Dental Facial Orthopedics

In general, what percentage of the untreated population would benefit from Orthodontics and/or Dentofacial Orthopedics? *These are approximate percentages and will vary somewhat with different ethnic groups.

• 2% of the population does not need either Orthodontics or Dentofacial Orthodontics. These people have good facial skeletal structure and attractive teeth that function well. 98% of patients would improve their facial appearance with Dentofacial Orthodontics.
• 20% of the population have reasonably good skeletal structure and don’t need Dentofacial Orthodontics. They do need Orthodontics to have better alignment and function of the teeth.
• 75% of the population have skeletal problems that would benefit from Dentofacial Orthodontics. These people also need Orthodontics as part of their total treatment plan.
• 2% of the population have skeletal problems that either do not respond to Dentofacial Orthodontics or are too severe to be handled by means other than oral surgery to correct the skeletal relationship.

What problems can Dentofacial Orthodontics and/or Orthodontics treat?

A wide range of dental problems can be treated. Many of these problems are tied to malocclusion (improper bite). Such a condition can significantly impact the clarity of speech, chewing ability, and facial harmony. In addition, a severe malocclusion can also contribute to several serious dental and physical conditions such as breathing difficulties, TMJ or jaw joint disorders, periodontal disease, and tooth decay. It is important to seek treatment early to avoid expensive restorative procedures in the future. The orthodontics may work alone but, where necessary, will work in with an orthodontist to solve special problems.

The typical irregularities requiring orthopedic treatment are as follows:

• To achieve harmonic facial proportions
• To obtain a healthy passage of air and to overcome problems in the TMJ or jaw joint, among other issues
• Overcrowding – An overcrowded mouth means there is insufficient space in the jaw for all adult teeth to fit naturally. Overcrowding may lead to displaced, rotated or completely misaligned teeth.
• Overbite – An overbite refers to the protrusion of the maxilla (upper jaw) relative to the mandible (lower jaw). An overbite gives the smile a “toothy” appearance and the chin looks like it has receded.
• Underbite – An underbite, also known as a negative underjet, refers to the protrusion of the mandible (lower jaw) in relation to the maxilla (upper jaw). An underbite makes the chin look overly prominent. Developmental delays and genetic factors generally cause underbites and overbites.
• Sleep Apnea – This is caused when soft tissues in the posterior part of the mouth restrict or block the passage of air to the lungs at night. Sleep apnea results in reduced levels of oxygen reaching the blood-stream and the effects can range from day-time drowsiness to congestive heart failure in extreme cases