Braces 101

What is orthodontics?

Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that deals with the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of irregularities related to the teeth, jaw or face. The technical term for these issues is malocclusion, which is loosely translated to “bad bite”. Orthodontics is all about using the professional skill of doctors and trained staff members to design, apply and control these corrective appliances, or braces, in order to bring a person’s teeth, lips and jaw into the right alignment. This results in facial balance.

Why is orthodontics important?

Orthodontics is important because it helps a person chew, speak and bite in the right way. Straight teeth are going to provide you with healthier gums down the road. Properly aligned teeth and jaws also help prevent future physical issues. Teeth that are working in the right way also look better. An attractive smile is a great side effect of having straight and properly aligned teeth.

An attractive smile is a great asset to possess. It makes you feel good, which really impacts your self-esteem and self-confidence. Someone who has a pleasant smile will have a more pleasant appearance, which makes them more confident when they go into a job interview or try to make new friends. Having properly aligned teeth also makes a person’s face, lips and other body features look better. Many people say their outlook on life is better after orthodontics treatment.

Who is an orthodontist?

An orthodontist is a Dentist who has specialized in diagnosing, preventing and treating dental or facial irregularities. They attend university, complete a four-year graduate program at dental school and go on to complete their residency program focusing only on orthodontics for at least two or three academic years before they are qualified to work as an orthodontist in Canada. The dental school they attend must be approved by the Canadian Dental Association, along with the residency location. Orthodontists receive advanced training in subjects such as human growth, biophysics, genetics and more. Only dentists who get this specialized education and that successfully passed their specialist examination from The Royal College of Dentists of Canada can call themselves an orthodontist.

What are the benefits of orthodontics?

Some of the major benefits are not always visible.

While we all know that braces give you straight teeth, we do not realize that having a beautiful smile is not the only benefit of orthodontics. Bringing your teeth lips and the jaw into proper alignment is going to give you a healthier smile too. Straight teeth function much better than crooked teeth, and they are easier to clean too. The psychological benefits of having straight teeth and a beautiful smile are tremendous, with patients feeling much better about themselves after the treatment is complete.

Call the Wellington Village Orthodontics at (613) 722-8500 today so we can help you achieve a beautiful and healthy smile!