The Orthodontist

If you had to wear a mouthful of metal when you were younger, chances are you know all too well what the orthodontist does.

For those who have never had the "pleasure" of wearing braces, the orthodontist is a specialist whose field of dentistry is concerned with straightening crooked teeth that cause improper bite - the technical term for which is malocclusion.

Like so many medical terms, the word orthodontics is borrowed from the Greek from words that literally mean "straight teeth." While this may seem like a primarily cosmetic issue, the fact is that crooked, misaligned teeth and an improper bite can cause serious health issues that on the surface would appear to have little to do with dentistry. In fact, a misaligned jaw can cause not only premature tooth wear, but also neck, shoulder and facial pain and in extreme cases, migraine headaches.

The good news is that the necessity for using cumbersome, unattractive metal braces is not usually present today. The orthodontist of the 21st century has many more tools at his/her disposal which include retainers that can be removed at meal time and virtually invisible ceramic alternatives.

One orthodontic method that has gained in popularity in recent years is Invisalign. This is a proprietary device that looks very much like a clear, plastic athletic mouth guard. Treatment with Invisalign involves the manufacture of a series of these clear plastic aligners; it is necessary to return to the orthodontist every two weeks to be refitted for a new aligner, and treatment can last anywhere from six months to two years. Most patients who have been treated this way swear by Invisalign, and it indeed appears to be the most comfortable, trouble-free way to straighten teeth for many patients. Unfortunately, it is not suitable in all cases.

The orthodontist may also use porcelain crowns, tooth grinding and dental bonding in order to correct a misaligned bite; in fact, many cases actually require a combination of orthodontic treatments.