Summary

Some people have naturally straight teeth that fit together. But if you have problems with your bite or the spacing of your teeth, you may need orthodontic care. Orthodontia is the branch of dentistry that deals with abnormalities of the teeth and jaw.

Orthodontic care involves the use of devices, such as braces, to

• Straighten teeth
• Correct problems with bite
• Close gaps between teeth
• Align lips and teeth properly

Most people who receive orthodontic care are kids, but adults get braces, too. In young children, orthodontic treatment may guide proper jaw growth. This can help permanent teeth to come in properly. Straight permanent teeth can help prevent tooth problems later on.

Learn More

• All about Orthodontia (Nemours Foundation)
• Braces (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Glossary of Dental Terms (Academy of General Dentistry)
• Malocclusion (Misaligned Teeth) (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Malocclusion of teeth (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Orthodontics Align Crooked Teeth and Boost Self-Esteem (Academy of General Dentistry)
• Panoramic Dental X-Ray (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• The Basics of Braces (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Widely spaced teeth (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Orthodontics (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: A reflection on the role of women in Science, Dentistry and...
• Article: Analytical study of the psychosocial impact of malocclusion and maxillofacial deformity...
• Article: Curative effect evaluation by using Andrews' six elements for completed orthodontic...
• Orthodontia -- see more articles