Orthodontics is a common term today, and it simply refers to the dentistry branch that focuses on proper positioning and correction of the set of teeth back to its normal or its original position. In most cases, people who feel conscious with their crooked teeth or poor smile seek the help of an orthodontist. An orthodontist is a specialist who has years of experience in orthodontics and gone through orthodontist education to refine his or her skills in practice.

A common concern for people is their crooked teeth, which do not fit back together easily, and this in return makes it quite difficult to maintain their oral health and hygiene. Eventually, this leads to an increase in the risks that tag along with it like tooth loss in an early stage, tooth decay, and periodontal diseases that lead to muscle stress when chewing. Poor care can lead to headaches, neck pain, shoulder pain, and TMJ syndrome. If you have crooked teeth, this will also have an effect on our self-esteem. Therefore, it is best that you seek the help of an orthodontic specialist.

Polishing Your Skills

When general dentists enroll in continuing education or go to Gerety Orthodontic Seminars you will learn about the several benefits and the common terms in the field of orthodontics and the treatment. Learn the science behind straightening the teeth, giving your patients the chance to have a “picture perfect” smile. As an orthodontist, you have to ensure that you tackle misalignment of the jaw, crooked teeth problems, and other similar problems that have an effect on the appearance on their smile.

Now, it is imperative to keep up with the ever-changing trends in this field, so you will need to go through extensive training, mini-courses, and seminars to keep up.

The Common Types of Orthodontic Problems

As mentioned above, the best person who would be able to manage your orthodontic needs is an orthodontist. They will need to use diagnostic tools, understand the oral health history of patients, conduct medical examinations, clinical examinations, create plaster models, and x-ray scans to decide whether patients need to wear dental appliances. All these factors are important and orthodontist education requirements you will learn to aid in planning the treatment based on the teeth of the patient and their oral health condition.

Some of the common problems you will learn about include:

• Overbite: Another term for this oral health condition is “buck teeth,” where the upper front and the lower set of teeth lie far ahead and they protrude out over the lower teeth.
• Crossbite: This oral health problem results when the upper teeth sets do not meet up with the front teeth when biting.
• Underbite: This is also the “bulldog,” problem, which occurs when the lower teeth appear forward over the upper set of teeth.
• The Openbite: This is because of the teeth having spaces in between the front teeth when they bite together. It makes the mouth appear as though it is open even when closed.
• Crowding: When the teeth in the mouth do not adjust in the dental ridge, this often leads to crowding. Where the teeth try to fit into the gum spaces.
• Spacing: This results between the teeth because of gaps due to missing teeth. This eventually leads to spaces, calling for the need for orthodontic care.
• Misplaced Midline: In so many cases, when the upper center in the front section of the teeth does not line well with the lower teeth, this leads to the problem of the misplaced

To tackle these problems, there are several orthodontic appliances, including fixed and removable ones. These help to move the teeth and this affects the jaw growth, retaining the muscles. The common appliances that help to target these problems include:

Braces

The use of dental braces is quite common in dentistry, and they fall under fixed dental appliances. The traditional braces come with metal wires, brackets and they fit around the teeth. Bands help these to have a secure fit around the teeth and they serve as anchors. The brackets bind to the front teeth. These also come with archwires, passing through the brackets and they attach well to the bands. Tightening the wires slowly helps the wires to move the teeth, getting them back to their original position.

Clear Aligners

For people who are conscious of how the traditional braces would appear, there are options like clear aligners. Today, Invisalign is an appropriate option and aids in moving and adjusting the teeth to move in similar ways as fixed aligners. However, what makes them unique is they do not have brackets and wires. Invisalign is a clear option. It is removable before meals, easier to floss and brush with them.

When you consult an orthodontist, make sure you research well on whether they keep themselves up-to-date with orthodontic education or not. The right one should be able to give you the best treatment options based on the oral health problem you have in Tulsa.