Orthodontic meaning (what is it, concept and definition)

What is Orthodontics:

Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that studies, prevents, diagnoses, treats and corrects malformations, defects and alterations in teeth and bites.

The word, as such, comes from the Latin orthodontia , which derives from the Greek roots ὀρθο- (ortho-), which means 'straight' or 'correct', and ὀδούς, ὀδόντος (odoús, odóntos), which translates 'tooth'.

Orthodontics intervenes in cases where abnormalities in the shape, position or relationship and function of the denture and jaws occur.

Its main objective is to treat and correct these defects in order to keep the teeth in a healthy and good-looking state or, because the teeth in the wrong position make oral hygiene difficult, are prone to early fall, to suffer unusual wear, and cause stresses and muscle pain involved in chewing.

Some of the most common conditions in orthodontics are overbite, underbite, crossbite, open bite, displaced midline, spacing, crowding, among others.

For the treatment of all these defects, orthodontics uses the use and control of different types of appliances, techniques and forces that allow correcting denture problems, such as appliances (fixed and removable), which allow the teeth to move, retrain muscles or modify the growth of the jaws.

The specialist in this field is called an orthodontist.

Types of orthodontic appliances

Orthodontic appliances can be divided into fixed and removable. Fixed appliances are those that are attached to the patient's teeth, while removable appliances are those that can be removed from the mouth to eat, sleep or brush the teeth.

Fixed appliances

• Braces: They are made up of a system of bands, wires and brackets, which are adjusted to put gradual pressure on the teeth to bring them to their correct position. Special fixed devices: they are used to control things like the suction of the thumb or the pressure of the tongue against the teeth. Gap retainers: Maintain the gap left by a temporary tooth when it falls out while the permanent tooth comes out.

Removable appliances

• Removable aligners - help align teeth, but without metal wires or brackets. Removable gap retainers: allow to maintain the space between teeth. Apparatus for repositioning the jaw: they serve to correct problems in the mandibular joint, they are placed in the upper and lower jaw. Lip and Cheek Separators: are used to keep lips and cheeks apart at a suitable distance. Palate Expander: Used to widen the arch of the upper jaw. Removable retainers - used on the roof of the mouth to prevent teeth from moving to their original positions. Facial arch or cap: prevents the growth of the upper jaw, retains the rear teeth, and pulls the front teeth back.