1. INTRODUCTION TO ORTHODONTICS
Dr.Sowmya Ramachandrachar
Consultant Orthodontist

2. Definition
Orthodontics includes the study of growth and development of the jaws and face particularly, and the body generally as influencing the position of the teeth;
the study of action and reaction of internal and external influences on the development and
the prevention and correction of arrested and perverted development.

3. Services offered by the Orthodontist
Preventive Orthodontics
Interceptive Orthodontics
Corrective Orthodontics
Surgical Orthodontics

4. Preventive Orthodontics
“actions taken to preserve the integrity of what appears normal for that age”.

5. Interceptive Orthodontics
“Science and art of Orthodontics employed to recognize and eliminate potential irregularities in the developing dentofacial complex”

6. Corrective Orthodontics
“Recognizes the existence of a malocclusion and the need for employing certain technical procedures to reduce or eliminate the problem and the attendant sequelae”

7. Surgical Orthodontics
“It is the combined Orthodontic and Surgical management of severe dento-facial deformities that cannot be treated by Orthodontic therapy alone”

8. Aims of Orthodontic treatment
Jackson’s triad
Functional efficiency
Structural balance
Esthetic harmony

9. Functional Efficiency
Many malocclusions affect normal functioning of stomatognathic system
The orthodontic treatment should thus aim at improving the functioning of the oro-facial apparatus

10. Structural Balance The orofacial regions consists of the
dentoalveolar system
the skeletal tissue
the soft tissue including musculature
Stable orthodontic treatment is
best achieved by maintaining a balance between these three tissue systems

11. Esthetic harmony
Many malocclusions are associated with unsightly appearance of teeth and can affect the self image of the individual.
Orthodontic treatment should aim at improving the esthetics of the individual

12. Unfavourable sequelae of malocclusion
Poor facial appearance
Malocclusion is capable of adversely affecting the facial appearance of an individual.

13. Risk of caries
Mal aligned teeth makes the oral hygiene maintenance a difficult task, thereby increasing the risk of caries.

14. Predisposition to periodontal disease
Malocclusion with poor oral hygiene leads to periodontal diseases.
Teeth in traumatic occlusion results in damage to periodontal tissues.

15. Risk of trauma
Teeth that are severely proclined are often at a high risk of injury either during games or by accidental fall.

16. Psychological disturbances
Malocclusion affecting adversely the appearance ,makes a person highly self conscious and turns him into an introvert.

17. Abnormalities of function
Many malocclusions cause abnormality in the functioning of the stomatognathic system such as improper swallowing, defects in speech ,improper respiration, etc.

18. Temporomandibular joint problems
Malocclusion associated with occlusal prematurities and deep bite can cause TMJ problems such as pain and dysfunction.

19. Interference to the normal growth and development
The growth of maxilla is restricted by the mandible in skeletal class 3 malocclusion with anterior crossbite.

20. Need for orthodontic treatment
To improve the aesthetics of an individual.
To reduce the susceptibility to dental caries and periodontal diseases
To reduce the susceptibility to accidental injury
To correct the abnormal muscle activity
To correct the abnormal oral habits

21. Need for orthodontic treatment
To intercept and correct the interferences to the normal growth
To manage the temporomandibular joint problems
To facilitate the prosthetic rehabilitation
To correct the speech defects

22. Scope of orthodontic treatment
Orthodontic treatment can bring about changes in the dentition ,the skeletal system and the enveloping soft tissue.
Alteration in tooth position
Alteration in skeletal pattern
Alteration in soft tissue pattern

23. Alteration in tooth position
Orthodontic treatment is made possible by the fact that teeth can be moved through the bone to ideal locations by applying appropriate force on them.

24. Alteration in skeletal pattern
Malocclusion may be associated with skeletal disharmony of jaw bones.
Deviations from normal can arise in
Size
Position
Relationship between these skeletal components.
Orthodontist can use orthopaedic forces to bring about changes in sagittal,vertical and transverse planes.

25. Alteration in soft tissue pattern
The soft tissues that envelope the dentition are greatly influenced by the position of dentition.
Orthodontic treatment can bring about favourable changes in the soft tissue pattern.