Dente Smile Clinic

What Is an Orthodontist?

When I started my training program to become an Orthodontist, I thought most people were aware of what we did and how we did it. However, since I graduated I have realized that this is not the case. Hopefully, I can help clear things up by helping you get to know your Orthodontist and help you appreciate the valuable role that they can play in your family’s health.

What is an Orthodontist?

First, a simple definition: the word ‘orthodontist’ has its origin in the Greek language when translated literally it means ‘tooth straightener’. That’s exactly what we do – straighten teeth. Of course, it’s a lot more complicated than that and I’ll be sure to explain throughout this article.

What kind of training do they have?

For now, let’s take a look at how one becomes an Orthodontist. Here is a description of the process: Complete High School, Complete Bachelors at University (4 years), Complete Doctorate at Dental school (4 years), Complete Specialist training after dental school (3 years), Complete all examinations to become a Certified Specialist in Orthodontics

This means that after grade twelve, the process takes eleven years. Learning in a specialist training program is different from most schooling because it is largely clinically based. This means that most of the learning comes from treating patients and gaining experience. The remainder of the learning comes from the classroom, studying for exams, giving presentations, attending seminars, and doing research. OK, so there’s a lot of school! The important thing to remember is that a Certified Orthodontist is a specialist specifically trained to straighten teeth.

Is it necessary to see an Orthodontist?

In orthodontic terms, ‘malocclusion’ is the word for crooked, crowded, spaced, protruding, or overlapping teeth. In other words, if teeth don’t fit together perfectly, you have malocclusion. It is fairly easy to tell if your teeth don’t fit together properly; you could check in the mirror right now! When the teeth don’t fit together perfectly there are two main reasons: dental and skeletal; in other words, the teeth and the jaws. The question is, how much of the problem is due to the jaws, and how much of the problem is due to the teeth?

Let’s start with the jaws. For the most part, the way the bones grow is determined by our genes- so, it is out of our control. If our parents have small jaws, we will have small jaws. If they have a small chin, we will also have a small chin. This doesn’t mean that these issues can’t be corrected, because they can. Most people don’t know that an Orthodontist is also trained to know how and when to manipulate bone growth to correct some of these genetic problems – possibly avoiding the need for corrective surgery in the future. Of course, any time you can avoid surgery – it is a good thing!

The teeth are very similar to the jaws in that they are also largely influenced by our genes. The shape, size, and position of our teeth are all determined by our genes. However, there are several other reasons why teeth may not be properly aligned, such as: trauma or injury, different sizes and shapes of teeth, and bad habits (for both children and adults)

Habits such as nail biting, pen chewing, and most commonly – thumb-sucking! Does anyone you know have these bad habits? If so, they could pose a large problem for both the jaws and teeth and is one of the main reasons to see an Orthodontist to help break the habit!

A professor of mine once told me ‘if you don’t know what is causing a problem, you won’t be able to fix it’. If you’ve ever had a problem in your relationship, nursing a baby who won’t stop crying, or just trying to perfect your favorite recipe – you know what I’m talking about! Well, the same is true for teeth. This is why learning diagnosis is such a large part of being trained as an Orthodontist. We must first know what went wrong in order to fix the problem.

Equally important is knowing what the possible solutions are. The old adage goes ‘if all you have is a hammer, everything will look like a nail’. This is not how you want to approach your orthodontic treatment. There are metal braces, clear braces, Invisalign, and hidden braces that go on the back side of your teeth. The important part is knowing the strengths and weaknesses of each type of treatment and coming up with the perfect combination that is just right for you or your child. an Orthodontist can help you with making the right decision.

How do I see an Orthodontist?

There’s good news – an Orthodontist is easy to see. There is no referral necessary and you can usually get a complimentary consultation.

Like many things, the art and science of Orthodontics is complex – the most challenging part of malocclusion is knowing why it exists and how to treat it. With specialty training in this field, an Orthodontist can help educate you and guide you towards the right treatment – and this is why you should include an Orthodontist as a member of your families healthcare team.

Dr. Vishal Sharma, BSc, DDS, FRCD(C), FCDS(BC)
Specialist in Orhtodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics

http://www.auraortho.com/

http://www.facebook.com/auraortho

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By Dr Vishal Sharma