000 population in the county was 4.4.
According to a report published by Oral Health Nevada, 64% of the state's third graders had experienced dental caries, and 29% had untreated decayed teeth. The report also stated that 43% of adults over 18 had experienced tooth loss, and 17% of seniors were edentulous. Eight people for every 100,000 population in the state had been diagnosed with oral and pharyngeal cancer.
Sources
Medical News Today
Cody Dental Group
Oral Health Nevada
Orthodontics Australia
American Association of Orthodontists[1]
American Association of Orthodontists[2]
American Association of Orthodontists[3]
University Libraries
Learn.org
Healthline[1]
Healthline[2]
Cleveland Clinic
