It is estimated that the prevalence of malocclusion of teeth in the United States is 20% If you have this condition, your teeth are highly misaligned. The condition can also be referred to as crowded teeth, open bite, overbite, or underbite. Since the teeth cannot easily fit in your mouth, you are likely to have numerous spacing and crowding concerns. However, teeth misalignment can be easily treated through orthodontics.

What Is Orthodontics?

Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry that deals with dental irregularities. It focuses on the diagnosis and correction of bad bites through the use of a wide variety of devices, such as braces. If you want any form of orthodontic treatment, you should visit an orthodontist. This specialist is trained for more than 10 years, three years of which are spent in an accredited orthodontics residency program. 

Conditions Treated Through Orthodontics

In most cases, orthodontists deal with crooked teeth. If teeth are misaligned, they are hard to clean, leading to tooth decay. If teeth don't fit correctly in your mouth, it may be hard for you to chew, leading to back pain, shoulder pain, and headaches. 

Normally, orthodontists treat the following conditions:

•  Improper bite
•  Straightening crooked teeth
•  Closing abnormally wide gaps between the teeth
•  Improving one's chewing and speech ability
•  Aligning the tips of your teeth

Orthodontics' main goal is to improve the appearance of your teeth. It also seeks to protect teeth from decay or damage and improve speech and chewing functions.

Orthodontics' Role in Treating Malocclusion

As malocclusion continues to be a major problem in the US, the number of orthodontists has been on the rise. According to the American Dental Association's estimates, there are about 10,658 practicing orthodontists in the United States. 

To treat malocclusion, orthodontists use a wide range of medical devices, such as:

• Braces — These take the form of wires, brackets, and bands that apply tension to your teeth, moving them to their proper position.
• Space Maintainers — They are used when children lose their teeth. The space maintainers work by preventing the remaining teeth from moving to the open space until permanent adult teeth grow.
• Clear Aligners — Although these serve the same purpose as braces, they are virtually invisible and don't involve metal brackets and wires. They are effective in aligning crooked teeth.
• Splints — They are placed on your jaws, primarily when you have a problem with your jaw joints and jaw muscles.

These are among many removable and fixed appliances that are used in increasing occlusion, protecting your overall digestive and oral health.

If malocclusion causes emotional insecurity, social anxiety, and fear, you should visit an orthodontist. Through orthodontics, it is now possible to treat malocclusion, enabling you to eat and smile comfortably like other people.