What is Orthodontics?

What is Orthodontics?

Orthodontics is the repositioning of teeth by moving them through the bone to improve tooth and jaw position. “Orthos” is from the Greek language meaning “Straight” and “Dontics” meaning teeth.

Orthodontics is a dental specialty that straightens teeth, corrects bad bites, addresses jaw issues and modifies facial growth in children (dentofacial orthopedics) with palate expanders, space maintainers, and habit breakers. Orthodontics can correct both cosmetic and functional issues such as crowding, spaces, crossbites, underbites, “Buck teeth” and more.

Orthodontics utilizes the principles of biomechanics to carefully move teeth into better positions. Depending on the severity of the problem and the treatment chosen, orthodontics can be braces, removable appliances, functional appliances, invisible aligners, hybrid treatment of braces and aligners and even braces with jaw surgery.

Why an Orthodontist?

Doctors who are members of the American Association of Orthodontists (Dr. Shpuntoff is) have completed two to three years of advanced education in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. Nobody is better trained than the orthodontist for treating the malocclusions of children of all ages. When an orthodontist provides early treatment to children, it can eliminate the need to extract permanent teeth or consider jaw surgery when older. Adolescents are still growing and the orthodontist has the experience and knowledge of how best to treat them. The orthodontist knows the best ways to make invisible aligners work as well or better than braces. When an orthodontist treats an adult with invisible aligners, the treatment objectives are thorough and the results more stable than that provided by a general dentist.