The Orthodontist: Insight Into a Profession

An orthodontist is a dentist who has completed an additional residency in orthodontics following dental school. Such a professional practices a specialized form of dentistry concerned mostly with straightening the teeth with special tools such as braces and retainers. These tools apply pressure to crooked teeth over time, bringing them into a proper alignment. People see these specialists when they have crooked teeth or have an underbite or an overbite. Most of the time, the procedure is cosmetic rather than to fix health problems. Braces used to be an almost exclusive province of the young, but more and more adults are now taking advantage of orthodontics to straighten out their teeth later in life.

It might seem like a recent development, but the very beginnings of the field can be traced back clear to 400 B.C. In those times, Hippocrates made writings concerning the early attempts at straightening out crooked teeth. Of course, it was a long time before the science began to look anything like we know it now. Several advances were made in the 19th century, mostly under the close research and observations of Dr. Norman Kingsley and Dr. Edward Angle. Separately, they came up with the main focus of the science, which was using external pressure to bring teeth into alignment. Angle is known as the father of modern orthodontics for his work in advancing the field.

Though many people go to see an orthodontist for cosmetic reasons, there are some health issues in some that choose to get braces. Severely misaligned teeth or jaws can lead to pain and problems with eating. Also of note is the difficulty some people have following a proper brushing and flossing regimen when their teeth are too out of alignment. If overlapped teeth keep food trapped, it can lead to premature decay and cavities. Anyone with misaligned teeth should talk frankly with their regular dentist about the benefits they could receive as a result of getting braces or some other form of alignment.

The education required to become an orthodontist cannot be understated. Simply to become a dentist, they must complete a bachelor’s degree, which typically takes four years in today’s institutions (if not longer). They must then be accepted to and attend dental school, which is an additional four years of training and education. After becoming licensed, they then must embark on an orthodontics residency, which could last as long as two years before they can move into their own practice.