*Ortho: straight/correct *Odonto: tooth *~ics: study

ORTHODONTICS
● Is the study dealing with the prevention and correction of ​abnormally positioned ​or
misaligned​ teeth.
● A branch of dentistry concerned with the study of growth and development of the
masticatory apparatus​, the treatment and prevention of irregularities of the teeth
and jaws.
● Orthodontist is a dentist specializing in this practice.
WHY?
Adults and children seek orthodontic treatment for:
- Malocclusion
- Tooth alignment (for crooked teeth)
- Improvement of the appearance
WHAT CAUSES MALOCCLUSION?
- Genetics
- Tooth loss
- Bad habits
- Malnutrition
CONSEQUENCES OF MALOCCLUSION
- Poor facial appearance, less attractive
- Poor hygiene -> risk of tooth decay and gum disease -> tooth loss
- Chewing issues
- Speech difficulties
- Bad breath and snoring (Breathing through mouth)
- TMD: Temporomandibular disorder
- Unfavorable psychological and social behavior effects
MALOCCLUSION
- Deep bite
- Underbite
- Excessive overjet
- Open bite
- Crossbite
- Misplaced midline
- Spacing
- Crowding
1. Deep bite
- The upper front teeth cover too much of the lower teeth
- Overbite refers to the extent of vertical overlap of the maxillary central incisors over
the mandibular central incisors, measured relative to the incisal ridges.

2. Underbite (underjet)
- The lower central incisors are positioned in front of the upper central incisors; or the
maxillary incisors are lingual to the mandibular incisors

3. Excessive overjet
- The upper front teeth are positioned too far forward
- The increased horizontal distance between the incisal edges of maxillary and the
labial surfaces of the mandibular central incisors.
 4. Open bite
- Space between the biting surfaces of the front teeth when the jaws are closed
- Anterior teeth do not contact with each other, or no contact exists between the
maxillary and mandibular posterior teeth

5. Crossbite
- The upper teeth should overlap the lower teeth slightly when the jaws are closed.
When this does not occur, it is called a crossbite

5. Misplaced midline
- Midline asymmetry
- The center of the upper central incisors is not aligned with the center of the lower
central incisors
 6. Spacing
- Diastema
- Gaps, or spaces between the teeth as a result of missing teeth or teeth that do not
“fill up” the mouth.

7. Crowding
- when there is lack of space for all teeth to fit normally in the mouth

DAMAGING ORAL HABITS

- Thumb sucking
 - Tongue thrusting
- Pacifier habit
- Lip bite and lip sucking
- Nail bite
- Mouth breath

ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT
- Space maintainer
- Aligners

- Braces

- Other appliances
AIMS OF ORTHODONTICS