Dentofacial Orthopedics

Our doctor’s specialty is “orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics.” Dentofacial orthopedics is a branch of orthodontics that most people don’t know much about.

The first step for an orthodontist is to go to dental school. Some individuals begin working as dentists right after they finish dental school. Some doctors choose to specialize, which takes an extra two or three years of training. The American Dental Association makes a distinction between nine types of dentistry. You may also know about periodontics, which is a branch of dentistry that focuses on the gums, and oral surgery.

One of the nine specialties is called “Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics.” In contrast to orthodontics, which mostly deals with adults, dentofacial orthopedics focuses on helping children with how their faces grow. Orthodontic braces and other specialized devices like headgear and expanders are often used, depending on how bad the patient’s facial problems are. Orthopedic treatment may be done first, but regular braces are usually used along with it. Your child is getting orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics when he or she wears braces and headgear.

Because our doctor is trained in both orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics, he can look at any problems with the teeth, jaw, or structure of the face and come up with a treatment plan that uses both.