When the signs of potential malocclusion are spotted early, an orthodontist may be able to intervene and correct the issue before it becomes more complex. Here, our Langley orthodontists answer, 'What is dentofacial orthopedics?' and discuss how it can benefit your child.
What is the purpose of a dentofacial orthopedics treatment plan?
'Dentofacial' is a combination of the Greek words for 'teeth' and 'face'. 'Ortho' means 'straight', and 'pedic' is the Greek word for 'child'.
Therefore, dentofacial orthopedics is a specialty that treats both the teeth and the facial structure, including the jaw, which provides structure to teeth. Dentofacial orthopedic methods are usually applied to children before orthodontic treatment or braces, as these tools can help guide jaw development during growth.
A dentofacial orthopedics treatment plan can help address these early issues and minimize the complexity of future treatments.
How does dentofacial orthopedics help guide facial growth and development?
Dentofacial orthopedics guides facial growth and development, which occurs largely during childhood. Various appliances are frequently used for this type of treatment, such as the more familiar orthodontic tools like braces and other specialized appliances like headgear and expanders, depending on facial abnormalities. Sometimes, dentofacial orthopedic treatment may be followed by conventional orthodontic treatment, but often, the two are used together. This means that if your child has braces and headgear, they are undergoing orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics at the same time.
What is the importance of dentofacial orthopedic treatment?
The main goal of dentofacial orthopedic treatment is to achieve properly aligned teeth. Achieving and maintaining a good bite ensures that the jaws work together properly, which helps prevent future dental problems. Orthodontic treatment makes brushing and flossing easier, reducing the likelihood of developing tooth cavities due to less wear and tear.
It is often relatively easy for a dentist or orthodontist to identify the early signs of malocclusion. By taking your child(ren) for regular visits to the dentist at an early age, you can help prevent tooth cavities and pave the way for properly aligned teeth as permanent teeth begin to erupt.
By the age of three, your child’s dentist should be able to spot a potential malocclusion so you can act immediately to avoid long-term issues or a potentially invasive treatment in the future. Here are some of the early signs of malocclusion:
- Pointy temporary (baby) teeth.
- Tight spaces between temporary teeth indicate that your child has a small palate.
- The lower and upper teeth do not meet each other.
What are the benefits of dentofacial orthopedics?
Some of the most common benefits of dentofacial orthopedics are correcting bite issues, improving facial symmetry and enhancing overall facial aesthetics. As we've discussed so far, dentofacial orthopedics is most commonly used to treat children, although this type of treatment can help address issues affecting adults as well in some cases. Here are some age-specific benefits of this treatment option:
Children: Provides younger patients with a greater chance of effectively addressing oral health issues without the potential need for more complex oral surgery procedures now or in the future.
Adults: Dentofacial orthopedics can address a range of dental issues in adults, including underbites, overbites, crooked teeth, and uneven smiles. By targeting these specific concerns, it aims to improve dental alignment and overall facial aesthetics.
Dentofacial orthopedics can also help prevent issues such as uneven teeth grinding and jaw misalignment, which can lead to spinal problems, TMJ disorders and chronic headaches.
How Dentofacial Orthopedics is Different from Traditional Orthodontics
While they both go hand in hand, orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics are two different treatment options.
Orthodontics is a widely recognized specialty in dentistry. Orthodontists effectively correct misaligned teeth by applying braces to straighten gapped, crooked, and crowded teeth. This proven treatment can help make adjustments to patients' bites, leading to healthier and more confident smiles. The term 'orthodontic' originates from a Greek word meaning 'straight' or 'correct', and 'dontic' specifically refers to anything related to teeth.
Dentofacial orthopedics assists patients in addressing issues related to the bone structure of the jaw and face. This field uses appliances to guide the growth of the jaw, enabling various corrections such as jaw narrowing and fixing underbites and overbites. When it comes to dentofacial orthopedics, the root meanings are quite literal; 'dento' refers to teeth, and 'facial' pertains to the face.
Dentofacial orthopedics is usually the first step in addressing bite issues, as your child's jaw is still growing and easy to adjust. Once the permanent teeth have erupted, we can begin using orthodontic treatment to help them achieve a strong bite and healthy smile.
Dentofacial Orthopedics at Langley Orthodontics
Dentofacial orthopedics – the guidance of facial growth and development, mainly during childhood – is integral to what we do here at Langley Orthodontics.
Orthodontics involves managing tooth movement, and dentofacial orthopedics guides facial development and growth, which takes place mostly during childhood. In both cases, appliances are usually used: braces for orthodontics and specialized appliances such as expanders and headgear for orthopedics.
Our orthodontists are proud to be able to help children across Langley achieve straight, healthy smiles with the use of dentofacial orthopedics. Speak with us to learn more about how we can help.