Orthodontics 2025

Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that specializes in diagnosing, preventing, and treating dental and facial irregularities—primarily misaligned teeth and improper jaw relationships (often called “bad bites” or malocclusions).

Common Problems Orthodontics Fixes

• Crowded or overlapping teeth
• Gaps (spacing) between teeth
• Overbite (upper teeth excessively overlap lower teeth)
• Underbite (lower teeth/jaw in front of upper)
• Crossbite (some upper teeth sit inside lower teeth)
• Open bite (front teeth don’t touch when biting)
• Protruding teeth
• Jaw size discrepancies or asymmetry

Main Treatment Options (2025)

• Traditional Metal Braces – Still the most common and usually the cheapest – Stainless-steel brackets + wires, sometimes with colored bands
• Ceramic (Clear) Braces – Tooth-colored or clear brackets, much less visible – Slightly more expensive and can stain if you’re not careful
• Lingual Braces – Brackets glued to the back (tongue side) of teeth → completely hidden – Harder to clean, can affect speech initially, more expensive
• Clear Aligners (the biggest category today)
• Hybrid Approaches – Many orthodontists now combine short-term braces + aligners or use aligners with “attachments” and elastics to handle complex movements
• Surgical Orthodontics (orthognathic surgery) – For severe skeletal jaw problems (very protrusive or recessive jaws) – Braces/aligners + jaw surgery by an oral surgeon

Typical Timeline (2025 averages)

• Mild cases (aligners only): 6–12 months
• Moderate traditional braces: 18–24 months
• Complex cases or teens still growing: 24–36 months
• Clear Aligners (the biggest category today)
• Surgical cases: 24–36 months total (includes pre- and post-surgery ortho)

Current Trends (2025)

• Digital scanning (iTero, Trios) has almost completely replaced gooey impressions
• AI treatment planning is standard in Invisalign and many other systems
• 3D-printed aligners and indirect bonding (brackets placed by robot) improving precision
• Faster treatment options: AcceleDent, Propel, high-frequency vibration devices (mixed evidence)
• Teen cases often use aligners now; compliance indicators (blue dot) built in