Orthodontic
Has your dentist recommended you see a dental specialist called an orthodontist? Are you wondering if you should see an orthodontist about your smile?
Just as there are specialists in medicine, there are specialists in dentistry. An orthodontist is a type of dentist who has studied the field of correcting misaligned teeth and jaws. Setting this specialty apart from general dentistry, an orthodontist typically undergoes two more years of education, followed by a residency. An orthodontist is the expert to see about moving teeth, advising patients on how to make sure their teeth stay in their new positions after treatment.
Many people are born with crooked teeth, or upper and lower jaws that are different sizes; braces often allow patients of any age to find the kind of alignment that results in a great-looking smile. Some common issues that braces address include underbites and overbites. For example, if your upper jaw is larger than your lower jaw, you have an overbite. If the reverse is true, that’s called an underbite. The general term for these conditions is "malocclusion"—a word orthodontists use to describe the shape of your mouth when the jaws simply don’t line up correctly.
A related word, "orthodontics", is the general term for straightening teeth to look and function better. To reposition the mouth and align the teeth into a beautiful smile, an orthodontics practice primarily uses braces to achieve this movement—the result is a beautiful smile.