A special field in dentistry which involves diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of bite abnormalities or facial irregularities originating from the combination of Greek words “orthos” as correction, and “dontos” as teeth.

Orthodontist is a dentist who specializes in orthodontics, or the correction of misaligned teeth and jaws with braces, retainers, or other dental appliances. Being an orthodontist requires to be graduated from a dental faculty and then specialize in orthodontics which generally takes 2 to 4 years in Turkey. Training in this specialty includes the control of tooth movement by means of orthodontic forces and to redirect growth of the jaws in order to correct various malocclusions. Only dentists who successfully finish the required training programs either as doctorate (PhD) or specialty degree are called as orthodontists, namely.

1- Ignorance of preventive measures such as fluoride and restorative applications to protect baby teeth and consequent early extractions may result in space closure and misalignment of permanent teeth.
2- Genetic factors: It is of importance to inherit specific genes from upper generations to develop a specific skeletal problem. Hereditary missing teeth, narrow maxillae, crowding may as well be inherited. Under these situations inheritance of the malocclusion is not an unexpected sign. The parents need to use frequent visits to orthodontists and/or general dentists in order to control the possible outcome(s).

3-   Otolaryngology problems: Problems arising from ear-nose-throat such as tonsillar inflammation, presence of adenoids, mouth breathing and etc may result in abnormal developing of the jaws and unwanted eruption patterns.
4-   Bad habits: Thumb-sucking, prolonged use of pacifiers and baby bottles, fingernail biting and etc. may cause malocclusions.
5-   Specific musculature problems may also result in orthodontic problems.

Orthodontic therapy can be applied at all ages. If the problem is not skeletally oriented and dental misalignments are the case, these kinds of problems may be corrected even in later ages. The age factor is an important factor that actually affects the rate of tooth movement and treatment time. Skeletally oriented problems might be corrected by orthopedic approaches until the end of puberty though. Adults with skeletal based jaw deformities are ideal candidates for orthodontic treatment plus orthognathic surgery.

Orthodontic treatment does not only provide an ideal bite closure with optimum facial esthetics but is also essential for periodontal health, preventing TMD, enhancing jaw function and speech as well.

- Orthodontic therapy mostly known as treatment of crowding and misalignment of teeth has many specific techniques. Fixed, removable and functional appliances are utilized according to the case. Simple misalignments teeth might be treated by removable appliances made of wire springs a plastic body. Children from the peak through the end of puberty might use the help of functional regulators in presence of skeletal jaw discrepancies.
- An increasing awareness of the benefits of orthodontic treatment, plus advances in both the sophistication and capability of fixed orthodontic appliances stimulated a great deal of interest from both dentists and patients. Brackets and wires are the main elements od fixed appliance therapy. Those appliances work by the activation of various types of wires when inserted into the brackets. Other than those many auxiliary appliances are present. Mainly in skeletal anomalies extra-oral appliances are used frequently. Soon after completion of active orthodontic therapy alignment of teeth should be preserved by passive appliances. This phases of the therapy is called as the retention period.
- The main goals of orthodontic therapy are: improving masticatory function, enhancing speech, restoring a good and well-balanced facial esthetics, optimizing oral hygiene and help the patients socially and psychologically by improving their self esteem.
- Orthodontic therapy is in conjunction with other branches of dentistry and medicine as well. Cooperation with otolaryngology aids patients with restoring normal functional processes i.e. in nasal respiration whereas cooperaration with plastic and reconstructive surgery is very important in adults’ skeletal anomalies and craniofacial deformities such as CLPs.