Orthodontics

Definition

British Society of Orthodontists proposed that “Orthodontics includes the study of growth and development of the jaws and face particularly, and the body generally, as influencing the position of the teeth; the study of action and reaction of internal and external influences on the development, and the prevention and correction of arrested and perverted development.”

The definition of orthodontics proposed by the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) and later adopted by the American Association of Orthodontists states: “Orthodontics is that specific area of the dental profession that has as its responsibility the study and supervision of the growth and development of the dentition and its related anatomical structures from birth to dental maturity, including all preventive and corrective procedures of dental irregularities requiring the repositioning of teeth by functional and mechanical means to establish normal occlusion and pleasing facial contours.”

Orthodontic braces

BRANCHES OF ORTHODONTICS

The art and science of orthodontics can be divided into three categories based on the nature and time of intervention.

Preventive Orthodontics

Preventive orthodontics, as the name implies, is action taken to preserve the integrity of what appears to be the normal occlusion at a specific time. Preventive orthodontics requires the ability to appraise normal dentofacial and general development and growth and the recognition of deviations from the normal. It entails the elimination of deleterious local habits involving dentofacial structures; the correction of general contributory causes, such as incorrect posture and malnutrition; the maintenance of tooth form by proper restoration of individual teeth; timely removal of retained deciduous teeth; use of space maintainers after premature loss of deciduous teeth, if indicated, and reference for treatment of related affections and abnormalities to other specialists.

Interceptive Orthodontics

According to the definition given in the brochure on orthodontics by the American Association of Orthodontists, Council of Orthodontic Education, is “that phase of the science and art of orthodontics, employed to recognize and eliminate potential irregularities and malpositions in the developing dentofacial complex”. This phase specifically concentrates on its efforts towards improving environmental conditions to permit future normal development. The preventive measures envisaged may include caries control, anatomical dental restorations, space maintenance, transitory oral habit correction, genetic and congenital anomalies, and supervising the exfoliation of deciduous teeth. Certain procedures under the preventive and interceptive orthodontic fields may overlap. Hence, at times it may not be possible to segregate the two, however, interception always recognizes the existence of a malocclusion or malformation whereas the prevention is aimed at preventing the malocclusion or malformation from occurring.

Corrective Orthodontics

Corrective orthodontics, like interceptive orthodontics, recognizes the existence of a malocclusion and the need for employing certain technical procedures to reduce or eliminate the problem and the attendant sequelae. The procedures employed in correction may be mechanical, functional or surgical in nature.

AIMS OF ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT

The treatment provided should not only satisfy the patient’s esthetic desires but also satisfy certain functional and physiologic requirements. Jackson had summarized the aims of orthodontic treatment as:

• Functional efficiency
• Structural balance
• Esthetic harmony

These three are now famous as the Jackson’s triad.

Functional efficiency

The teeth along with their surrounding structures are required to perform certain important functions. The orthodontic treatment should increase the efficiency of the functions performed by the stomatognathic system.

Structural balance

The structures affected by the orthodontic treatment include, not only the teeth but also the surrounding soft tissue envelop and the associated skeletal structures. The treatment should maintain a balance between these structures, and the correction of one should not be detrimental to the health of another.

Esthetic harmony

The orthodontic treatment should increase the overall esthetic appeal of the individual. This might just require the alignment of certain teeth or the forward movement of the complete jaw including its basal bone. The aim is to get results which gel with the patient’s personality and make him/her to look more esthetic.

SCOPE OF ORTHODONTICS

Orthodontic treatment is aimed at moving teeth, orthopedic change and altering the soft tissue envelop.

Moving teeth

The main reason for the existence of this specialty was it’s capability of moving teeth. Moving teeth without any deleterious effects into more ideal locations is what everyone always associates this field with. How efficiently this can be undertaken and to what extent, depends upon the nature of the malocclusion and the capability of each individual clinician.

Orthopedic Change

Using functional appliances and the latest orthognathic techniques, it is possible to move entire jaws into more favorable positions. It is very much within the capabilities of an orthodontist to use appliances at times in conjunction with other specialists to move the entire jaws along with its basal bone and the soft tissue envelop to achieve the objectives of treatment.

Altering the soft tissue envelop

The functions performed by the soft tissue envelop of the teeth and the oral cavity have a definite impact on the growth and development of the oral and facial structures. The orthodontist can help retain or restrain the soft tissues and or bring about a change in them by altering the position of the teeth or the jaws. The various functional appliances and at times habit breaking appliances may be used along with other treatment procedures.

Orthodontics Resources
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