Introduction
to
orthodontics
Under supervision
of
Prof .Dr : Maher Fouda

 What is orthodontics ?
 Orthodontics is that specific area of the dental profession
that has responsibility to study and supervision of the
growth and development of the dentition and its related
anatomical structures from birth to dental maturity.

 It includes all preventive and corrective procedures of
dental irregularities requiring the repositioning of teeth by
functional and mechanical means to establish normal
occlusion and pleasing facial contours.

 Branches of orthodontics
The art and science of orthodontic can be
divided into three categories based on the
nature and time of intervention into:-
 Preventive orthodontics.
 Interceptive orthodontics.
 Corrective orthodontics

Preventive orthodontics
Definition : It is the
action taken to
preserve the
integrity of what
appears to be
normal occlusion at
a specific time.

• The preventive measures may include : Caires
control, anatomical dental restoration, space
maintenance, transitory oral habit correction,
genetic and congenital anomalies, and
supervising exfoliation of deciduous teeth.

Interceptive orthodontics
Definition : It is that
phase of the science and
art of orthodontics ,
employed to recognize
and eliminate potential
irregularities and
malpositions in the
developing dentofacial
complex.

Corrective orthodontics
Definition : corrective
orthodontics recognizes
the existence of
malocclusion and the
need for employing
certain technical
procedures to reduce or
eliminate the problem
and attendant sequelae .
These procedure may be
mechanical, functional or
surgical in nature.

 Aims of orthodontic treatment
1. Functional efficiency .
2. Structural balance .
3. Esthetic harmony .
4. prevention speech defect .
5. Correction of mouth breathing .
6. Caries prevention .

7. Periodontal disease prevention .
8. Prevent trauma to anterior teeth .
9. Prevention of risk of follicular cyst .
10. Prevention of risk of root resorption .
11. Prevention of complication of prosthetic
treatment .
12. Prevention and management of TMJD

Functional efficiency
Patients with anterior
open bites and those with
markedly increased or
reverse overjets often
complain of difficulty with
eating , especially when
incising food.
This patient
has a severe
anterior open bite
with contact only
on the molars

The orthodontic treatment
should increase the
efficiency of functions
performed by the
stomatognathic system.

Structural balance
The treatment should
maintain a balance
between teeth,
surrounding soft
tissue envelop and
the associated
skeletal structures .
The correction of one
should not be
detrimental to the
health of another.

Esthetic harmony
Aesthetic standereds cannot be
rigidly formulated and not all
irrigularities of the teeth are
aesthetically unsatisfactory.
what is acceptable deponds on
the attitude of the patient
himself and on the community
in which he lives.

Facial appearance can be very important to an
individual s well being , self image and success in
society.
child with a Class II
division 1 malocclusion
and
very poor aesthetic
appearance
Same child after
orthodontic
treatment

The orthodontic treatment
should increase overall
esthetic appeal of the
individual.

Psychological well being
Malocclusion that
adversely affects the
appearance of person
leads to psychological
disturbances. Thus
treatment of
malocclusion in such
patients helps in
improving the mental
well being and
confidence.

Prevention speech defects
The connection between
various speech defects
and malocclusions is of
some practical
importance , for example
if a patient cannot attain
contact between the
incisors anteriorally , this
may contribute to the
production of a lisp

Correction of mouth breathing
Mouth breathing has been
attributed as a possible
etiologic factor for
malocclusion . The mode
of respiration influences
the posture of the jaw ,
the tongue and to lesser
extent the head which
alter the oro-facial
equilibrium thereby
leading to malocclusion.

Caries prevention
Malalignment of teeth
makes oral hygiene
maintenance a
difficult task, thereby
increasing the risk of
caries. The
orthodontic reduce
this risk by correction
of mallocclusion.

Periodontal disease prevention
Malocclusion
associated with poor
oral hygiene is a
frequent cause of
periodontal diseases .

Crowding lead to one or
more teeth being
squeezed buccally or
lingually out of there
investing bone,
resulting in reduction
of priodontal support.

Also in class III
malocclusion where
the lower incisors in
cross bite are pushed
labially, leading to
gingival receccion.

Traumatic over bites also lead to increased loss
of periodontal support.
traumatic
anterior occlusion
is displacing the
lower right central
incisor labially and
there is an
associated
dehiscence
The same
patient
but the cross bite
has been corrected
with a removable
appliance and
there has been
an improvement
in the gingival
condition

This malocclusion has an extremely deep bite
which can be associated with potential periodontal
problems
The same patient but not in
occlusion. The deep bite has resulted in labial
stripping of the periodontium on the lower right
central incisor

Prevent trauma to anterior teeth
The risk of trauma to
upper incisors
increases with the
size of overjet . Teeth
that are severely
proclined are at high
risk of injury
especially during play
or by accidental fall.
Class II Division 1 with an
increased overjet. The anterior
teeth are at risk of
potential trauma

Prevention of risk of follicular cysts
In the cases of
unerupted tooth
there is a risk of
formation of follicular
cyst . This possibility
can be eliminated by
exposing the tooth
and moving it
forwards.

Prevention of risk of root resorption
In the cases of
unerupted tooth there
is a risk of resorption
of the roots of
adjacent teeth. For
example, unerupted
canine may cause
resorption of roots of
lateral and perhaps
central.

Prevention of complication of
prosthetic treatment
Certain forms of malocclusion present difficult
problems in the design of prostheses. In these
cases orthodontic treatment may be indicated .
Crowding in anterior segment, lingual occlusion
of upper teeth, scissors bite can all present
special difficulties in prosthetic treatment and
justify orthodontic treatment.

Prevention and management of
Tempromandibular joint disfunction
syndrome
Malocclusion
associated with
prematurities and
deep bite are believed
to be a cause of TMJ
problems such as
pain and dysfunction.
Also, in the cases
with bruxism

 Scope of orthodontics
1. Moving teeth.
2. Orthopedic change.
3. Altering the soft tissue envelop.

Moving teeth
Moving teeth without
any deleterious
effects into more ideal
locations is what
everyone always
associates this field
with.

Orthopedic change
Using functional
appliances and the
latest orthognathic
techniques, it is
possible to move
entire jaws into more
favorable positions.

Altering the soft tissue envelop
The orthodontist can
help retain or restrain
the soft tissues and or
bring about a change
in them by altering the
position of the teeth
or the jaws.