What is Orthodontics?

Orthodontics is a specialty branch in the field of dentistry. Orthodontics deals with the diagnosis, prevention and correction of malocclusions, or “bad bites.” An orthodontic specialist is one who graduates with a dental degree and advances to an accredited institution to complete two additional years of specialty training in orthodontics. This training enables an orthodontist to design thorough treatment plans using corrective appliances to properly align the teeth, jaws and lips to achieve facial harmony. Orthodontists are specially trained to apply and control these appliances to attain only the best results.

Who Needs Orthodontics?

Most patients and parents seek orthodontic treatment because of aesthetic concerns about visible dental irregularities. But an attractive smile is only the most obvious reason for orthodontics. Properly aligned teeth, lips and jaws not only improve your appearance, they may help in the prevention of dental disease. Properly aligned teeth are easier to clean and more resistant to tooth decay. In addition, there is less susceptibility to gum disease, uneven wear of the teeth and jaw problems.

Before & After Photos

These are some examples of problems that Dr. Maleki can correct. Move mouse over pictures to see an animation of the finished result. Note: The photos in this animation are not actual patients of Dr. Nahid Maleki in Washington, D.C. Results may vary in individual cases.

Case 1: Lower jaw midline does not match the upper jaw midline	Case 2: "Eye" teeth are up high and upper jaw has "crowding"
Case 3: Bite is "open" in the front and front teeth do not touch normally	Case 4: Upper teeth are inside the lower teeth or "underbite"
Case 5: Front teeth do not touch properly and lower jaw midline is off	Case 6: Upper jaw has "spacing"
Case 7: Upper jaw has "crowding" and front teeth overlap	Case 8: Upper jaw has "spacing" and front teeth overlap severely