Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry which specializes in the correction of malocclusion. A malocclusion is simply a bad bite and come in many forms, however, they can usually be divided into two different categories.

The first category is called a skeletal malocclusion. These are caused by a bad relationship between the sizes of the upper and lower jaws e.g. a small lower jaw and a large upper jaw may create the appearance of a "chinless wonder".

The other category is called a dental malocclusion because it is caused mainly by bad positioning of the teeth e.g. crowding. Some malocclusions are in fact a combination between skeletal and dental problems.

Most patients seek orthodontic treatment because of the poor appearance of the teeth and/or face caused by the malocclusion. This may be very, important especially in young children and teenagers where acceptance by peers and teachers may severely affect their entire outlook on, and approach to life.

There are also other very important reasons why one should have orthodontic treatment. In cases which have a lot of crowding some teeth may not be cleaned very well following routine toothbrushing; as a consequence, plaque, which is a white, gelatinous mixture of bacteria and sugar-like substances, may build up on the teeth and cause cavities or gum disease. This could seriously affect the longevity of the teeth.

Also, cases with bad bites may develop problems in the jaw joints (the temporomandibular joints or TMJs). This may not be evident until the middle years of life or later and may start as clicking sounds heard or felt in the joints and may progress to severe pain in the joints along with annoying headaches.

So, orthodontic treatment can be very important for the normal development, well being and general health of both children and adults.

The root causes of many orthodontic problems are not well understood. It has been suggested that some of these problems are inherited e.g. a child who inherits small jaws from one parent and large teeth from another may have crowding of the teeth. The cause of some other orthodontic problems, however are easily identified.

One of these is thumb and finger sucking, which is in fact, a part of a whole group of habits which may cause malocclusions. Also included in this group are nail biting and tongue sucking or thrusting. The effect of these habits on the teeth will depend on how they are done, and how often. So one individual who sucks his or her thumb all day long may have a severe problem, while a child with an irregular habit may have little or no problem.

Another obvious cause of malocclusion is mouthbreathing. Which may be just another habit, or, as is often the case may be caused by blocked nasal passages caused by long lasting colds and allergies. Sometimes, the nasal passages may be blocked by enlarged adenoids, which are tonsillar type tissues located at the back of the nose.

Other causes of malocclusion include cavities, gum disease, loss of permanent teeth and early loss of baby teeth. This shows the importance, once again, of good toothbrushing and care of the teeth to a healthy smile and bite.

Orthodontics can be carried out on anyone at any age, providing that the teeth and gums are healthy. There are, however, some advantages to starting treatment at an early age; for instance in cases which are the result of poor growth of the jaws, treatment is best undertaken during the years of growth when it may be possible to alter the rate or direction of growth of the jaws.

The best age to start treatment for these children will be between the ages of seven and nine. A few cases may be started before seven years especially those involving habits and problems interfering with normal function.

The end result of orthodontic treatment is teeth which are well aligned and appear pleasing to the eye. In addition the lower face, the lips and the chin should be well related to the rest of the face so that the best possible appearance is realised. Also, the function of the jaws, the tongue and the cheeks should be improved so as to reduce the possibility of joint and gum problems.

To attain the best possible results, it is important that the patient co-operate to the greatest possible extent. The patient must report for appointments on time, the patient must wear all appliances and accessories as instructed by the orthodontist and the patient must take care to keep teeth and appliances impeccably clean. All of these are as important for a good result as the work that the orthodontist will do in his office.

• Finger sucking.
• Tongue sucking.
• Tongue Thrusting while swallowing.
• Poor tongue posture (tongue lying between the front teeth and sticking forward.)
• Mouth breathing

• Genetic transmission.
• Early or even late loss of some primary teeth.

• Small teeth or conversely relatively large jaws.
• Abnormal oral habits: finger sucking, tongue sucking etc.
• Abnormal tongue posture as well as tongue thrusting during swallowing.

We expect your treatment time to last from 12 to 30 months depending on your individual case. Your cooperation in keeping appointments, proper hygiene and care of braces may allow us to finish your orthodontic treatment early.

In keeping with modern practices we want to present all possible risks of having Orthodontic treatment before treatment has started. Click here to view the Informed Consent Form which details the possible risks of having Orthodontic treatment.