Orthodontics is to correct teeth and remove malocclusion. Orthodontics mainly studies the etiology, mechanism, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of malocclusion. Orthodontics can achieve the effect of beautiful teeth.

The English name of orthodontics comes from the combination of three Greek roots, meaning "tooth", "orthodontics" and "discipline", that is, "orthodontics". [ 1]

Scientific name of western medicine

Orthodontics

English name

Orthodontics

Other names

Correct teeth

subordinate unit

Otolaryngology-stomatology

transmissibility

Non-infectious orthodontic treatment is mainly to adjust the coordination among facial bones, teeth and neuromuscular structures in maxillofacial region through various orthodontic devices, that is, to adjust the abnormal relationships between upper and lower jaws, between upper and lower teeth, between teeth and jaws, and between neuromuscular structures connecting them. Its ultimate goal is to realize the balance, stability and beauty of oral and maxillofacial system. [3] The correction of malocclusion mainly depends on wearing an appliance inside or outside the mouth, and exerting appropriate "biological force" on the teeth, alveolar bone and jaw to make them produce physiological movements, thus correcting malocclusion.

The optimal time of orthodontic treatment depends on different age groups:

1, defoliation period (3~5 years old). The purpose of orthodontic treatment is to promote the normal development of children's maxillofacial region. The malocclusion in this period, such as malocclusion of deciduous teeth, mandibular protrusion and posterior malocclusion, which hinder the normal development of maxillofacial region, should be corrected in time, and the bad habits such as tongue coating and biting lips that affect the normal function of oral cavity should be corrected to prevent further malocclusion.

2. Tooth changing period (girls: 8- 10 years old, boys: 9- 12 years old). Generally speaking, there is no need to correct local malocclusion in this period. However, for bad habits such as lip biting, tongue spitting and mandibular protrusion, or abnormal situations such as facial shape, anterior teeth, functional mandibular retraction and the relationship between upper and lower jaws, it is often necessary to go to the hospital in time to check with orthodontists to determine whether it is dental, functional or skeletal malocclusion, so as to make clear the treatment plan.

3. Permanent tooth period (female:1114 ~ years old, male: 13- 15 ~ years old). The permanent dentition began to form around 12 years old. At this time, once the teeth are misaligned, they will not disappear automatically, and can only be corrected by the treatment of orthodontists. This period is the best period for children's orthodontics, and the curative effect is the best. All kinds of dentition can be corrected by orthodontics. [6]