Malocclusion - Treating Adults With Straight Teeth

Orthodontics is a specialized field of dentistry which deals specifically with the treatment, diagnosis, and correction of misaligned jaws and malpositioned teeth, as well as jaw growth. Orthodontics can specialize in treating patients with crooked teeth, shortened jaws, overbites, underbites, overlong jaws, long tongue, short tongue, jaw disorders such as dysphagia, plagiocephaly, polyps, and cleft lip/palate. It may also specialize in treating dental problems such as problems with gums, teeth, or bite. Orthodontics has come a long way since the first orthodontist from Greece described the ways by which an object is moved by the mouth in the third century BC.

In order to become an orthodontist, you will need a general dental degree along with a graduate or professional degree in an approved medical specialist, plus three years of specialized training at an approved university or vocational college. The training includes both hands-on and classroom work. In order to become licensed, a dentist must pass both a written and oral examination. Then, depending on state regulations, he must earn either a second Bachelor of Science (BS) or Master of Science (MS) from an accredited university or college. An additional two years of specialized coursework in orthodontics will be needed for certification.

An additional area of specialization within orthodontics includes cranial surgery. This area of specialty involves the study and treatment of malformation or deformities of the face and head. Common examples include abnormalities of the maxillary sinus, the maxillary pterygium, the frontal region, the ethmoid region, the nasal cavity, the ophthalmic region, the genioglossus muscle, temporomandibular joint syndrome, spondylosis, subluxation, or subnasal cysts. Specialization in this area of orthodontics requires at least a Master's Degree in dental surgery.

An additional part of orthodontic training is to complete either an internship or a residency in an orthodontic clinic. An internship will allow an orthodontic student to work directly with a qualified dentist, while a residency will allow the patient to observe and participate in a supervised clinical trial under the supervision of a licensed dentist. Both types of training are supervised by experienced and highly qualified dental surgeons. To qualify, an individual must successfully pass the state board exam which is based on nationwide standards.

As a student of orthodontics, students will also take a comprehensive written communication skills and oral examination. Once these preliminary tests are passed, the student can choose whether to pursue a traditional career as a dentist or opt for an orthodontics degree which prepares him/her for different areas of dentistry. Many graduates also go on to train as teachers, dental hygienists, orthodontic technicians, and/or orthodontists. Some go on to become Chief Orthodontists or even Chief Medical Officers in various dental health organizations such as The American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Academy of Orthodontics (AOA).

Orthodontics can be a rewarding career for those who love to look into beautiful smiles by helping to align your teeth with clear braces. However, many people have been mislead into believing that orthodontics is just for adults only because they are not familiar with orthodontics' benefits to children. With a little research and a strong desire to excel in the field of dentistry, an individual can take advantage of all of the amazing treatments available to correct malocclusion, overcrowding, crooked teeth, underbite, and all of the other ailments associated with a malocclusion problem. An alternative post for more info on the topic here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodontics.