What is Orthodontics?

Most people are familiar with orthodontic treatment. A lot of information can be acquired online or in books; therefore, awareness of orthodontics is relatively high. The definition oforthodontics is “the treatment of irregularities in the teeth and jaws.” But how does the public perceive orthodontic treatment in modern society?

An awareness survey of teeth alignment and orthodontic treatment involving 1,000 men and women aged 10 to 50 years showed that most people think that tooth alignment determines one’s first impression and is therefore important for facial esthetics. The survey also showed, however, that people’s knowledge of the symptoms of tooth malalignment was quite low. Dental professionals should understand that orthodontic treatment is not only for facial esthetics.

The termmalocclusion in orthodontics is defined as the misalignment of teeth or the incorrect relationship between maxillary teeth and mandibular teeth in intercuspation. Many variables cause malocclusion, classifying it as a syndrome. For example, simple malocclusion can be caused by oral habits such as mouth breathing or thumb sucking, whereas more severe malocclusion can be caused bycongenital or acquired medical conditions, facial trauma, or severe periodontal disease (Fig 1-1). However, the condition can still be diagnosed as malocclusion regardless of the causes and symptoms. Irregular occlusion can occur at a variety of ages and with a variety of severities and states of oral function. Orthodontic treatment should be appropriate to the stage of physiologic and morphologic components of the condition, as well as the stage of the patient’s mental development.

Fig 1-1 Origins of malocclusion.

Orthodontics involves the study of dental growth and development, including research of dental arches and occlusal growth and development throughout a person’s life. It also involves the