Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that deals with movement
of the teeth and jaws. You may already know that braces straighten
teeth, but you may not know that orthodontic treatment can
affect the facial appearance by changing the position of the
lips and chin. Moving the front teeth forward or backward
will change the posture of the lips, because the lips rest
directly on the front teeth.
The word "orthodontics" comes from the Latin words Ortho
- for straight, and Dontics - for teeth. Orthodontics
is the branch of dentistry that specializes in the diagnosis,
prevention, and treatment of dental and facial irregularities.
Crowded teeth are hard to clean and may contribute to conditions
that can cause tooth and gum decay. Problems with the bite
can cause abnormal wear of the tooth surfaces, excessive stress
on the supporting bone and gum tissue, misalignment of the
jaws, speech impairment, and other dental injuries.
Even though functional problems take precedence, the importance
of an attractive smile should not be underestimated. A pleasing
appearance is vital to one's self-esteem, which often improves
as teeth, lips, and facial features are brought into harmony.
In this way, orthodontic treatment can be beneficial to social
and career success, as well as one's general attitude towards
- 4:00 (receptionist only)