Orthodontics

Sammy, Jaiwant, Angus, and Liam

What is Orthodontistry?

Orthodontists are further trained and specialized dentists that are trained to diagnose, prevent, and
treat teeth and jaw irregularities. They correct existing conditions and are trained to identify
problems that may develop in the future. Orthodontists are not limited to a certain age group and
work with patients of all ages as teeth irregularities aren’t specific to age groups.

To become an orthodontist one has to go through extensive training and school making the field very
difficult but rewarding in the end.

The main goal of an orthodontist is to improve patients bites and jaws. Many times people get
confused with their dentist and orthodontist. A orthodontist is able to do a dentists work as they are
trained in the same way. However, dentists do not know how to do orthodontists work as they are
not as specialized and trained.
How Do You Become a Orthodontist?

Educational Requirements:

● Undergraduate Degree - 4 Years

● Pass Dental Admissions Test (DAT)

● Go to Dental School - 4 Years (may vary)

● Get matched with orthodontics residency and complete it 1-6 Years (depends on state)

● Pass National Board Dental Examination

● Obtain a License (comes with its own obstacles depending on state)

The path to becoming an orthodontist can be overbearing and feel like a lot sometimes as the total process is about
12 years of being buried in debt. However, orthodontists in major cities (such as DC) make anywhere from 110-430
thousand dollars a year. Data shows that the average cost of becoming a orthodontist (all the schooling + living
expenses) cost: $1,175,283
Dentist vs Orthodontist

Many times people mistake the difference between a Dentist or an Orthodontist but what are the actual differences
between the two, and when should you take a visit to either one?

Dentist: Orthodontist:

Encourage good oral hygiene Misaligned teeth

Tooth decay Crowded teeth

Root Canals Overbite

Gum Disease Underbite

Crowns Crooked teeth

Bridges Spaces

Veneers (fake replacement teeth) Treatment of temporomandibular disorders (TMD)

Teeth Whitening Various jaw disorders

Dentist vs Orthodontist Continued

To summarize:

A dentist is visited for more broad concerns and issues with the mouth

If a dentist feels it is right they may recommend you to an orthodontist for further evaluation into correcting bites,
occlusion, and the straightness of teeth
Misaligned Jaw

A misaligned jaw is when the upper and lower teeth don't meet
comfortably in the mouth.

Braces are the most common method used by orthodontists to fix

misaligned jaws. A misaligned jaw can be found in children and adults. A
misaligned jaw can be a sort of umbrella term that refers to underbites and
overbites, which will be explored more specifically later. A misaligned jaw
can affect a patients, chewing, speaking, and eating. Often times with a
misaligned jew the above activities feel uncomfortable and often look
weird to a bystander. Misaligned jaws have other effects than
awkwardness such as joint and muscle pain in the jaw, as well issues with
shutting the mouth, as well tooth wear and breakage.

Orthodontists have many ways to cure misaligned jaws but the most
common is braces which realligns that formation of your teeth and
mouth/jaw muscles into a way that the jaw is formed normally and
comfortably.
Crowded Teeth

Crowded teeth are due to the lack of space for all the teeth to fit
normally within the jaws. The teeth will appear displaced or twisted.

Causes

● If teeth are larger than the jaw, the teeth do not fit correctly and
tend to overlap or twist.
● Some people are born with a smaller jaw, which can result in dental
crowding as permanent teeth grow in.
● If permanent teeth do not grow properly due to over-retained baby
teeth, the teeth loosen but then tighten back into the gums,
preventing the eruption of permanent teeth. Not removing them
commonly results in dental crowding.
 Crowded Teeth Continued

Treatments:

1. Metal Braces

Traditional metal braces are a common orthodontic method for fixing

crowded teeth. Metal brackets with wires threaded through them are
attached to the teeth in order to gradually create realignment over time.

2. Invisible Aligners

Invisible dental aligners are an alternative orthodontic treatment to

braces that can help straighten and align crowded teeth. Unlike braces,
invisible aligners are removable plastic trays that can be taken out for
eating and cleaning. They’re also less noticeable than metal braces.
 Overbite and Underbite

What are They?

Overbites and underbites are when the top or
bottom set of teeth extend beyond the other

Causes:

Overbite Underbite

Causes: Genetics/Family history

Nail biting
thumb sucking
grinding/clenching teeth
Overbite and Underbite Continued
Treatment
Both can be fixed with braces, invisalign or jaw surgery
How Jaw Surgery Works:
● The jaw is cut and small strips are removed
● The jaw is slid into the correct position
● The jaw is screwed back together
Gingivitis (Gum Inflammation)
What is it?
- Because of bacterial plaque buildup on the teeth, the surrounding gums
(gingiva) become red, enflamed, and infected
- Gingivitis is early-stage gum disease
Causes
- Poor oral care
- Smoking
- Older age
- Dry mouth
- Vitamin C deficiency
Gingivitis (Gum Inflammation)
Treatments
- Switch to good oral care (brush twice a day, floss, and use mouthwash)
- Avoid sugary foods and beverages
- Go to a dentist
- Procedure: Scaling and Root Planing
- Removal of all traces of plaque