Dentofacial Orthopedics

 

What Is Dentofacial Orthopedics?

Orthodontics involves more than straightening teeth. During childhood and adolescence, the teeth, jaws, and facial structures are still developing. This gives orthodontists an important opportunity to evaluate not only tooth alignment, but also jaw growth, facial development, bite relationships, and how the upper and lower jaws are developing together.

Dentofacial orthopedics focuses on guiding jaw and facial growth while a child is still growing. When appropriate, treatment may include palatal expanders, early braces or Invisalign, or other orthodontic appliances designed to help guide growth and create a healthier relationship between the teeth and jaws.

Why Is It Called “Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics”?

You may have noticed that our doctors are specialists in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. While most people are familiar with orthodontics, the “dentofacial orthopedics” part of the specialty may be less familiar.

After completing dental school, orthodontists receive an additional two to three years of specialized residency training focused on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of tooth and jaw alignment concerns, as well as facial growth and development.

While orthodontics focuses primarily on the movement and alignment of teeth, dentofacial orthopedics focuses on the growth and development of the jaws and facial structures. The two often work together to create a healthy bite, proper function, and a balanced smile.

Why Growth and Development Matter

Timing can be especially important when treating a growing child. Because the jaws are still developing, there are certain orthodontic concerns that may benefit from treatment during a specific stage of growth.

At HBI Orthodontics, our doctors evaluate each child's teeth, bite, jaw relationships, airway, facial growth, and development to determine whether early treatment could be beneficial—or whether the best approach is simply to monitor growth until the appropriate time to begin treatment.

When indicated, dentofacial orthopedic treatment may help address concerns such as a narrow upper jaw, crossbite, significant crowding, or discrepancies in the growth and relationship of the upper and lower jaws.

A Comprehensive Approach to Your Child's Smile

Our training in both orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics allows us to look beyond whether the teeth are straight. We evaluate how the teeth, jaws, bite, and facial structures work together and consider airway concerns when appropriate as part of the overall orthodontic evaluation.

The goal is not to treat every child early. Our goal is to identify the right treatment, at the right time, for each individual patient.

At HBI Orthodontics in West Bloomfield and Waterford, Michigan, we create individualized treatment plans based on each child's unique growth, development, and orthodontic needs.