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Orthodontic Dentistry Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is orthodontic dentistry?

A. Orthodontic Dentistry or Orthodontics is described by the American Association of Orthodontics as the branch of dentistry that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of dental and facial irregularities.

Q. What is an orthodontist?

A. An orthodontist is a dentist who has undergone specialized orthodontic training to diagnose, prevent, and treat dental and facial irregularities in patients.

Within the U.S., orthodontists are required to complete a two- to three-year advanced residency program in orthodontics following the completion of their four-year graduate dental program. Each of these programs must be accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation.

Q. What causes orthodontic problems?

A. Most problems are inherited, including tooth size and jaw size. These orthodontic problems may lead to crowding of teeth or spacing of teeth.

Overbites, underbites, extra or missing teeth, and irregularities of the jaws, teeth and face also are inherited.

Other orthodontic problems can be caused by accidents, pacifier or thumb sucking, dental disease, or the premature loss of either the primary or permanent teeth.

Q. What habits contribute to "bad bites"?

A. A number of childhood habits can lead to orthodontic problems, such as thumb or finger sucking, sucking on a pacifier, sucking on a lip, mouth breathing (often caused by enlarged tonsils and adenoids), fingernail biting, and "tongue thrust."

Q. When should a child's screening with an orthodontic dentist be scheduled?

A. The orthodontic dentist will advise the parent as to when to schedule an evaluation. It generally will be when the child is between the ages of seven and ten.

An early consultation is advised to identify any potential problems that require treatment. Delaying treatment can multiply some orthodontic problems.

Between the ages of 8 and 12, jaws are still growing; after that, the jawbones begin to harden and it may be more difficult to correct certain conditions.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

Learn More About Invisalign Treatment

What Are Invisalign Braces?

• Invisalign braces are the invisible way to straighten your teeth without metal braces.
• These braces use a series of clear removable aligners to straighten your teeth without metal wires or brackets like traditional dental braces.
• Invisalign invisible braces have been proven effective in clinical research and in orthodontics practices nationwide. In fact, over 70% of all U.S. orthodontists are certified to treat patients with Invisalign clear braces.

How Do Invisalign Braces Work?

• You wear each set of aligners for about 2 weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss.
• As you replace each Invisalign aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move - little by little, week by week - until they have straightened to the final position your orthodontist has prescribed.
• You'll visit your orthodontist about once every 6 weeks to ensure that your Invisalign braces treatment is progressing as planned.
• Total treatment time averages 9-15 months and the average number of Invisalign aligners worn during treatment is between 18 and 30, but both will vary from case to case.

How Are Invisalign Aligners Made? You'd Be Amazed…

The Invisalign aligners are made through a combination of your orthodontist's expertise and 3-D computer imaging technology.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.