Orthodontics is the study of dentistry that is concerned with the treatment of improper bites, and crooked teeth. Orthodontic treatment can help fix your teeth and set them in the right place. Orthodontists usually use braces and retainers to set your teeth.
For comprehensive orthodontic treatment, most commonly, metal wires (Juste) are inserted into orthodontic brackets (see dental braces), which can be made from stainless steel or a more aesthetic ceramic material. The wires interact with the brackets to move teeth into the desired positions. Other methods may include
(1) invisalign. Invisalign consists of clear plastic aligners that 'level and align', but require more patient compliance than traditional braces. In most cases, invisalign is not a suitable replacement for traditional braces.
(2) Suresmile is a dental treatment system that uses 3-D imaging and a robot to shorten the time to straight teeth.
Additional components—including removable appliances ("plates"), headgear, expansion appliances, and many other devices—may also be used to move teeth and jaw bones. Functional appliances, for example, are used in growing patients (age 5 to 14) with the aim of modifying the jaw dimensions and relationship if these are altered. This therapy, termed Dentofacial Orthopedics, is frequently followed by fixed multibracket therapy ("full braces") to align the teeth and refine the occlusion.
