What is Orthodontics?
Orthodontics is the dental specialty focused on diagnosing and treating misaligned teeth and jaw irregularities (malocclusions) with braces, clear aligners, and other appliances. It’s about more than looks. Straightening your smile supports better oral health for life and can even ease certain speech issues. A properly aligned bite makes eating, smiling, and speaking easier.
What’s the Difference Between a Dentist and an Orthodontist?
An orthodontist is a dentist who specializes in tooth alignment, completing about three more years of training after dental school in a university orthodontic residency. Some general dentists offer braces, but an orthodontist is the expert at spotting and correcting alignment and bite problems.
How Long Does Orthodontic Treatment Take?
Most treatment runs 6 to 30 months, depending on age, how severe the alignment issues are, and which method you use.
What Problems Does Orthodontics Treat?
Some of the most common issues braces fix are overbites, underbites, overcrowding, and spacing.
What’s the First Step?
Orthodontic problems are often inherited, though habits like finger sucking can make them worse. Either way, we diagnose before we treat. That means painless photos, x-rays, and dental impressions that help us choose the right approach for you.
Great results depend on close teamwork between you and our practice, and we’re committed to giving you the support you need to reach your orthodontic goals.