What is orthodontics?

Improving your bite or other physical alterations to your mouth, teeth, and jaws is the purpose of orthodontics.

It's a branch of dental care that uses a device to help your teeth move to the desired position. You can straighten your teeth by wearing braces such as: ceramic braces, brackets and wires and clear aligners.

Dental surgery in orthodontics

More invasive treatment involves operating on your upper and lower jaw in some cases. Several important factors would be used to determine if surgery is necessary:

• The impact on the skeletal structure
• Temporomandibular issues
• Joint deformities

As time passes, pressure on the gum tissues and the skeletal structure underlying the teeth can impact the joints and cause issues. This is why medical problems should be tackled as soon as possible if your jaw or teeth aren't aligned.

What is orthodontic treatment?

Orthodontic treatment is used to make teeth easier to clean and to improve the oral hygiene of the patient. Whether by correcting, straightening or closing gaps in your teeth.

The importance of orthodontic treatment lies in its pivotal role: ensuring the longevity of your teeth, gums, and temporomandibular joints.

Why do we need orthodontic treatment?

There are many reasons for starting orthodontic treatment, so let’s go over why people get braces or clear aligners, why you might need them and, in general, why we need orthodontic treatment.

Reasons to get braces or clear aligners

There are many factors why you might need braces or clear aligners, so let’s look at some of the most prevalent dental problems:

• Crowding: which may be due to misaligned or simply too many teeth.
• Respiratory or swallowing issues: snoring and sleep apnea can be the result of mouth breathing.
• Skeletal imbalances: between the mandible and maxilla that can impact the alignment of the upper and lower teeth.
• Difficulties with chewing, speech or biting: due to poor jaw alignment and occlusion.
• Absent or additional teeth: resulting from genetic inheritance, injuries or decay.
• Overjet: This means that the upper teeth protrude more than they should. This is generally accompanied by a recessed lower jaw and poses an elevated fracture risk.
• Crossbite: one or more of the upper teeth sit within the lower teeth (toward the centre of the mouth).
• Deep overbite: the bite of the lower anterior teeth makes contact with the upper tissue of the top teeth.
• Underbite (protruding lower jaw): the lower jaw sits excessively forward compared to the upper jaw.
• Open bite: where the arrangement of the teeth prevents the mouth from closing properly.
• Spacing or gaps: caused by undersized or absent teeth.
• Boost self-confidence: an aesthetically pleasing smile can elevate a person's self-assurance and perception of themselves.

Orthodontic treatment for children

In addition to the aforementioned factors, there are three reasons children get braces or clear aligners:

• Misaligned tooth eruption: correct alignment can be promoted with treatment.
• A lack of room for adult teeth to emerge.
• Sucking on thumbs or fingers: which may result in the narrowing of the upper jaw and protrusion of the upper incisors.

Why is orthodontic treatment important?

Orthodontic issues, such as chewing problems, teeth misalignment and jaw displacement, are likely to deteriorate if left untreated.

The importance of orthodontic treatment lies in the fact that the repercussions of ignoring these issues can be severe.

Failing to address problems, like struggling to reach all your teeth for brushing and flossing, can lead to periodontal disease, irregular tooth enamel erosion, and tooth decay.

Strategic orthodontic treatment under professional supervision is key to sustaining oral health and general wellness. It's even more vital when going through periods of change, such as pregnancy or as a child grows and loses their baby teeth.

Benefits of orthodontic treatment

The benefits of orthodontic treatment are vast and go beyond merely rectifying misaligned teeth. Having this kind of dental treatment can achieve a positive impact on a person's health and self-confidence.

A popular orthodontic method is the use of clear aligners. Although there are alternative types of braces, such as lingual braces and sapphire braces, they can be quite invasive.

Clear aligners achieve the correct tooth position by moving the tooth with the device, typically worn for 22 hours a day.

Let’s look at some of the benefits of braces and clear aligners:

• Preserving a proper bite that facilitates mastication and speech.
• Preventing the need for costly interventions that may become necessary due to untreated problems.
• Guaranteeing optimal dental functionality.
• Preventing tooth loss or decay through ease of cleaning.
• Achieving a smile and facial structure that is both healthy and aesthetic.

Who can get braces or clear aligners?

Choosing between clear aligners or braces boils down to whether an individual is suitable for orthodontic treatment. People experiencing problems like overcrowding, bite problems, gaps or misalignment can reap the benefits of braces or clear aligners.

Children usually undergo orthodontic treatment when their permanent teeth have erupted. Adults can benefit from orthodontic treatment to address misalignments at any age. It's important to see a qualified orthodontist, who can assess your case appropriately.

If you would like to come for a free assessment, you can book with our team, or simply try this 60-second quiz.

Impress: at the forefront of cutting-edge orthodontics

The self-confidence that comes with an aligned and healthy smile is at the root of what we do and we can treat both moderate and complicated issues.

Excited to embark on your smile journey? Book a free appointment and head to your nearest Impress clinic to speak with one of our qualified practitioners about your orthodontic treatment options. You can also get started by sending us a WhatsApp. We will be happy to help!

Updated: October 2025