WHAT IS ORTHODONTICS?

Orthodontics is devoted to building beautiful smiles by bringing teeth, lips, and jaws into proper alignment. Straight teeth function better, are easier to clean, and are more likely to last your lifetime.

   

Orthodontists are qualified dentists, who after graduating from dental school, go on to additional full-time university-based education in an accredited orthodontic residency program supervised by orthodontists.  That training lasts at least two to three academic years—sometimes more.  By learning about tooth movement (orthodontics) and guidance of facial development (dentofacial orthopedics), orthodontists are the uniquely educated experts in dentistry to straighten teeth and align jaws.

Orthodontists diagnose, prevent and treat dental and facial irregularities.  Orthodontists limit their practices to orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics.  That means that orthodontic treatment is what they do, and it’s all they do.  Orthodontists treat a wide variety of malocclusions (misaligned aligned teeth and/or jaws).  They regularly treat young children, teens and adults.