Malocclusion. English please? Okay, it means bad bite and it’s what orthodontists specialize in fixing. Crooked teeth, crowded teeth, protruding teeth, underbites, overbites—all of these problems are considered bad bite. Sometimes they’re inherited, and sometimes they’re caused by childhood illnesses or habits. But thanks to orthodontists, we don’t have to live with them.
Orthodontists are specialist dentists who correct irregularities in the way a person’s teeth are positioned. Using braces, retainers, and other devices, they force the teeth to move to a better position.
They usually start working on people when they are in their teens. The reason for this is that they want to work on a person’s permanent teeth, and these don’t usually arrive until the teen years. Sometimes, though, orthodontists will work on young children and try to stretch the jaw to make room for more teeth. Increasingly, they also work on adults.
Patients are usually referred to an orthodontist by a regular dentist. The first thing the orthodontist does for a new patient is a complete examination of the mouth so that a diagnosis can be made. To help diagnose problems, orthodontists may use x-rays, photographs, and plaster impressions of the teeth.
After a diagnosis has been made, the orthodontist decides whether he or she will use braces or retainers to correct the patient’s bite. If surgery is required, the patient will have to be referred to a surgical specialist.
NOC Code: 3113