Malocclusion and Orthodontics

Malocclusion

Malocclusion, sometimes called having crooked teeth or a poor bite, is the improper fit and alignment of the teeth and jaws. A common cause of malocclusion is teeth that have too much or too little room in the jaw. Inherited traits, such as tooth and jaw size, mostly determine how well your teeth fit together. The most obvious sign of malocclusion is crooked or protruding teeth.

During the childhood and early teen years, orthodontists use early growth modification techniques to reform the jaw, may remove (extract) selected teeth, and may use fixed or removable appliances to straighten the teeth.

In adults, treatment with braces can straighten the teeth to camouflage a jaw problem, but any restructuring of the jawbone must be done with surgery, sometimes in combination with orthodontic treatment.

Medications

For tooth pain due to newly installed or adjusted braces for malocclusion, take regular doses of nonprescription pain medication, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, for 3 to 5 days. Do not give aspirin to anyone under the age of 20 without a prescription because of the risk of Reye's syndrome.

Malocclusion and Orthodontics

Surgery

Orthodontic surgery to create better alignment between an adult's upper and lower jaw is sometimes combined with orthodontic treatment for malocclusion.

Surgery Choices

Orthodontic surgery

What to Think About

Surgery may be the only viable treatment for severe jaw-related problems. Orthodontic surgery is performed only on adults, after the jaw has stopped growing.

Before deciding on orthodontic surgery, consider getting a second opinion from another surgeon or orthodontist.

Malocclusion and Orthodontics

Other Treatment

Some adults with malocclusion may prefer to replace all or part of a tooth by having restorative dentistry, which is less costly and less time-consuming than orthodontic treatment.

Other Treatment Choices

A crown (restorative dentistry) can improve the appearance of front permanent teeth (incisors) that are properly spaced but crooked.

What to Think About

The timing of treatment is ultimately up to you. If you are given different treatment options to choose from, interview your orthodontist or dentist about the pros and cons of each option.

The success of orthodontic treatment depends on your and / or your child's cooperation and self-care. If it is not possible to keep appointments, practice careful dental hygiene, and wear appliances as directed, consider starting treatment at a later time or not at all.

Orthodontic treatment is not an exact science and can be unpredictable, sometimes taking longer than planned. Orthodontists sometimes have to sacrifice stability for improved appearance, or vice versa. If treated teeth are not stable, a retainer may be necessary for an indefinite period of years.

Other Places to Get Help

Online Resource

Orthodontics Online
American Association of Orthodontists
Web Address: www.braces.org. This site offers answers frequently asked questions about orthodontics, information about financing dental care, a glossary of orthodontic terms, and links to other orthodontic web sites.
Organizations American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
211 East Chicago Avenue

How to make sure your orthodontist is properly trained to treat you.

Contents:

How to make sure that your orthodontists has been formally trained in orthodontics before committing to him or her.
How to make sure that your orthodontist follows the Center for Disease Control(CDC) and American Dental Association(ADA) guidelines on sterilization
How to make sure that you're Orthodontists does not take old braces out of someone else's mouth and put them in your mouth or your child's mouth.
How to make sure your orthodontists knows the symptoms of metals allergies and how to treat allergic patients.
How to make sure your orthodontist participates in a study club or other form of continuing education.

Introduction

Most orthodontists are caring professionals, who do their very best to help a patient. Still it is amazing how many times I have been contacted by patients who complain about the quality of care. Sometimes the patent is just complaining. Sometimes he/she has not followed the orthodontist's instructions. Still, often the patient has received inferior care. With 13,000 practicing orthodontists in the US, some of them are bound to be less able than others. The object of this FAQ is to give you, the patient, some of the information you need to judge whether you are going to get quality care from a given orthodontic professional.

I want to say up front that there are no guarantees. Orthodontics is an inexact science, so occasionally a case will not turn out as nicely as you hope. Also if the orthodontic patient does not follow the orthodontist's directions the case will not turn out as nice as it could have. Still, as a patient or a parent you can to things to help the case be successful.

Avoid Orthodontists who have not been formally trained in orthodontics.

One key piece of advice I give to patients is to ovoid Orthodontists who have not been formally trained in orthodontics. Most patients are surprised to learn that legally, any dentist can call himself an orthodontist, even if the dentist has had no formal training in orthodontics. All board certified orthodontists have had at least 2 years of formal training in orthodontics, the equivalent of a residency, and meet continuing education requirements. However, about 40% of the orthodontists are not board certified and have not had formal training in orthodontics; instead they learned orthodontics by taking a weekend course in the subject.

I recommend that you only consider a board certified orthodontist, someone who has national certification by being accepted for membership by the American association of orthodontists or someone with equivalent training and experience.

The Board Certification Process

Orthodontists are certified by the American Board of Orthodontics. In order to be board certified the orthodontist must:

Have at least two years of training in an accredited orthodontic program
Pass a test in orthodontics
Have at least two years of clinical experience. The orthodontist normally will work for another orthodontist during this time.
Demonstrate his competence by having the board check his work.

The orthodontist then applies for certification. After all of his credentials and skills are checked, he receives certification. He then needs to continue to take courses to maintain board certification.

How can a patient know if my orthodontist is Board certified?

The way to check if your orthodontist has been formally trained in orthodontics is to ask if the orthodontist if he is board certified. If the orthodontist says that he is board certified by the American Board of Orthodontics, he is board certified. The orthodontist will have certificates to prove it. The orthodontist will also be quite qualified if he has been accepted for membership by the American Association of Orthodontists. There are other organizations who give orthodontists beautiful plaques after the orthodontist takes a weekend course. Look for certification by the American Board of Orthodontics or the American Association Of Orthodontists to insure that your orthodontist has been trained and tested in orthodontics.

Other things that you can check include 'where did the orthodontist receive his formal training'. The orthodontist should have taken a two year course in orthodontics and a major university.

Finally, you should check whether an orthodontist is affiliated with a major orthodontic association. In the US, most board certified orthodontists are also members of the American Association of Orthodontists You can call the American Association Of Orthodontists, 1-800-STRAIGHT (1-800-787-2444) or write to AAO, 401 N. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63141-7816. to find a list of board certified orthodontists in your area. The American Board of Orthodontics maintains an online directory of Diplomats of the AAO. Diplomats are orthodontists with years of experience and extra training in orthodontics. Generally the Diplomats are the very best in the profession, although there are many excellent orthodontists who have not applied for diplomat status.

Richard G Goble DDS - Providing services in cosmetic dentistry and instant orthodontics to the areas of Fallbrook, Temecula, and Oceanside, California.

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