Your bark might be worse than your bite -- unless you have a “bad bite.” A bad bite, also known as a malocclusion, is the misalignment of your teeth or jaws. An orthodontist is a dental specialist who diagnoses and treats bad bites. Orthodontists use dental appliances such as braces and retainers to treat underbites and overbites; open bites and cross bites; and crowded teeth.

If you have teeth or jaw problems, chances are you can thank good ol’ genetics for them. However, certain conditions can also be caused by:

- Early or late loss of teeth
- Thumb or finger sucking
- An accident
- Tooth decay

How Your Orthodontist Can Help

There’s no doubt that an orthodontist can help improve the way your smile looks. And though you will surely appreciate the boost to your self-esteem, you can also thank the orthodontist for improving your health.

Why? Because it turns out that misaligned teeth are linked to health conditions such as snoring, sleep apnea and other breathing problems. So when you seek orthodontic treatment, your orthodontist will not only set your teeth straight, but can also help you breathe better. Treatment from your orthodontist can even help you chew more easily and improve your speech.

Phases of Orthodontic Treatment

Once it’s determined that your teeth will benefit from orthodontics, your orthodontist will custom design a treatment plan for you.

Treatment differs for everyone, but generally includes three phases:

- Pretreatment -- During this phase, the orthodontist performs a clinical exam; takes X-rays of your mouth and head; and makes a mold of your teeth. Your orthodontist will use this information to determine what dental appliance to use during your treatment.

- Active treatment -- This is when your dental appliance is in place and you visit your orthodontist for periodic adjustments.

- Retention -- After you complete active treatment, your orthodontist may have you wear a retainer to keep your newly aligned teeth in place.

Your Child’s First Visit

You’ve probably heard the old adage, “Take care of the problem before it really becomes one.” And when it comes to your teeth, that wisdom certainly applies.

That’s why it’s best to get your child’s teeth examined by an orthodontist early; in fact, the American Dental Association recommends that children visit an orthodontist by the age of 7.

If you take your child before then, that’s even better -- an orthodontist can prevent dental irregularities in children by conducting exams before all of the permanent teeth erupt. This is especially true if your family has a history of misaligned teeth.

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