Orthodontic Introduction Lecture 1

Orthodontia Overview

• Orthodontia is a specialized field within dentistry focused on diagnosing, preventing, and treating dental and facial irregularities.
• The main goal of orthodontic care is to achieve a properly aligned bite and a pleasing smile, enhancing both function and aesthetics.

Purpose of Orthodontic Care

• Orthodontic care aims to address issues related to the positioning of teeth and jaws, improving oral health and function.
• It can prevent future dental problems by correcting misalignment at an early stage.

Health Problems Addressed by Orthodontics

• Orthodontics can help treat malocclusion (improper bite), crowding of teeth, gaps between teeth, and jaw alignment issues.
• It may also alleviate problems such as excessive wear on teeth, speech difficulties, and temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ).

Types of Orthodontic Appliances

• Common types include:
  • Traditional metal braces
  • Ceramic braces
  • Lingual braces (fitted behind the teeth)
  • Clear aligners (like Invisalign)

Most Common Orthodontic Appliance

• Traditional metal braces are the most frequently used orthodontic appliances due to their effectiveness in correcting a wide variety of alignment issues.

Stages of Jaw Correction

• Orthodontic care can involve jaw correction during the mixed dentition stage, which occurs when both primary and permanent teeth are present in the mouth.

Goal of Preventive Orthodontic Treatment

• Preventive orthodontic treatment aims to guide the growth of the jaw and incoming permanent teeth, reducing the risk of more complex treatment in the future.

Focus of Comprehensive Orthodontic Treatment

• Comprehensive treatment addresses all orthodontic issues and aims to create a fully functional and aesthetic alignment of teeth and jaws.

Example of Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment

• An example includes the use of space maintainers to hold open the space for permanent teeth when primary teeth are lost prematurely.

Surgical Orthodontic Procedures

• Oral and maxillofacial surgeons perform surgical orthodontic procedures for cases requiring surgical intervention, often in conjunction with orthodontists.

Timing for Malocclusion Treatment

• Treatment of malocclusion can begin as early as age 7, when dental issues can first be detected and addressed proactively.

Aims of Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment

• Interceptive orthodontic treatment focuses on evaluating the development of teeth and jaws, making timely corrections to prevent more serious issues later.

Type of Braces Fitted Behind Teeth

• Lingual braces are specifically designed to fit on the back of the teeth, providing a discreet orthodontic option.

Dentition for Comprehensive Orthodontic Treatment

• Comprehensive orthodontic treatment can begin during the permanent dentition stage, when most or all permanent teeth have erupted.