Dentofacial Orthopedics

You may have noticed thatĀ Dr. Brian Hohlen and Dr. Michael Tewes are specialists trained in ā€œOrthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics.ā€ While most people have heard of orthodontics, many are confused by the ā€œdentofacial orthopedicsā€ part of the title. We can explain!

Every orthodontist graduates from dental school. Upon completion of dental school, some graduates immediately go into general practice as dentists. Others choose to pursue a dental specialty, which requires advanced training in a two- to three-year speciality program.

There are nine specialties sanctioned by the American Dental Association. Some you are likely familiar with are Pediatric Dentistry (dentistry for children), Periodontics (dentistry focusing on the gums), and Oral Surgery.

One of the nine specialties is ā€œOrthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics.ā€ You probably know that an orthodontist straightens teeth, and indeed: ā€œorthoā€ comes from the Greek for ā€œstraightā€ or ā€œcorrect,ā€ and ā€œdonticā€ from the Greek for ā€œteeth.ā€ But what about dentofacial orthopedics? ā€œDentofacialā€ is ā€œteethā€ plus ā€œfaceā€ while ā€œorthoā€ again means ā€œstraightā€ and ā€œpedicā€ is from the Greek for ā€œchild.ā€

Essentially, while orthodontics entails the management of tooth movement, dentofacial orthopedics involves the guidance of facial growth and development, which occurs largely during childhood. In both cases, appliances are frequently used – the more familiar braces for orthodontics, and other specialized appliances like expanders depending on what facial abnormalities are present.

Sometimes orthopedic treatment may precede conventional braces, but often the two are accomplished at the same time. So if your child gets braces and a growth modification appliance, he’s undergoing orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics!

Because Dr. Hohlen and Dr. Tewes are trained specialists in both areas, they are able to diagnose any misalignments in the teeth and jaws as well as the facial structures, and can devise a treatment plan that integrates both orthodontic and dentofacial orthopedic treatments.

Remember, a general dentist is not a specialist in orthodontics or dentofacial orthopedics.