Identifying Signs of Underbites in Young Patients

Identifying Signs of Underbites in Young Patients

Types of Malocclusions: Overview of common types such as overbite, underbite, and crossbite in pediatric patients.

Underbites, a type of malocclusion where the lower teeth protrude beyond the upper teeth, can be a concerning dental issue in young patients. Proper oral hygiene is crucial during orthodontic treatment Child-friendly orthodontic solutions physician. Understanding the common causes of underbites is crucial for early identification and effective treatment.


One prevalent cause of underbites in young patients is genetics. If a child's parents or close relatives have an underbite, the likelihood of the child developing one increases significantly. This genetic predisposition can influence the growth and alignment of the jaw, leading to an underbite.


Another common cause is prolonged use of pacifiers or thumb-sucking beyond the age of three. These habits can exert pressure on the growing jaw and teeth, altering their natural alignment. The continuous pressure can push the upper teeth outward and cause the lower teeth to protrude forward, resulting in an underbite.


Additionally, certain medical conditions and syndromes, such as Pierre Robin sequence or Treacher Collins syndrome, can contribute to the development of underbites. These conditions often affect the growth and development of the jaw and facial structure, leading to misalignment of the teeth.


Lastly, jaw injuries or trauma during childhood can also lead to underbites. If a young patient experiences an injury that affects the jaw's growth, it may cause an imbalance in the alignment of the teeth, resulting in an underbite.


Recognizing these common causes of underbites in young patients is essential for parents and caregivers. Early detection and intervention can significantly improve the chances of successful treatment, ensuring the child's dental health and overall well-being.

When it comes to identifying signs of underbites in young patients, it's crucial to recognize the early signs and symptoms. An underbite, also known as a Class III malocclusion, occurs when the lower teeth protrude beyond the upper teeth. This condition can affect a child's oral health, speech, and self-esteem if not addressed promptly.


One of the earliest signs of an underbite in young patients is difficulty with proper biting and chewing. Children may struggle to bite into foods like apples or sandwiches, often compensating by tilting their heads back or using their molars to chew. This can lead to uneven wear on the teeth and potential jaw discomfort.


Another early symptom to watch for is speech difficulties. An underbite can impact the way a child forms certain sounds, leading to lisping or slurred speech. Parents and caregivers may notice that their child has trouble pronouncing words clearly, especially those with 's' or 'th' sounds.


Facial appearance can also provide clues to an emerging underbite. Young patients may exhibit a protruding lower jaw or a "bulldog" appearance. The chin may appear more prominent, and there may be an asymmetry in the facial features. These physical signs can become more pronounced as the child grows if the underbite is left untreated.


Additionally, some children with underbites may experience chronic mouth breathing. This can be due to the misalignment of the jaw, which can obstruct normal nasal breathing. Persistent mouth breathing can lead to dry mouth, increased risk of dental cavities, and even affect the overall growth and development of the facial structure.


It's important for parents and guardians to be vigilant in observing these early signs and symptoms of underbites in young patients. Early detection and intervention can make a significant difference in the ease and effectiveness of treatment. Consulting with an orthodontist or pediatric dentist can provide a professional assessment and guide the next steps in managing an underbite, ensuring the best possible outcome for the child's oral health and overall well-being.

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Early Detection and Diagnosis: The importance of regular dental check-ups for identifying malocclusions in children.

The Importance of Early Detection and Orthodontic Evaluation for Identifying Signs of Underbites in Young Patients


Understanding the significance of early detection and orthodontic evaluation is crucial when it comes to identifying signs of underbites in young patients. An underbite, also known as a Class III malocclusion, occurs when the lower teeth protrude beyond the upper teeth, leading to potential issues with chewing, speech, and overall oral health. Early intervention can not only prevent these problems from escalating but also streamline the treatment process, making it more effective and less invasive.


One of the primary reasons early detection is essential is that children's jaws are still growing and developing. During this period, orthodontic treatments can guide the jaw's growth in the right direction, correcting the underbite more naturally and with fewer complications. For instance, orthodontists might use appliances like palatal expanders or headgear to gently influence the jaw's alignment. These interventions, when started early, can significantly reduce the need for more extensive treatments like surgery later in life.


Parents play a pivotal role in this process. They are often the first to notice subtle changes in their child's bite or facial structure. Regular dental check-ups are vital, but parents should also be vigilant for signs such as difficulty biting into food, speech impediments, or an asymmetrical facial appearance. If any of these symptoms are observed, it's important to consult an orthodontist promptly.


An orthodontic evaluation typically involves a comprehensive examination, including X-rays and possibly 3D imaging, to assess the severity of the underbite and plan the appropriate treatment. The orthodontist will consider factors like the child's age, the extent of the underbite, and the overall health of their teeth and gums. Based on this evaluation, a tailored treatment plan can be developed, which might include braces, retainers, or other orthodontic devices.


In conclusion, early detection and orthodontic evaluation are fundamental in identifying and addressing underbites in young patients. By taking action early, parents can help ensure their child's oral health and development are on the right track, potentially avoiding more serious issues down the road. It's a proactive approach that underscores the adage, "prevention is better than cure."

Orthodontic Treatment Options for Kids: Discussing braces, aligners, and other corrective measures suitable for young patients.

Orthodontists play a crucial role in identifying and addressing dental irregularities early in a patient's life, particularly when it comes to underbites in young patients. Underbites, or prognathism, occur when the lower teeth protrude beyond the upper teeth, potentially leading to issues with chewing, speaking, and overall facial aesthetics. To effectively diagnose this condition, orthodontists rely on a variety of diagnostic tools and techniques that allow them to pinpoint signs of underbites with precision and care.


One of the primary diagnostic tools used is the dental X-ray. X-rays provide a clear view of the teeth and jaw structure, enabling orthodontists to assess the alignment and positioning of teeth that might not be visible during a regular examination. Specifically, panoramic X-rays and cephalometric X-rays are invaluable. Panoramic X-rays offer a broad view of the entire mouth and jaw, while cephalometric X-rays focus on the side profile, helping to measure the relationship between the upper and lower jaws.


In addition to X-rays, orthodontists often use intraoral and extraoral photography. These photos help document the patient's current dental condition and can be used to track progress over time. Intraoral photos provide a detailed view inside the mouth, highlighting the alignment of the teeth, while extraoral photos capture the overall facial profile, which is crucial in identifying aesthetic concerns related to an underbite.


Another essential technique is the use of dental impressions and digital scans. By creating a physical or digital model of the patient's mouth, orthodontists can closely examine the bite and identify any discrepancies. These models are particularly useful in planning treatment, as they allow for the simulation of potential outcomes before any intervention begins.


Orthodontists also conduct thorough clinical examinations, which involve direct observation and palpation of the teeth and jaw. During these examinations, they look for signs such as excessive wear on the front teeth, difficulty in closing the mouth, and speech impediments, all of which can indicate an underbite. They may also use bite registration tools to capture the exact relationship between the upper and lower teeth when the jaws are closed.


In some cases, orthodontists may employ advanced imaging technologies like cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). This 3D imaging technique provides a comprehensive view of the jaw and surrounding structures, offering detailed insights into the spatial relationships that contribute to an underbite.


By combining these diagnostic tools and techniques, orthodontists can accurately identify signs of underbites in young patients, paving the way for timely and effective treatment. Early detection and intervention are key to minimizing the long-term impact of underbites, ensuring that young patients can achieve optimal oral health and a confident smile.

The Role of Parents in Orthodontic Care: How parents can support their child's orthodontic treatment and encourage good oral habits.

When it comes to addressing underbites in children, early identification is key. Recognizing the signs of an underbite in young patients can pave the way for effective treatment options that can significantly improve their oral health and overall well-being.


An underbite, also known as a Class III malocclusion, occurs when the lower teeth protrude beyond the upper teeth. In children, this can manifest as difficulty in biting or chewing, speech impediments, and even facial asymmetry. Parents and caregivers should be vigilant in observing these signs, as early intervention can prevent more severe issues down the line.


Once an underbite is identified, a range of treatment options becomes available. The choice of treatment often depends on the severity of the underbite and the age of the child. For milder cases, orthodontic appliances such as braces or clear aligners can gradually shift the teeth into proper alignment. These treatments are typically more effective when started at a younger age, as the jaw is still developing and more malleable.


In more severe cases, or when orthodontics alone isn't sufficient, orthognathic surgery might be considered. This surgical option involves repositioning the jaws to correct the misalignment. While this sounds daunting, especially for young patients, advancements in surgical techniques and orthodontic care have made these procedures safer and more effective.


Another approach that has gained popularity is the use of growth modification devices. These are often used in children who are still in their growth phase. Devices such as headgear or reverse pull face masks can help guide the jaw's growth in a more favorable direction, correcting the underbite over time.


It's also worth noting that a multidisciplinary approach often yields the best results. Collaboration between orthodontists, pediatric dentists, and sometimes even speech therapists can ensure that all aspects of the child's health are considered. Regular monitoring and adjustments to the treatment plan are crucial to achieving the desired outcome.


In conclusion, identifying signs of underbites in young patients is the first step towards effective treatment. With a variety of options available, from orthodontics to surgery and growth modification, children with underbites can look forward to improved oral function and aesthetics. Early intervention, coupled with a comprehensive treatment plan, can make all the difference in ensuring a healthy smile for years to come.

Long-term Benefits of Early Orthodontic Intervention: How treating malocclusions in childhood can prevent more serious issues in adulthood.

The Role of Parents in Monitoring and Managing Underbites


Parents play a crucial role in the early detection and management of underbites in their children. An underbite, where the lower teeth protrude beyond the upper teeth, can lead to various dental and health issues if not addressed promptly. As primary caregivers, parents are in a unique position to identify the early signs of underbites and seek timely intervention.


The first step in managing underbites is recognizing the signs. Parents should look for misalignment of the teeth, difficulty in chewing or biting, and any speech impediments. Young children might also exhibit habits like thumb sucking or tongue thrusting, which can exacerbate the condition. Regularly observing these symptoms allows parents to consult with a pediatric dentist or orthodontist at the earliest opportunity.


Once an underbite is identified, parents must engage actively with dental professionals to explore treatment options. These may range from simple orthodontic appliances to more complex surgical interventions, depending on the severity of the underbite. Parents should ensure that their child adheres to the recommended treatment plan, which may include wearing braces, using retainers, or following specific oral exercises.


Moreover, parents can foster an environment that supports good oral health practices. Encouraging regular brushing, flossing, and routine dental check-ups can prevent additional complications that might arise from an underbite. It's also essential for parents to provide emotional support, as children might feel self-conscious about their dental appearance.


In conclusion, the role of parents in monitoring and managing underbites is pivotal. By staying vigilant, seeking professional advice, and supporting their child through treatment, parents can significantly improve the oral health and overall well-being of their young patients. Early intervention not only mitigates the physical effects of an underbite but also boosts a child's confidence and quality of life.

Early orthodontic intervention can significantly impact the long-term outcomes and benefits for young patients, particularly those showing signs of underbites. Identifying these signs early allows orthodontists to implement timely treatments that can prevent more severe issues down the line.


An underbite, where the lower teeth protrude beyond the upper teeth, can lead to various complications if not addressed promptly. These include difficulties with chewing, speech impediments, and even aesthetic concerns that may affect a child's self-esteem. By intervening early, orthodontists can guide the growth of the jaw and teeth, correcting the alignment before it becomes more challenging to treat.


One of the key benefits of early intervention is the potential to reduce the need for more invasive procedures later in life. For instance, a young patient with an underbite might only need a simple orthodontic appliance to correct the issue, rather than more complex surgery that might be necessary if the problem is left untreated until adulthood.


Moreover, early treatment can lead to improved oral health. Correcting an underbite can prevent the uneven wear of teeth, reduce the risk of gum disease, and alleviate jaw pain that might develop from improper alignment. These health benefits contribute to a better quality of life for the patient, both in the short and long term.


From a psychological perspective, addressing an underbite early can also have significant benefits. Children are often self-conscious about their appearance, and an underbite can be a source of teasing or bullying. By correcting this issue, orthodontists can help boost a child's confidence, allowing them to interact more freely with their peers and participate in social activities without worry.


In conclusion, the long-term outcomes and benefits of early orthodontic intervention for young patients showing signs of underbites are manifold. From preventing more severe dental issues to enhancing overall oral health and boosting self-esteem, the advantages of early treatment underscore the importance of vigilant monitoring and timely action in pediatric orthodontics.

 

  • Sub-Millimeter Surgical Dexterity
  • Knowledge of human health, disease, pathology, and anatomy
  • Communication/Interpersonal Skills
  • Analytical Skills
  • Critical Thinking
  • Empathy/Professionalism
  • Private practices
  • Primary care clinics
  • Hospitals
  • Physician
  • dental assistant
  • dental technician
  • dental hygienist
  • various dental specialists
Dentistry
A dentist treats a patient with the help of a dental assistant.
Occupation
Names
  • Dentist
  • Dental Surgeon
  • Doctor

[1][nb 1]

Occupation type
Profession
Activity sectors
Health care, Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Medicine, Pharmacology, Surgery
Description
Competencies  
Education required
Dental Degree
Fields of
employment
 
Related jobs
 
ICD-9-CM 23-24
MeSH D003813
[edit on Wikidata]
An oral surgeon and dental assistant removing a wisdom tooth

Dentistry, also known as dental medicine and oral medicine, is the branch of medicine focused on the teeth, gums, and mouth. It consists of the study, diagnosis, prevention, management, and treatment of diseases, disorders, and conditions of the mouth, most commonly focused on dentition (the development and arrangement of teeth) as well as the oral mucosa.[2] Dentistry may also encompass other aspects of the craniofacial complex including the temporomandibular joint. The practitioner is called a dentist.

The history of dentistry is almost as ancient as the history of humanity and civilization, with the earliest evidence dating from 7000 BC to 5500 BC.[3] Dentistry is thought to have been the first specialization in medicine which has gone on to develop its own accredited degree with its own specializations.[4] Dentistry is often also understood to subsume the now largely defunct medical specialty of stomatology (the study of the mouth and its disorders and diseases) for which reason the two terms are used interchangeably in certain regions. However, some specialties such as oral and maxillofacial surgery (facial reconstruction) may require both medical and dental degrees to accomplish. In European history, dentistry is considered to have stemmed from the trade of barber surgeons.[5]

Dental treatments are carried out by a dental team, which often consists of a dentist and dental auxiliaries (such as dental assistants, dental hygienists, dental technicians, and dental therapists). Most dentists either work in private practices (primary care), dental hospitals, or (secondary care) institutions (prisons, armed forces bases, etc.).

The modern movement of evidence-based dentistry calls for the use of high-quality scientific research and evidence to guide decision-making such as in manual tooth conservation, use of fluoride water treatment and fluoride toothpaste, dealing with oral diseases such as tooth decay and periodontitis, as well as systematic diseases such as osteoporosis, diabetes, celiac disease, cancer, and HIV/AIDS which could also affect the oral cavity. Other practices relevant to evidence-based dentistry include radiology of the mouth to inspect teeth deformity or oral malaises, haematology (study of blood) to avoid bleeding complications during dental surgery, cardiology (due to various severe complications arising from dental surgery with patients with heart disease), etc.

Terminology

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The term dentistry comes from dentist, which comes from French dentiste, which comes from the French and Latin words for tooth.[6] The term for the associated scientific study of teeth is odontology (from Ancient Greek: á½€δούς, romanized: odoús, lit. 'tooth') – the study of the structure, development, and abnormalities of the teeth.

Dental treatment

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Dentistry usually encompasses practices related to the oral cavity.[7] According to the World Health Organization, oral diseases are major public health problems due to their high incidence and prevalence across the globe, with the disadvantaged affected more than other socio-economic groups.[8]

The majority of dental treatments are carried out to prevent or treat the two most common oral diseases which are dental caries (tooth decay) and periodontal disease (gum disease or pyorrhea). Common treatments involve the restoration of teeth, extraction or surgical removal of teeth, scaling and root planing, endodontic root canal treatment, and cosmetic dentistry[9]

By nature of their general training, dentists, without specialization can carry out the majority of dental treatments such as restorative (fillings, crowns, bridges), prosthetic (dentures), endodontic (root canal) therapy, periodontal (gum) therapy, and extraction of teeth, as well as performing examinations, radiographs (x-rays), and diagnosis. Dentists can also prescribe medications used in the field such as antibiotics, sedatives, and any other drugs used in patient management. Depending on their licensing boards, general dentists may be required to complete additional training to perform sedation, dental implants, etc.

Irreversible enamel defects caused by an untreated celiac disease. They may be the only clue to its diagnosis, even in absence of gastrointestinal symptoms, but are often confused with fluorosis, tetracycline discoloration, acid reflux or other causes.[10][11][12] The National Institutes of Health include a dental exam in the diagnostic protocol of celiac disease.[10]

Dentists also encourage the prevention of oral diseases through proper hygiene and regular, twice or more yearly, checkups for professional cleaning and evaluation. Oral infections and inflammations may affect overall health and conditions in the oral cavity may be indicative of systemic diseases, such as osteoporosis, diabetes, celiac disease or cancer.[7][10][13][14] Many studies have also shown that gum disease is associated with an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and preterm birth. The concept that oral health can affect systemic health and disease is referred to as "oral-systemic health".

Education and licensing

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A sagittal cross-section of a molar tooth; 1: crown, 2: root, 3: enamel, 4: dentin and dentin tubules, 5: pulp chamber, 6: blood vessels and nerve, 7: periodontal ligament, 8: apex and periapical region, 9: alveolar bone
Early dental chair in Pioneer West Museum in Shamrock, Texas

John M. Harris started the world's first dental school in Bainbridge, Ohio, and helped to establish dentistry as a health profession. It opened on 21 February 1828, and today is a dental museum.[15] The first dental college, Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, opened in Baltimore, Maryland, US in 1840. The second in the United States was the Ohio College of Dental Surgery, established in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1845.[16] The Philadelphia College of Dental Surgery followed in 1852.[17] In 1907, Temple University accepted a bid to incorporate the school.

Studies show that dentists that graduated from different countries,[18] or even from different dental schools in one country,[19] may make different clinical decisions for the same clinical condition. For example, dentists that graduated from Israeli dental schools may recommend the removal of asymptomatic impacted third molar (wisdom teeth) more often than dentists that graduated from Latin American or Eastern European dental schools.[20]

In the United Kingdom, the first dental schools, the London School of Dental Surgery and the Metropolitan School of Dental Science, both in London, opened in 1859.[21] The British Dentists Act of 1878 and the 1879 Dentists Register limited the title of "dentist" and "dental surgeon" to qualified and registered practitioners.[22][23] However, others could legally describe themselves as "dental experts" or "dental consultants".[24] The practice of dentistry in the United Kingdom became fully regulated with the 1921 Dentists Act, which required the registration of anyone practising dentistry.[25] The British Dental Association, formed in 1880 with Sir John Tomes as president, played a major role in prosecuting dentists practising illegally.[22] Dentists in the United Kingdom are now regulated by the General Dental Council.

In many countries, dentists usually complete between five and eight years of post-secondary education before practising. Though not mandatory, many dentists choose to complete an internship or residency focusing on specific aspects of dental care after they have received their dental degree. In a few countries, to become a qualified dentist one must usually complete at least four years of postgraduate study;[26] Dental degrees awarded around the world include the Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) and Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) in North America (US and Canada), and the Bachelor of Dental Surgery/Baccalaureus Dentalis Chirurgiae (BDS, BDent, BChD, BDSc) in the UK and current and former British Commonwealth countries.

All dentists in the United States undergo at least three years of undergraduate studies, but nearly all complete a bachelor's degree. This schooling is followed by four years of dental school to qualify as a "Doctor of Dental Surgery" (DDS) or "Doctor of Dental Medicine" (DMD). Specialization in dentistry is available in the fields of Anesthesiology, Dental Public Health, Endodontics, Oral Radiology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral Medicine, Orofacial Pain, Pathology, Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry (Pedodontics), Periodontics, and Prosthodontics.[27]

Specialties

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A modern dental clinic in Lappeenranta, Finland

Some dentists undertake further training after their initial degree in order to specialize. Exactly which subjects are recognized by dental registration bodies varies according to location. Examples include:

  • Anesthesiology[28] – The specialty of dentistry that deals with the advanced use of general anesthesia, sedation and pain management to facilitate dental procedures.
  • Cosmetic dentistry – Focuses on improving the appearance of the mouth, teeth and smile.
  • Dental public health – The study of epidemiology and social health policies relevant to oral health.
  • Endodontics (also called endodontology) – Root canal therapy and study of diseases of the dental pulp and periapical tissues.
  • Forensic odontology – The gathering and use of dental evidence in law. This may be performed by any dentist with experience or training in this field. The function of the forensic dentist is primarily documentation and verification of identity.
  • Geriatric dentistry or geriodontics – The delivery of dental care to older adults involving the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of problems associated with normal aging and age-related diseases as part of an interdisciplinary team with other health care professionals.
  • Oral and maxillofacial pathology – The study, diagnosis, and sometimes the treatment of oral and maxillofacial related diseases.
  • Oral and maxillofacial radiology – The study and radiologic interpretation of oral and maxillofacial diseases.
  • Oral and maxillofacial surgery (also called oral surgery) – Extractions, implants, and surgery of the jaws, mouth and face.[nb 2]
  • Oral biology – Research in dental and craniofacial biology
  • Oral Implantology – The art and science of replacing extracted teeth with dental implants.
  • Oral medicine – The clinical evaluation and diagnosis of oral mucosal diseases
  • Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics – The straightening of teeth and modification of midface and mandibular growth.
  • Pediatric dentistry (also called pedodontics) – Dentistry for children
  • Periodontology (also called periodontics) – The study and treatment of diseases of the periodontium (non-surgical and surgical) as well as placement and maintenance of dental implants
  • Prosthodontics (also called prosthetic dentistry) – Dentures, bridges and the restoration of implants.
    • Some prosthodontists super-specialize in maxillofacial prosthetics, which is the discipline originally concerned with the rehabilitation of patients with congenital facial and oral defects such as cleft lip and palate or patients born with an underdeveloped ear (microtia). Today, most maxillofacial prosthodontists return function and esthetics to patients with acquired defects secondary to surgical removal of head and neck tumors, or secondary to trauma from war or motor vehicle accidents.
  • Special needs dentistry (also called special care dentistry) – Dentistry for those with developmental and acquired disabilities.
  • Sports dentistry – the branch of sports medicine dealing with prevention and treatment of dental injuries and oral diseases associated with sports and exercise.[29] The sports dentist works as an individual consultant or as a member of the Sports Medicine Team.
  • Veterinary dentistry – The field of dentistry applied to the care of animals. It is a specialty of veterinary medicine.[30][31]

History

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A wealthy patient falling over because of having a tooth extracted with such vigour by a fashionable dentist, c. 1790. History of Dentistry.
Farmer at the dentist, Johann Liss, c. 1616–17

Tooth decay was low in pre-agricultural societies, but the advent of farming society about 10,000 years ago correlated with an increase in tooth decay (cavities).[32] An infected tooth from Italy partially cleaned with flint tools, between 13,820 and 14,160 years old, represents the oldest known dentistry,[33] although a 2017 study suggests that 130,000 years ago the Neanderthals already used rudimentary dentistry tools.[34] In Italy evidence dated to the Paleolithic, around 13,000 years ago, points to bitumen used to fill a tooth[35] and in Neolithic Slovenia, 6500 years ago, beeswax was used to close a fracture in a tooth.[36] The Indus valley has yielded evidence of dentistry being practised as far back as 7000 BC, during the Stone Age.[37] The Neolithic site of Mehrgarh (now in Pakistan's south western province of Balochistan) indicates that this form of dentistry involved curing tooth related disorders with bow drills operated, perhaps, by skilled bead-crafters.[3] The reconstruction of this ancient form of dentistry showed that the methods used were reliable and effective.[38] The earliest dental filling, made of beeswax, was discovered in Slovenia and dates from 6500 years ago.[39] Dentistry was practised in prehistoric Malta, as evidenced by a skull which had a dental abscess lanced from the root of a tooth dating back to around 2500 BC.[40]

An ancient Sumerian text describes a "tooth worm" as the cause of dental caries.[41] Evidence of this belief has also been found in ancient India, Egypt, Japan, and China. The legend of the worm is also found in the Homeric Hymns,[42] and as late as the 14th century AD the surgeon Guy de Chauliac still promoted the belief that worms cause tooth decay.[43]

Recipes for the treatment of toothache, infections and loose teeth are spread throughout the Ebers Papyrus, Kahun Papyri, Brugsch Papyrus, and Hearst papyrus of Ancient Egypt.[44] The Edwin Smith Papyrus, written in the 17th century BC but which may reflect previous manuscripts from as early as 3000 BC, discusses the treatment of dislocated or fractured jaws.[44][45] In the 18th century BC, the Code of Hammurabi referenced dental extraction twice as it related to punishment.[46] Examination of the remains of some ancient Egyptians and Greco-Romans reveals early attempts at dental prosthetics.[47] However, it is possible the prosthetics were prepared after death for aesthetic reasons.[44]

Ancient Greek scholars Hippocrates and Aristotle wrote about dentistry, including the eruption pattern of teeth, treating decayed teeth and gum disease, extracting teeth with forceps, and using wires to stabilize loose teeth and fractured jaws.[48] Use of dental appliances, bridges and dentures was applied by the Etruscans in northern Italy, from as early as 700 BC, of human or other animal teeth fastened together with gold bands.[49][50][51] The Romans had likely borrowed this technique by the 5th century BC.[50][52] The Phoenicians crafted dentures during the 6th–4th century BC, fashioning them from gold wire and incorporating two ivory teeth.[53] In ancient Egypt, Hesy-Ra is the first named "dentist" (greatest of the teeth). The Egyptians bound replacement teeth together with gold wire. Roman medical writer Cornelius Celsus wrote extensively of oral diseases as well as dental treatments such as narcotic-containing emollients and astringents.[54] The earliest dental amalgams were first documented in a Tang dynasty medical text written by the Chinese physician Su Kung in 659, and appeared in Germany in 1528.[55][56]

During the Islamic Golden Age Dentistry was discussed in several famous books of medicine such as The Canon in medicine written by Avicenna and Al-Tasreef by Al-Zahrawi who is considered the greatest surgeon of the Middle Ages,[57] Avicenna said that jaw fracture should be reduced according to the occlusal guidance of the teeth; this principle is still valid in modern times. Al-Zahrawi invented over 200 surgical tools that resemble the modern kind.[58]

Historically, dental extractions have been used to treat a variety of illnesses. During the Middle Ages and throughout the 19th century, dentistry was not a profession in itself, and often dental procedures were performed by barbers or general physicians. Barbers usually limited their practice to extracting teeth which alleviated pain and associated chronic tooth infection. Instruments used for dental extractions date back several centuries. In the 14th century, Guy de Chauliac most probably invented the dental pelican[59] (resembling a pelican's beak) which was used to perform dental extractions up until the late 18th century. The pelican was replaced by the dental key[60] which, in turn, was replaced by modern forceps in the 19th century.[61]

Dental needle-nose pliers designed by Fauchard in the late 17th century to use in prosthodontics

The first book focused solely on dentistry was the "Artzney Buchlein" in 1530,[48] and the first dental textbook written in English was called "Operator for the Teeth" by Charles Allen in 1685.[23]

In the United Kingdom, there was no formal qualification for the providers of dental treatment until 1859 and it was only in 1921 that the practice of dentistry was limited to those who were professionally qualified. The Royal Commission on the National Health Service in 1979 reported that there were then more than twice as many registered dentists per 10,000 population in the UK than there were in 1921.[62]

Modern dentistry

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A microscopic device used in dental analysis, c. 1907

It was between 1650 and 1800 that the science of modern dentistry developed. The English physician Thomas Browne in his A Letter to a Friend (c. 1656 pub. 1690) made an early dental observation with characteristic humour:

The Egyptian Mummies that I have seen, have had their Mouths open, and somewhat gaping, which affordeth a good opportunity to view and observe their Teeth, wherein 'tis not easie to find any wanting or decayed: and therefore in Egypt, where one Man practised but one Operation, or the Diseases but of single Parts, it must needs be a barren Profession to confine unto that of drawing of Teeth, and little better than to have been Tooth-drawer unto King Pyrrhus, who had but two in his Head.

The French surgeon Pierre Fauchard became known as the "father of modern dentistry". Despite the limitations of the primitive surgical instruments during the late 17th and early 18th century, Fauchard was a highly skilled surgeon who made remarkable improvisations of dental instruments, often adapting tools from watchmakers, jewelers and even barbers, that he thought could be used in dentistry. He introduced dental fillings as treatment for dental cavities. He asserted that sugar-derived acids like tartaric acid were responsible for dental decay, and also suggested that tumors surrounding the teeth and in the gums could appear in the later stages of tooth decay.[63][64]

Panoramic radiograph of historic dental implants, made 1978

Fauchard was the pioneer of dental prosthesis, and he invented many methods to replace lost teeth. He suggested that substitutes could be made from carved blocks of ivory or bone. He also introduced dental braces, although they were initially made of gold, he discovered that the teeth position could be corrected as the teeth would follow the pattern of the wires. Waxed linen or silk threads were usually employed to fasten the braces. His contributions to the world of dental science consist primarily of his 1728 publication Le chirurgien dentiste or The Surgeon Dentist. The French text included "basic oral anatomy and function, dental construction, and various operative and restorative techniques, and effectively separated dentistry from the wider category of surgery".[63][64]

A modern dentist's chair

After Fauchard, the study of dentistry rapidly expanded. Two important books, Natural History of Human Teeth (1771) and Practical Treatise on the Diseases of the Teeth (1778), were published by British surgeon John Hunter. In 1763, he entered into a period of collaboration with the London-based dentist James Spence. He began to theorise about the possibility of tooth transplants from one person to another. He realised that the chances of a successful tooth transplant (initially, at least) would be improved if the donor tooth was as fresh as possible and was matched for size with the recipient. These principles are still used in the transplantation of internal organs. Hunter conducted a series of pioneering operations, in which he attempted a tooth transplant. Although the donated teeth never properly bonded with the recipients' gums, one of Hunter's patients stated that he had three which lasted for six years, a remarkable achievement for the period.[65]

Major advances in science were made in the 19th century, and dentistry evolved from a trade to a profession. The profession came under government regulation by the end of the 19th century. In the UK, the Dentist Act was passed in 1878 and the British Dental Association formed in 1879. In the same year, Francis Brodie Imlach was the first ever dentist to be elected President of the Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh), raising dentistry onto a par with clinical surgery for the first time.[66]

Hazards in modern dentistry

[edit]

Long term occupational noise exposure can contribute to permanent hearing loss, which is referred to as noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and tinnitus. Noise exposure can cause excessive stimulation of the hearing mechanism, which damages the delicate structures of the inner ear.[67] NIHL can occur when an individual is exposed to sound levels above 90 dBA according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Regulations state that the permissible noise exposure levels for individuals is 90 dBA.[68] For the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), exposure limits are set to 85 dBA. Exposures below 85 dBA are not considered to be hazardous. Time limits are placed on how long an individual can stay in an environment above 85 dBA before it causes hearing loss. OSHA places that limitation at 8 hours for 85 dBA. The exposure time becomes shorter as the dBA level increases.

Within the field of dentistry, a variety of cleaning tools are used including piezoelectric and sonic scalers, and ultrasonic scalers and cleaners.[69] While a majority of the tools do not exceed 75 dBA,[70] prolonged exposure over many years can lead to hearing loss or complaints of tinnitus.[71] Few dentists have reported using personal hearing protective devices,[72][73] which could offset any potential hearing loss or tinnitus.

Evidence-based dentistry

[edit]

There is a movement in modern dentistry to place a greater emphasis on high-quality scientific evidence in decision-making. Evidence-based dentistry (EBD) uses current scientific evidence to guide decisions. It is an approach to oral health that requires the application and examination of relevant scientific data related to the patient's oral and medical health. Along with the dentist's professional skill and expertise, EBD allows dentists to stay up to date on the latest procedures and patients to receive improved treatment. A new paradigm for medical education designed to incorporate current research into education and practice was developed to help practitioners provide the best care for their patients.[74] It was first introduced by Gordon Guyatt and the Evidence-Based Medicine Working Group at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada in the 1990s. It is part of the larger movement toward evidence-based medicine and other evidence-based practices, especially since a major part of dentistry involves dealing with oral and systemic diseases. Other issues relevant to the dental field in terms of evidence-based research and evidence-based practice include population oral health, dental clinical practice, tooth morphology etc.

A dental chair at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry

Ethical and medicolegal issues

[edit]

Dentistry is unique in that it requires dental students to have competence-based clinical skills that can only be acquired through supervised specialized laboratory training and direct patient care.[75] This necessitates the need for a scientific and professional basis of care with a foundation of extensive research-based education.[76] According to some experts, the accreditation of dental schools can enhance the quality and professionalism of dental education.[77][78]

See also

[edit]
  • Dental aerosol
  • Dental instrument
  • Dental public health
  • Domestic healthcare:
    • Dentistry in ancient Rome
    • Dentistry in Canada
    • Dentistry in the Philippines
    • Dentistry in Israel
    • Dentistry in the United Kingdom
    • Dentistry in the United States
  • Eco-friendly dentistry
  • Geriatric dentistry
  • List of dental organizations
  • Pediatric dentistry
  • Sustainable dentistry
  • Veterinary dentistry
 

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Whether Dentists are referred to as "Doctor" is subject to geographic variation. For example, they are called "Doctor" in the US. In the UK, dentists have traditionally been referred to as "Mister" as they identified themselves with barber surgeons more than physicians (as do surgeons in the UK, see Surgeon#Titles). However more UK dentists now refer to themselves as "Doctor", although this was considered to be potentially misleading by the British public in a single report (see Costley and Fawcett 2010).
  2. ^ The scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery is variable. In some countries, both a medical and dental degree is required for training, and the scope includes head and neck oncology and craniofacial deformity.

References

[edit]
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[edit]

 

Orthodontics
Connecting the arch-wire on brackets with wire
Occupation
Names Orthodontist
Occupation type
Specialty
Activity sectors
Dentistry
Description
Education required
Dental degree, specialty training
Fields of
employment
Private practices, hospitals

Orthodontics[a][b] is a dentistry specialty that addresses the diagnosis, prevention, management, and correction of mal-positioned teeth and jaws, as well as misaligned bite patterns.[2] It may also address the modification of facial growth, known as dentofacial orthopedics.

Abnormal alignment of the teeth and jaws is very common. The approximate worldwide prevalence of malocclusion was as high as 56%.[3] However, conclusive scientific evidence for the health benefits of orthodontic treatment is lacking, although patients with completed treatment have reported a higher quality of life than that of untreated patients undergoing orthodontic treatment.[4][5] The main reason for the prevalence of these malocclusions is diets with less fresh fruit and vegetables and overall softer foods in childhood, causing smaller jaws with less room for the teeth to erupt.[6] Treatment may require several months to a few years and entails using dental braces and other appliances to gradually adjust tooth position and jaw alignment. In cases where the malocclusion is severe, jaw surgery may be incorporated into the treatment plan. Treatment usually begins before a person reaches adulthood, insofar as pre-adult bones may be adjusted more easily before adulthood.

History

[edit]

Though it was rare until the Industrial Revolution,[7] there is evidence of the issue of overcrowded, irregular, and protruding teeth afflicting individuals. Evidence from Greek and Etruscan materials suggests that attempts to treat this disorder date back to 1000 BC, showcasing primitive yet impressively well-crafted orthodontic appliances. In the 18th and 19th centuries, a range of devices for the "regulation" of teeth were described by various dentistry authors who occasionally put them into practice.[8] As a modern science, orthodontics dates back to the mid-1800s.[9] The field's influential contributors include Norman William Kingsley[9] (1829–1913) and Edward Angle[10] (1855–1930). Angle created the first basic system for classifying malocclusions, a system that remains in use today.[9]

Beginning in the mid-1800s, Norman Kingsley published Oral Deformities, which is now credited as one of the first works to begin systematically documenting orthodontics. Being a major presence in American dentistry during the latter half of the 19th century, not only was Kingsley one of the early users of extraoral force to correct protruding teeth, but he was also one of the pioneers for treating cleft palates and associated issues. During the era of orthodontics under Kingsley and his colleagues, the treatment was focused on straightening teeth and creating facial harmony. Ignoring occlusal relationships, it was typical to remove teeth for a variety of dental issues, such as malalignment or overcrowding. The concept of an intact dentition was not widely appreciated in those days, making bite correlations seem irrelevant.[8]

In the late 1800s, the concept of occlusion was essential for creating reliable prosthetic replacement teeth. This idea was further refined and ultimately applied in various ways when dealing with healthy dental structures as well. As these concepts of prosthetic occlusion progressed, it became an invaluable tool for dentistry.[8]

It was in 1890 that the work and impact of Dr. Edwards H. Angle began to be felt, with his contribution to modern orthodontics particularly noteworthy. Initially focused on prosthodontics, he taught in Pennsylvania and Minnesota before directing his attention towards dental occlusion and the treatments needed to maintain it as a normal condition, thus becoming known as the "father of modern orthodontics".[8]

By the beginning of the 20th century, orthodontics had become more than just the straightening of crooked teeth. The concept of ideal occlusion, as postulated by Angle and incorporated into a classification system, enabled a shift towards treating malocclusion, which is any deviation from normal occlusion.[8] Having a full set of teeth on both arches was highly sought after in orthodontic treatment due to the need for exact relationships between them. Extraction as an orthodontic procedure was heavily opposed by Angle and those who followed him. As occlusion became the key priority, facial proportions and aesthetics were neglected. To achieve ideal occlusals without using external forces, Angle postulated that having perfect occlusion was the best way to gain optimum facial aesthetics.[8]

With the passing of time, it became quite evident that even an exceptional occlusion was not suitable when considered from an aesthetic point of view. Not only were there issues related to aesthetics, but it usually proved impossible to keep a precise occlusal relationship achieved by forcing teeth together over extended durations with the use of robust elastics, something Angle and his students had previously suggested. Charles Tweed[11] in America and Raymond Begg[12] in Australia (who both studied under Angle) re-introduced dentistry extraction into orthodontics during the 1940s and 1950s so they could improve facial esthetics while also ensuring better stability concerning occlusal relationships.[13]

In the postwar period, cephalometric radiography[14] started to be used by orthodontists for measuring changes in tooth and jaw position caused by growth and treatment.[15] The x-rays showed that many Class II and III malocclusions were due to improper jaw relations as opposed to misaligned teeth. It became evident that orthodontic therapy could adjust mandibular development, leading to the formation of functional jaw orthopedics in Europe and extraoral force measures in the US. These days, both functional appliances and extraoral devices are applied around the globe with the aim of amending growth patterns and forms. Consequently, pursuing true, or at least improved, jaw relationships had become the main objective of treatment by the mid-20th century.[8]

At the beginning of the twentieth century, orthodontics was in need of an upgrade. The American Journal of Orthodontics was created for this purpose in 1915; before it, there were no scientific objectives to follow, nor any precise classification system and brackets that lacked features.[16]

Until the mid-1970s, braces were made by wrapping metal around each tooth.[9] With advancements in adhesives, it became possible to instead bond metal brackets to the teeth.[9]

In 1972, Lawrence F. Andrews gave an insightful definition of the ideal occlusion in permanent teeth. This has had meaningful effects on orthodontic treatments that are administered regularly,[16] and these are: 1. Correct interarchal relationships 2. Correct crown angulation (tip) 3. Correct crown inclination (torque) 4. No rotations 5. Tight contact points 6. Flat Curve of Spee (0.0–2.5 mm),[17] and based on these principles, he discovered a treatment system called the straight-wire appliance system, or the pre-adjusted edgewise system. Introduced in 1976, Larry Andrews' pre-adjusted edgewise appliance, more commonly known as the straight wire appliance, has since revolutionized fixed orthodontic treatment. The advantage of the design lies in its bracket and archwire combination, which requires only minimal wire bending from the orthodontist or clinician. It's aptly named after this feature: the angle of the slot and thickness of the bracket base ultimately determine where each tooth is situated with little need for extra manipulation.[18][19][20]

Prior to the invention of a straight wire appliance, orthodontists were utilizing a non-programmed standard edgewise fixed appliance system, or Begg's pin and tube system. Both of these systems employed identical brackets for each tooth and necessitated the bending of an archwire in three planes for locating teeth in their desired positions, with these bends dictating ultimate placements.[18]

Evolution of the current orthodontic appliances

[edit]

When it comes to orthodontic appliances, they are divided into two types: removable and fixed. Removable appliances can be taken on and off by the patient as required. On the other hand, fixed appliances cannot be taken off as they remain bonded to the teeth during treatment.

Fixed appliances

[edit]

Fixed orthodontic appliances are predominantly derived from the edgewise appliance approach, which typically begins with round wires before transitioning to rectangular archwires for improving tooth alignment. These rectangluar wires promote precision in the positioning of teeth following initial treatment. In contrast to the Begg appliance, which was based solely on round wires and auxiliary springs, the Tip-Edge system emerged in the early 21st century. This innovative technology allowed for the utilization of rectangular archwires to precisely control tooth movement during the finishing stages after initial treatment with round wires. Thus, almost all modern fixed appliances can be considered variations on this edgewise appliance system.

Early 20th-century orthodontist Edward Angle made a major contribution to the world of dentistry. He created four distinct appliance systems that have been used as the basis for many orthodontic treatments today, barring a few exceptions. They are E-arch, pin and tube, ribbon arch, and edgewise systems.

E-arch

[edit]

Edward H. Angle made a significant contribution to the dental field when he released the 7th edition of his book in 1907, which outlined his theories and detailed his technique. This approach was founded upon the iconic "E-Arch" or 'the-arch' shape as well as inter-maxillary elastics.[21] This device was different from any other appliance of its period as it featured a rigid framework to which teeth could be tied effectively in order to recreate an arch form that followed pre-defined dimensions.[22] Molars were fitted with braces, and a powerful labial archwire was positioned around the arch. The wire ended in a thread, and to move it forward, an adjustable nut was used, which allowed for an increase in circumference. By ligation, each individual tooth was attached to this expansive archwire.[8]

Pin and tube appliance

[edit]

Due to its limited range of motion, Angle was unable to achieve precise tooth positioning with an E-arch. In order to bypass this issue, he started using bands on other teeth combined with a vertical tube for each individual tooth. These tubes held a soldered pin, which could be repositioned at each appointment in order to move them in place.[8] Dubbed the "bone-growing appliance", this contraption was theorized to encourage healthier bone growth due to its potential for transferring force directly to the roots.[23] However, implementing it proved troublesome in reality.

Ribbon arch

[edit]

Realizing that the pin and tube appliance was not easy to control, Angle developed a better option, the ribbon arch, which was much simpler to use. Most of its components were already prepared by the manufacturer, so it was significantly easier to manage than before. In order to attach the ribbon arch, the occlusal area of the bracket was opened. Brackets were only added to eight incisors and mandibular canines, as it would be impossible to insert the arch into both horizontal molar tubes and the vertical brackets of adjacent premolars. This lack of understanding posed a considerable challenge to dental professionals; they were unable to make corrections to an excessive Spee curve in bicuspid teeth.[24] Despite the complexity of the situation, it was necessary for practitioners to find a resolution. Unparalleled to its counterparts, what made the ribbon arch instantly popular was that its archwire had remarkable spring qualities and could be utilized to accurately align teeth that were misaligned. However, a major drawback of this device was its inability to effectively control root position since it did not have enough resilience to generate the torque movements required for setting roots in their new place.[8]

Edgewise appliance

[edit]

In an effort to rectify the issues with the ribbon arch, Angle shifted the orientation of its slot from vertical, instead making it horizontal. In addition, he swapped out the wire and replaced it with a precious metal wire that was rotated by 90 degrees in relation—henceforth known as Edgewise.[25] Following extensive trials, it was concluded that dimensions of 22 × 28 mils were optimal for obtaining excellent control over crown and root positioning across all three planes of space.[26] After debuting in 1928, this appliance quickly became one of the mainstays for multibanded fixed therapy, although ribbon arches continued to be utilized for another decade or so beyond this point too.[8]

Labiolingual

[edit]

Prior to Angle, the idea of fitting attachments on individual teeth had not been thought of, and in his lifetime, his concern for precisely positioning each tooth was not highly appraised. In addition to using fingersprings for repositioning teeth with a range of removable devices, two main appliance systems were very popular in the early part of the 20th century. Labiolingual appliances use bands on the first molars joined with heavy lingual and labial archwires affixed with soldered fingersprings to shift single teeth.

Twin wire

[edit]

Utilizing bands around both incisors and molars, a twin-wire appliance was designed to provide alignment between these teeth. Constructed with two 10-mil steel archwires, its delicate features were safeguarded by lengthy tubes stretching from molars towards canines. Despite its efforts, it had limited capacity for movement without further modifications, rendering it obsolete in modern orthodontic practice.

Begg's Appliance

[edit]

Returning to Australia in the 1920s, the renowned orthodontist, Raymond Begg, applied his knowledge of ribbon arch appliances, which he had learned from the Angle School. On top of this, Begg recognized that extracting teeth was sometimes vital for successful outcomes and sought to modify the ribbon arch appliance to provide more control when dealing with root positioning. In the late 1930s, Begg developed his adaptation of the appliance, which took three forms. Firstly, a high-strength 16-mil round stainless steel wire replaced the original precious metal ribbon arch. Secondly, he kept the same ribbon arch bracket but inverted it so that it pointed toward the gums instead of away from them. Lastly, auxiliary springs were added to control root movement. This resulted in what would come to be known as the Begg Appliance. With this design, friction was decreased since contact between wire and bracket was minimal, and binding was minimized due to tipping and uprighting being used for anchorage control, which lessened contact angles between wires and corners of the bracket.

Tip-Edge System

[edit]

Begg's influence is still seen in modern appliances, such as Tip-Edge brackets. This type of bracket incorporates a rectangular slot cutaway on one side to allow for crown tipping with no incisal deflection of an archwire, allowing teeth to be tipped during space closure and then uprighted through auxiliary springs or even a rectangular wire for torque purposes in finishing. At the initial stages of treatment, small-diameter steel archwires should be used when working with Tip-Edge brackets.

Contemporary edgewise systems

[edit]

Throughout time, there has been a shift in which appliances are favored by dentists. In particular, during the 1960s, when it was introduced, the Begg appliance gained wide popularity due to its efficiency compared to edgewise appliances of that era; it could produce the same results with less investment on the dentist's part. Nevertheless, since then, there have been advances in technology and sophistication in edgewise appliances, which led to the opposite conclusion: nowadays, edgewise appliances are more efficient than the Begg appliance, thus explaining why it is commonly used.

Automatic rotational control

[edit]

At the beginning, Angle attached eyelets to the edges of archwires so that they could be held with ligatures and help manage rotations. Now, however, no extra ligature is needed due to either twin brackets or single brackets that have added wings touching underneath the wire (Lewis or Lang brackets). Both types of brackets simplify the process of obtaining moments that control movements along a particular plane of space.

Alteration in bracket slot dimensions

[edit]

In modern dentistry, two types of edgewise appliances exist: the 18- and 22-slot varieties. While these appliances are used differently, the introduction of a 20-slot device with more precise features has been considered but not pursued yet.[27]

Straight-wire bracket prescriptions

[edit]

Rather than rely on the same bracket for all teeth, L.F. Andrews found a way to make different brackets for each tooth in the 1980s, thanks to the increased convenience of bonding.[28] This adjustment enabled him to avoid having multiple bends in archwires that would have been needed to make up for variations in tooth anatomy. Ultimately, this led to what was termed a "straight-wire appliance" system – an edgewise appliance that greatly enhanced its efficiency.[29] The modern edgewise appliance has slightly different construction than the original one. Instead of relying on faciolingual bends to accommodate variations among teeth, each bracket has a correspondingly varying base thickness depending on the tooth it is intended for. However, due to individual differences between teeth, this does not completely eliminate the need for compensating bends.[30] Accurately placing the roots of many teeth requires angling brackets in relation to the long axis of the tooth. Traditionally, this mesiodistal root positioning necessitated using second-order, or tip, bends along the archwire. However, angling the bracket or bracket slot eliminates this need for bends.

Given the discrepancies in inclination of facial surfaces across individual teeth, placing a twist, otherwise known as third-order or torque bends, into segments of each rectangular archwire was initially required with the edgewise appliance. These bends were necessary for all patients and wires, not just to avoid any unintentional movement of suitably placed teeth or when moving roots facially or lingually. Angulation of either brackets or slots can minimize the need for second-order or tip bends on archwires. Contemporary edgewise appliances come with brackets designed to adjust for any facial inclinations, thereby eliminating or reducing any third-order bends. These brackets already have angulation and torque values built in so that each rectangluar archwire can be contorted to form a custom fit without inadvertently shifting any correctly positioned teeth. Without bracket angulation and torque, second-order or tip bends would still be required on each patient's archwire.

Methods

[edit]
Upper and lower jaw functional expanders

A typical treatment for incorrectly positioned teeth (malocclusion) takes from one to two years, with braces being adjusted every four to 10 weeks by orthodontists,[31] while university-trained dental specialists are versed in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of dental and facial irregularities. Orthodontists offer a wide range of treatment options to straighten crooked teeth, fix irregular bites, and align the jaws correctly.[32] There are many ways to adjust malocclusion. In growing patients, there are more options to treat skeletal discrepancies, either by promoting or restricting growth using functional appliances, orthodontic headgear, or a reverse pull facemask. Most orthodontic work begins in the early permanent dentition stage before skeletal growth is completed. If skeletal growth has completed, jaw surgery is an option. Sometimes teeth are extracted to aid the orthodontic treatment (teeth are extracted in about half of all the cases, most commonly the premolars).[33]

Orthodontic therapy may include the use of fixed or removable appliances. Most orthodontic therapy is delivered using appliances that are fixed in place,[34] for example, braces that are adhesively bonded to the teeth. Fixed appliances may provide greater mechanical control of the teeth; optimal treatment outcomes are improved by using fixed appliances.

Fixed appliances may be used, for example, to rotate teeth if they do not fit the arch shape of the other teeth in the mouth, to adjust multiple teeth to different places, to change the tooth angle of teeth, or to change the position of a tooth's root. This treatment course is not preferred where a patient has poor oral hygiene, as decalcification, tooth decay, or other complications may result. If a patient is unmotivated (insofar as treatment takes several months and requires commitment to oral hygiene), or if malocclusions are mild.

The biology of tooth movement and how advances in gene therapy and molecular biology technology may shape the future of orthodontic treatment.[35]

Braces

[edit]
Dental braces

Braces are usually placed on the front side of the teeth, but they may also be placed on the side facing the tongue (called lingual braces). Brackets made out of stainless steel or porcelain are bonded to the center of the teeth using an adhesive. Wires are placed in a slot in the brackets, which allows for controlled movement in all three dimensions.

Apart from wires, forces can be applied using elastic bands,[36] and springs may be used to push teeth apart or to close a gap. Several teeth may be tied together with ligatures, and different kinds of hooks can be placed to allow for connecting an elastic band.[37][36]

Clear aligners are an alternative to braces, but insufficient evidence exists to determine their effectiveness.[38]

Treatment duration

[edit]

The time required for braces varies from person to person as it depends on the severity of the problem, the amount of room available, the distance the teeth must travel, the health of the teeth, gums, and supporting bone, and how closely the patient follows instructions. On average, however, once the braces are put on, they usually remain in place for one to three years. After braces are removed, most patients will need to wear a retainer all the time for the first six months, then only during sleep for many years.[39]

Headgear

[edit]

Orthodontic headgear, sometimes referred to as an "extra-oral appliance", is a treatment approach that requires the patient to have a device strapped onto their head to help correct malocclusion—typically used when the teeth do not align properly. Headgear is most often used along with braces or other orthodontic appliances. While braces correct the position of teeth, orthodontic headgear—which, as the name suggests, is worn on or strapped onto the patient's head—is most often added to orthodontic treatment to help alter the alignment of the jaw, although there are some situations in which such an appliance can help move teeth, particularly molars.

Full orthodontic headgear with headcap, fitting straps, facebow, and elastics

Whatever the purpose, orthodontic headgear works by exerting tension on the braces via hooks, a facebow, coils, elastic bands, metal orthodontic bands, and other attachable appliances directly into the patient's mouth. It is most effective for children and teenagers because their jaws are still developing and can be easily manipulated. (If an adult is fitted with headgear, it is usually to help correct the position of teeth that have shifted after other teeth have been extracted.) Thus, headgear is typically used to treat a number of jaw alignment or bite problems, such as overbite and underbite.[40]

Palatal expansion

[edit]

Palatal expansion can be best achieved using a fixed tissue-borne appliance. Removable appliances can push teeth outward but are less effective at maxillary sutural expansion. The effects of a removable expander may look the same as they push teeth outward, but they should not be confused with actually expanding the palate. Proper palate expansion can create more space for teeth as well as improve both oral and nasal airflow.[41]

Jaw surgery

[edit]

Jaw surgery may be required to fix severe malocclusions.[42] The bone is broken during surgery and stabilized with titanium (or bioresorbable) plates and screws to allow for healing to take place.[43] After surgery, regular orthodontic treatment is used to move the teeth into their final position.[44]

During treatment

[edit]

To reduce pain during the orthodontic treatment, low-level laser therapy (LLLT), vibratory devices, chewing adjuncts, brainwave music, or cognitive behavioral therapy can be used. However, the supporting evidence is of low quality, and the results are inconclusive.[45]

Post treatment

[edit]

After orthodontic treatment has been completed, there is a tendency for teeth to return, or relapse, back to their pre-treatment positions. Over 50% of patients have some reversion to pre-treatment positions within 10 years following treatment.[46] To prevent relapse, the majority of patients will be offered a retainer once treatment has been completed and will benefit from wearing their retainers. Retainers can be either fixed or removable.

Removable retainers

[edit]

Removable retainers are made from clear plastic, and they are custom-fitted for the patient's mouth. It has a tight fit and holds all of the teeth in position. There are many types of brands for clear retainers, including Zendura Retainer, Essix Retainer, and Vivera Retainer.[47] A Hawley retainer is also a removable orthodontic appliance made from a combination of plastic and metal that is custom-molded to fit the patient's mouth. Removable retainers will be worn for different periods of time, depending on the patient's need to stabilize the dentition.[48]

Fixed retainers

[edit]

Fixed retainers are a simple wire fixed to the tongue-facing part of the incisors using dental adhesive and can be specifically useful to prevent rotation in incisors. Other types of fixed retainers can include labial or lingual braces, with brackets fixed to the teeth.[48]

Clear aligners

[edit]

Clear aligners are another form of orthodontics commonly used today, involving removable plastic trays. There has been controversy about the effectiveness of aligners such as Invisalign or Byte; some consider them to be faster and more freeing than the alternatives.[49]

Training

[edit]

There are several specialty areas in dentistry, but the specialty of orthodontics was the first to be recognized within dentistry.[50] Specifically, the American Dental Association recognized orthodontics as a specialty in the 1950s.[50] Each country has its own system for training and registering orthodontic specialists.

Australia

[edit]

In Australia, to obtain an accredited three-year full-time university degree in orthodontics, one will need to be a qualified dentist (complete an AHPRA-registered general dental degree) with a minimum of two years of clinical experience. There are several universities in Australia that offer orthodontic programs: the University of Adelaide, the University of Melbourne, the University of Sydney, the University of Queensland, the University of Western Australia, and the University of Otago.[51] Orthodontic courses are accredited by the Australian Dental Council and reviewed by the Australian Society of Orthodontists (ASO). Prospective applicants should obtain information from the relevant institution before applying for admission.[52] After completing a degree in orthodontics, specialists are required to be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) in order to practice.[53][54]

Bangladesh

[edit]

Dhaka Dental College in Bangladesh is one of the many schools recognized by the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BM&DC) that offer post-graduation orthodontic courses.[55][56] Before applying to any post-graduation training courses, an applicant must have completed the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) examination from any dental college.[55] After application, the applicant must take an admissions test held by the specific college.[55] If successful, selected candidates undergo training for six months.[57]

Canada

[edit]

In Canada, obtaining a dental degree, such as a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Medical Dentistry (DMD), would be required before being accepted by a school for orthodontic training.[58] Currently, there are 10 schools in the country offering the orthodontic specialty.[58] Candidates should contact the individual school directly to obtain the most recent pre-requisites before entry.[58] The Canadian Dental Association expects orthodontists to complete at least two years of post-doctoral, specialty training in orthodontics in an accredited program after graduating from their dental degree.

United States

[edit]

Similar to Canada, there are several colleges and universities in the United States that offer orthodontic programs. Every school has a different enrollment process, but every applicant is required to have graduated with a DDS or DMD from an accredited dental school.[59][60] Entrance into an accredited orthodontics program is extremely competitive and begins by passing a national or state licensing exam.[61]

The program generally lasts for two to three years, and by the final year, graduates are required to complete the written American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) exam.[61] This exam is also broken down into two components: a written exam and a clinical exam.[61] The written exam is a comprehensive exam that tests for the applicant's knowledge of basic sciences and clinical concepts.[61] The clinical exam, however, consists of a Board Case Oral Examination (BCOE), a Case Report Examination (CRE), and a Case Report Oral Examination (CROE).[61] Once certified, certification must then be renewed every ten years.[61] Orthodontic programs can award a Master of Science degree, a Doctor of Science degree, or a Doctor of Philosophy degree, depending on the school and individual research requirements.[62]

United Kingdom

[edit]

Throughout the United Kingdom, there are several Orthodontic Specialty Training Registrar posts available.[63] The program is full-time for three years, and upon completion, trainees graduate with a degree at the Masters or Doctorate level.[63] Training may take place within hospital departments that are linked to recognized dental schools.[63] Obtaining a Certificate of Completion of Specialty Training (CCST) allows an orthodontic specialist to be registered under the General Dental Council (GDC).[63] An orthodontic specialist can provide care within a primary care setting, but to work at a hospital as an orthodontic consultant, higher-level training is further required as a post-CCST trainee.[63] To work within a university setting as an academic consultant, completing research toward obtaining a Ph.D. is also required.[63]

See also

[edit]
  • Orthodontic technology
  • Orthodontic indices
  • List of orthodontic functional appliances
  • Molar distalization
  • Mouth breathing
  • Obligate nasal breathing

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Also referred to as orthodontia
  2. ^ "Orthodontics" comes from the Greek orthos ('correct, straight') and -odont- ('tooth').[1]

References

[edit]
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  22. ^ Philippe J (March 2008). "How, why, and when was the edgewise appliance born?". Journal of Dentofacial Anomalies and Orthodontics. 11 (1): 68–74. doi:10.1051/odfen/20084210113. ISSN 2110-5715.
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  25. ^ Angle EH (1928). "The latest and best in Orthodontic Mechanism". Dental Cosmos. 70: 1143–1156.
  26. ^ Brodie AG (1956). "Orthodontic Concepts Prior to the Death of Edward Angle". The Angle Orthodontist. 26: 144–155.
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  28. ^ Andrews LF. Straight Wire: The Concept and Appliance. San Diego: LA Wells; 1989.
  29. ^ Andrews LF (1989). Straight wire: the concept and appliance. Lisa Schirmer. San Diego, CA. ISBN 978-0-9616256-0-3. OCLC 22808470.cite book: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  30. ^ Roth RH (November 1976). "Five year clinical evaluation of the Andrews straight-wire appliance". Journal of Clinical Orthodontics. 10 (11): 836–50. PMID 1069735.
  31. ^ Fleming PS, Fedorowicz Z, Johal A, El-Angbawi A, Pandis N, et al. (The Cochrane Collaboration) (June 2015). "Surgical adjunctive procedures for accelerating orthodontic treatment". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2015 (6). John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.: CD010572. doi:10.1002/14651858.cd010572. PMC 6464946. PMID 26123284.
  32. ^ "What is an Orthodontist?". Orthodontics Australia. 5 December 2019.
  33. ^ Dardengo C, Fernandes LQ, Capelli Júnior J (February 2016). "Frequency of orthodontic extraction". Dental Press Journal of Orthodontics. 21 (1): 54–59. doi:10.1590/2177-6709.21.1.054-059.oar. PMC 4816586. PMID 27007762.
  34. ^ "Child Dental Health Survey 2013, England, Wales and Northern Ireland". digital.nhs.uk. Retrieved 2018-03-08.
  35. ^ Atsawasuwan P, Shirazi S (2019-04-10). "Advances in Orthodontic Tooth Movement: Gene Therapy and Molecular Biology Aspect". In Aslan BI, Uzuner FD (eds.). Current Approaches in Orthodontics. IntechOpen. doi:10.5772/intechopen.80287. ISBN 978-1-78985-181-6. Retrieved 2021-05-16.
  36. ^ a b "Elastics For Braces: Rubber Bands in Orthodontics". Orthodontics Australia. 2019-12-15. Retrieved 2020-12-13.
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  38. ^ Rossini G, Parrini S, Castroflorio T, Deregibus A, Debernardi CL (September 2015). "Efficacy of clear aligners in controlling orthodontic tooth movement: a systematic review". The Angle Orthodontist. 85 (5): 881–889. doi:10.2319/061614-436.1. PMC 8610387. PMID 25412265. S2CID 10787375. The quality level of the studies was not sufficient to draw any evidence-based conclusions.
  39. ^ "Dental Braces and Retainers".
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  41. ^ "Palate Expander". Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  42. ^ "Jaw Surgery". Modern Orthodontic Clinic in Sammamish & Bellevue. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
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  44. ^ "British Orthodontic Society > Public & Patients > Your Jaw Surgery". www.bos.org.uk. Retrieved 2019-08-28.
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  46. ^ Yu Y, Sun J, Lai W, Wu T, Koshy S, Shi Z (September 2013). "Interventions for managing relapse of the lower front teeth after orthodontic treatment". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2014 (9): CD008734. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD008734.pub2. PMC 10793711. PMID 24014170.
  47. ^ "Clear Retainers | Maintain Your Hard to Get Smile with Clear Retainers". Retrieved 2020-01-13.
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  50. ^ a b Christensen GJ (March 2002). "Orthodontics and the general practitioner". Journal of the American Dental Association. 133 (3): 369–371. doi:10.14219/jada.archive.2002.0178. PMID 11934193.
  51. ^ "How to become an orthodontist". Orthodontics Australia. 26 September 2017.
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  54. ^ "Medical Specialties and Specialty Fields". Medical Board of Australia.
  55. ^ a b c "Dhaka Dental College". Dhaka Dental College. Archived from the original on October 28, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  56. ^ "List of recognized medical and dental colleges". Bangladesh Medical & Dental Council (BM&DC). Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  57. ^ "Orthodontic Facts - Canadian Association of Orthodontists". Canadian Association of Orthodontists. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  58. ^ a b c "FAQ: I Want To Be An Orthodontist - Canadian Association of Orthodontists". Canadian Association of Orthodontists. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  59. ^ "RCDC - Eligibility". The Royal College of Dentists of Canada. Archived from the original on 29 October 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  60. ^ "Accredited Orthodontic Programs - AAO Members". www.aaoinfo.org.
  61. ^ a b c d e f "About Board Certification". American Board of Orthodontists. Archived from the original on 16 February 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  62. ^ "Accredited Orthodontic Programs | AAO Members". American Association of Orthodontists. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  63. ^ a b c d e f "Orthodontic Specialty Training in the UK" (PDF). British Orthodontic Society. Retrieved 28 October 2017.

 

 

Tooth
A chimpanzee displaying his teeth
Details
Identifiers
Latin dens
MeSH D014070
FMA 12516
Anatomical terminology
[edit on Wikidata]

A tooth (pl.: teeth) is a hard, calcified structure found in the jaws (or mouths) of many vertebrates and used to break down food. Some animals, particularly carnivores and omnivores, also use teeth to help with capturing or wounding prey, tearing food, for defensive purposes, to intimidate other animals often including their own, or to carry prey or their young. The roots of teeth are covered by gums. Teeth are not made of bone, but rather of multiple tissues of varying density and hardness that originate from the outermost embryonic germ layer, the ectoderm.

The general structure of teeth is similar across the vertebrates, although there is considerable variation in their form and position. The teeth of mammals have deep roots, and this pattern is also found in some fish, and in crocodilians. In most teleost fish, however, the teeth are attached to the outer surface of the bone, while in lizards they are attached to the inner surface of the jaw by one side. In cartilaginous fish, such as sharks, the teeth are attached by tough ligaments to the hoops of cartilage that form the jaw.[1]

Monophyodonts are animals that develop only one set of teeth, while diphyodonts grow an early set of deciduous teeth and a later set of permanent or "adult" teeth. Polyphyodonts grow many sets of teeth. For example, sharks, grow a new set of teeth every two weeks to replace worn teeth. Most extant mammals including humans are diphyodonts, but there are exceptions including elephants, kangaroos, and manatees, all of which are polyphyodonts.

Rodent incisors grow and wear away continually through gnawing, which helps maintain relatively constant length. The industry of the beaver is due in part to this qualification. Some rodents, such as voles and guinea pigs (but not mice), as well as lagomorpha (rabbits, hares and pikas), have continuously growing molars in addition to incisors.[2][3] Also, tusks (in tusked mammals) grow almost throughout life.[4]

Teeth are not always attached to the jaw, as they are in mammals. In many reptiles and fish, teeth are attached to the palate or to the floor of the mouth, forming additional rows inside those on the jaws proper. Some teleosts even have teeth in the pharynx. While not true teeth in the usual sense, the dermal denticles of sharks are almost identical in structure and are likely to have the same evolutionary origin. Indeed, teeth appear to have first evolved in sharks, and are not found in the more primitive jawless fish – while lampreys do have tooth-like structures on the tongue, these are in fact, composed of keratin, not of dentine or enamel, and bear no relationship to true teeth.[1] Though "modern" teeth-like structures with dentine and enamel have been found in late conodonts, they are now supposed to have evolved independently of later vertebrates' teeth.[5][6]

Living amphibians typically have small teeth, or none at all, since they commonly feed only on soft foods. In reptiles, teeth are generally simple and conical in shape, although there is some variation between species, most notably the venom-injecting fangs of snakes. The pattern of incisors, canines, premolars and molars is found only in mammals, and to varying extents, in their evolutionary ancestors. The numbers of these types of teeth vary greatly between species; zoologists use a standardised dental formula to describe the precise pattern in any given group.[1]

Etymology

[edit]

The word tooth comes from Proto-Germanic *tanþs, derived from the Proto-Indo-European *h₁dent-, which was composed of the root *h₁ed- 'to eat' plus the active participle suffix *-nt, therefore literally meaning 'that which eats'.[7]

The irregular plural form teeth is the result of Germanic umlaut whereby vowels immediately preceding a high vocalic in the following syllable were raised. As the nominative plural ending of the Proto-Germanic consonant stems (to which *tanþs belonged) was *-iz, the root vowel in the plural form *tanþiz (changed by this point to *tÄ…Ì„þi via unrelated phonological processes) was raised to /œÃƒâ€¹Ã‚/, and later unrounded to /eː/, resulting in the tōþ/tÄ“þ alternation attested from Old English. Cf. also Old English bōc/bēċ 'book/books' and 'mÅ«s/mȳs' 'mouse/mice', from Proto-Germanic *bōks/bōkiz and *mÅ«s/mÅ«siz respectively.

Cognate with Latin dÄ“ns, Greek á½€δούς (odous), and Sanskrit dát.

Origin

[edit]

Teeth are assumed to have evolved either from ectoderm denticles (scales, much like those on the skin of sharks) that folded and integrated into the mouth (called the "outside–in" theory), or from endoderm pharyngeal teeth (primarily formed in the pharynx of jawless vertebrates) (the "inside–out" theory). In addition, there is another theory stating that neural crest gene regulatory network, and neural crest-derived ectomesenchyme are the key to generate teeth (with any epithelium, either ectoderm or endoderm).[4][8]

The genes governing tooth development in mammals are homologous to those involved in the development of fish scales.[9] Study of a tooth plate of a fossil of the extinct fish Romundina stellina showed that the teeth and scales were made of the same tissues, also found in mammal teeth, lending support to the theory that teeth evolved as a modification of scales.[10]

Mammals

[edit]

Teeth are among the most distinctive (and long-lasting) features of mammal species. Paleontologists use teeth to identify fossil species and determine their relationships. The shape of the animal's teeth are related to its diet. For example, plant matter is hard to digest, so herbivores have many molars for chewing and grinding. Carnivores, on the other hand, have canine teeth to kill prey and to tear meat.

Mammals, in general, are diphyodont, meaning that they develop two sets of teeth. In humans, the first set (the "baby", "milk", "primary" or "deciduous" set) normally starts to appear at about six months of age, although some babies are born with one or more visible teeth, known as neonatal teeth. Normal tooth eruption at about six months is known as teething and can be painful. Kangaroos, elephants, and manatees are unusual among mammals because they are polyphyodonts.

Aardvark

[edit]

In aardvarks, teeth lack enamel and have many pulp tubules, hence the name of the order Tubulidentata.[11]

Canines

[edit]

In dogs, the teeth are less likely than humans to form dental cavities because of the very high pH of dog saliva, which prevents enamel from demineralizing.[12] Sometimes called cuspids, these teeth are shaped like points (cusps) and are used for tearing and grasping food.[13]

Cetaceans

[edit]

Like human teeth, whale teeth have polyp-like protrusions located on the root surface of the tooth. These polyps are made of cementum in both species, but in human teeth, the protrusions are located on the outside of the root, while in whales the nodule is located on the inside of the pulp chamber. While the roots of human teeth are made of cementum on the outer surface, whales have cementum on the entire surface of the tooth with a very small layer of enamel at the tip. This small enamel layer is only seen in older whales where the cementum has been worn away to show the underlying enamel.[14]

The toothed whale is a parvorder of the cetaceans characterized by having teeth. The teeth differ considerably among the species. They may be numerous, with some dolphins bearing over 100 teeth in their jaws. On the other hand, the narwhals have a giant unicorn-like tusk, which is a tooth containing millions of sensory pathways and used for sensing during feeding, navigation, and mating. It is the most neurologically complex tooth known. Beaked whales are almost toothless, with only bizarre teeth found in males. These teeth may be used for feeding but also for demonstrating aggression and showmanship.

Primates

[edit]

In humans (and most other primates), there are usually 20 primary (also "baby" or "milk") teeth, and later up to 32 permanent teeth. Four of these 32 may be third molars or wisdom teeth, although these are not present in all adults, and may be removed surgically later in life.[15]

Among primary teeth, 10 of them are usually found in the maxilla (i.e. upper jaw) and the other 10 in the mandible (i.e. lower jaw). Among permanent teeth, 16 are found in the maxilla and the other 16 in the mandible. Most of the teeth have uniquely distinguishing features.

Horse

[edit]

An adult horse has between 36 and 44 teeth. The enamel and dentin layers of horse teeth are intertwined.[16] All horses have 12 premolars, 12 molars, and 12 incisors.[17] Generally, all male equines also have four canine teeth (called tushes) between the molars and incisors. However, few female horses (less than 28%) have canines, and those that do usually have only one or two, which many times are only partially erupted.[18] A few horses have one to four wolf teeth, which are vestigial premolars, with most of those having only one or two. They are equally common in male and female horses and much more likely to be on the upper jaw. If present these can cause problems as they can interfere with the horse's bit contact. Therefore, wolf teeth are commonly removed.[17]

Horse teeth can be used to estimate the animal's age. Between birth and five years, age can be closely estimated by observing the eruption pattern on milk teeth and then permanent teeth. By age five, all permanent teeth have usually erupted. The horse is then said to have a "full" mouth. After the age of five, age can only be conjectured by studying the wear patterns on the incisors, shape, the angle at which the incisors meet, and other factors. The wear of teeth may also be affected by diet, natural abnormalities, and cribbing. Two horses of the same age may have different wear patterns.

A horse's incisors, premolars, and molars, once fully developed, continue to erupt as the grinding surface is worn down through chewing. A young adult horse will have teeth, which are 110–130 mm (4.5–5 inches) long, with the majority of the crown remaining below the gumline in the dental socket. The rest of the tooth will slowly emerge from the jaw, erupting about 3 mm (18 in) each year, as the horse ages. When the animal reaches old age, the crowns of the teeth are very short and the teeth are often lost altogether. Very old horses, if lacking molars, may need to have their fodder ground up and soaked in water to create a soft mush for them to eat in order to obtain adequate nutrition.

Proboscideans

[edit]
Section through the ivory tusk of a mammoth

Elephants' tusks are specialized incisors for digging food up and fighting. Some elephant teeth are similar to those in manatees, and elephants are believed to have undergone an aquatic phase in their evolution.

At birth, elephants have a total of 28 molar plate-like grinding teeth not including the tusks. These are organized into four sets of seven successively larger teeth which the elephant will slowly wear through during its lifetime of chewing rough plant material. Only four teeth are used for chewing at a given time, and as each tooth wears out, another tooth moves forward to take its place in a process similar to a conveyor belt. The last and largest of these teeth usually becomes exposed when the animal is around 40 years of age, and will often last for an additional 20 years. When the last of these teeth has fallen out, regardless of the elephant's age, the animal will no longer be able to chew food and will die of starvation.[19][20]

Rabbit

[edit]

Rabbits and other lagomorphs usually shed their deciduous teeth before (or very shortly after) their birth, and are usually born with their permanent teeth.[21] The teeth of rabbits complement their diet, which consists of a wide range of vegetation. Since many of the foods are abrasive enough to cause attrition, rabbit teeth grow continuously throughout life.[22] Rabbits have a total of six incisors, three upper premolars, three upper molars, two lower premolars, and two lower molars on each side. There are no canines. Dental formula is 2.0.3.31.0.2.3 = 28. Three to four millimeters of the tooth is worn away by incisors every week, whereas the cheek teeth require a month to wear away the same amount.[23]

The incisors and cheek teeth of rabbits are called aradicular hypsodont teeth. This is sometimes referred to as an elodent dentition. These teeth grow or erupt continuously. The growth or eruption is held in balance by dental abrasion from chewing a diet high in fiber.

Buccal view of top incisor from Rattus rattus. Top incisor outlined in yellow. Molars circled in blue.
Buccal view of the lower incisor from the right dentary of a Rattus rattus
Lingual view of the lower incisor from the right dentary of a Rattus rattus
Midsagittal view of top incisor from Rattus rattus. Top incisor outlined in yellow. Molars circled in blue.

Rodents

[edit]

Rodents have upper and lower hypselodont incisors that can continuously grow enamel throughout its life without having properly formed roots.[24] These teeth are also known as aradicular teeth, and unlike humans whose ameloblasts die after tooth development, rodents continually produce enamel, they must wear down their teeth by gnawing on various materials.[25] Enamel and dentin are produced by the enamel organ, and growth is dependent on the presence of stem cells, cellular amplification, and cellular maturation structures in the odontogenic region.[26] Rodent incisors are used for cutting wood, biting through the skin of fruit, or for defense. This allows for the rate of wear and tooth growth to be at equilibrium.[24] The microstructure of rodent incisor enamel has shown to be useful in studying the phylogeny and systematics of rodents because of its independent evolution from the other dental traits. The enamel on rodent incisors are composed of two layers: the inner portio interna (PI) with Hunter-Schreger bands (HSB) and an outer portio externa (PE) with radial enamel (RE).[27] It usually involves the differential regulation of the epithelial stem cell niche in the tooth of two rodent species, such as guinea pigs.[28][29]

Lingual view of top incisor from Rattus rattus. Top incisor outlined in yellow. Molars circled in blue.

The teeth have enamel on the outside and exposed dentin on the inside, so they self-sharpen during gnawing. On the other hand, continually growing molars are found in some rodent species, such as the sibling vole and the guinea pig.[28][29] There is variation in the dentition of the rodents, but generally, rodents lack canines and premolars, and have a space between their incisors and molars, called the diastema region.

Manatee

[edit]

Manatees are polyphyodont with mandibular molars developing separately from the jaw and are encased in a bony shell separated by soft tissue.[30][31]

Walrus

[edit]

Walrus tusks are canine teeth that grow continuously throughout life.[32]

Fish

[edit]
Teeth of a great white shark

Fish, such as sharks, may go through many teeth in their lifetime. The replacement of multiple teeth is known as polyphyodontia.

A class of prehistoric shark are called cladodonts for their strange forked teeth.

Unlike the continuous shedding of functional teeth seen in modern sharks,[33][34] the majority of stem chondrichthyan lineages retained all tooth generations developed throughout the life of the animal.[35] This replacement mechanism is exemplified by the tooth whorl-based dentitions of acanthodians,[36] which include the oldest known toothed vertebrate, Qianodus duplicis[37].

Amphibians

[edit]

All amphibians have pedicellate teeth, which are modified to be flexible due to connective tissue and uncalcified dentine that separates the crown from the base of the tooth.[38]

Most amphibians exhibit teeth that have a slight attachment to the jaw or acrodont teeth. Acrodont teeth exhibit limited connection to the dentary and have little enervation.[39] This is ideal for organisms who mostly use their teeth for grasping, but not for crushing and allows for rapid regeneration of teeth at a low energy cost. Teeth are usually lost in the course of feeding if the prey is struggling. Additionally, amphibians that undergo a metamorphosis develop bicuspid shaped teeth.[40]

Reptiles

[edit]

The teeth of reptiles are replaced constantly throughout their lives. Crocodilian juveniles replace teeth with larger ones at a rate as high as one new tooth per socket every month. Once mature, tooth replacement rates can slow to two years and even longer. Overall, crocodilians may use 3,000 teeth from birth to death. New teeth are created within old teeth.[41]

Birds

[edit]

A skull of Ichthyornis discovered in 2014 suggests that the beak of birds may have evolved from teeth to allow chicks to escape their shells earlier, and thus avoid predators and also to penetrate protective covers such as hard earth to access underlying food.[42][43]

Invertebrates

[edit]
The European medicinal leech has three jaws with numerous sharp teeth which function like little saws for incising a host.

True teeth are unique to vertebrates,[44] although many invertebrates have analogous structures often referred to as teeth. The organisms with the simplest genome bearing such tooth-like structures are perhaps the parasitic worms of the family Ancylostomatidae.[45] For example, the hookworm Necator americanus has two dorsal and two ventral cutting plates or teeth around the anterior margin of the buccal capsule. It also has a pair of subdorsal and a pair of subventral teeth located close to the rear.[46]

Historically, the European medicinal leech, another invertebrate parasite, has been used in medicine to remove blood from patients.[47] They have three jaws (tripartite) that resemble saws in both appearance and function, and on them are about 100 sharp teeth used to incise the host. The incision leaves a mark that is an inverted Y inside of a circle. After piercing the skin and injecting anticoagulants (hirudin) and anaesthetics, they suck out blood, consuming up to ten times their body weight in a single meal.[48]

In some species of Bryozoa, the first part of the stomach forms a muscular gizzard lined with chitinous teeth that crush armoured prey such as diatoms. Wave-like peristaltic contractions then move the food through the stomach for digestion.[49]

The limpet rasps algae from rocks using teeth with the strongest known tensile strength of any biological material.

Molluscs have a structure called a radula, which bears a ribbon of chitinous teeth. However, these teeth are histologically and developmentally different from vertebrate teeth and are unlikely to be homologous. For example, vertebrate teeth develop from a neural crest mesenchyme-derived dental papilla, and the neural crest is specific to vertebrates, as are tissues such as enamel.[44]

The radula is used by molluscs for feeding and is sometimes compared rather inaccurately to a tongue. It is a minutely toothed, chitinous ribbon, typically used for scraping or cutting food before the food enters the oesophagus. The radula is unique to molluscs, and is found in every class of mollusc apart from bivalves.

Within the gastropods, the radula is used in feeding by both herbivorous and carnivorous snails and slugs. The arrangement of teeth (also known as denticles) on the radula ribbon varies considerably from one group to another as shown in the diagram on the left.

Predatory marine snails such as the Naticidae use the radula plus an acidic secretion to bore through the shell of other molluscs. Other predatory marine snails, such as the Conidae, use a specialized radula tooth as a poisoned harpoon. Predatory pulmonate land slugs, such as the ghost slug, use elongated razor-sharp teeth on the radula to seize and devour earthworms. Predatory cephalopods, such as squid, use the radula for cutting prey.

In most of the more ancient lineages of gastropods, the radula is used to graze by scraping diatoms and other microscopic algae off rock surfaces and other substrates. Limpets scrape algae from rocks using radula equipped with exceptionally hard rasping teeth.[50] These teeth have the strongest known tensile strength of any biological material, outperforming spider silk.[50] The mineral protein of the limpet teeth can withstand a tensile stress of 4.9 GPa, compared to 4 GPa of spider silk and 0.5 GPa of human teeth.[51]

 

Fossilization and taphonomy

[edit]

Because teeth are very resistant, often preserved when bones are not,[52] and reflect the diet of the host organism, they are very valuable to archaeologists and palaeontologists.[53] Early fish such as the thelodonts had scales composed of dentine and an enamel-like compound, suggesting that the origin of teeth was from scales which were retained in the mouth. Fish as early as the late Cambrian had dentine in their exoskeletons, which may have functioned in defense or for sensing their environments.[54] Dentine can be as hard as the rest of teeth and is composed of collagen fibres, reinforced with hydroxyapatite.[54]

Though teeth are very resistant, they also can be brittle and highly susceptible to cracking.[55] However, cracking of the tooth can be used as a diagnostic tool for predicting bite force. Additionally, enamel fractures can also give valuable insight into the diet and behaviour of archaeological and fossil samples.

Decalcification removes the enamel from teeth and leaves only the organic interior intact, which comprises dentine and cementine.[56] Enamel is quickly decalcified in acids,[57] perhaps by dissolution by plant acids or via diagenetic solutions, or in the stomachs of vertebrate predators.[56] Enamel can be lost by abrasion or spalling,[56] and is lost before dentine or bone are destroyed by the fossilisation process.[57] In such a case, the 'skeleton' of the teeth would consist of the dentine, with a hollow pulp cavity.[56] The organic part of dentine, conversely, is destroyed by alkalis.[57]

See also

[edit]
  • Animal tooth development
  • Dragon's teeth (mythology)

References

[edit]
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Frequently Asked Questions

An underbite is a dental condition where the lower teeth protrude in front of the upper teeth. Early identification is crucial because it can affect a childs speech, chewing, and overall facial development. Early intervention can lead to more effective and less invasive treatment.
Common signs include lower teeth that are positioned in front of the upper teeth, difficulty in biting or chewing, speech problems, and a noticeable misalignment when the child closes their mouth.
Parents should start monitoring for signs of an underbite as soon as the child’s baby teeth begin to come in, typically around 6 months of age. A visit to the orthodontist by age 7 is recommended to assess any potential issues.
Untreated underbites can lead to jaw pain, difficulty in chewing or biting, speech impediments, increased risk of tooth wear and decay, and aesthetic concerns that may affect a childs self-esteem.
Treatment options may include orthodontic appliances like braces or aligners, dental or orthopedic devices such as headgear or a palatal expander, and in severe cases, surgical intervention. The choice of treatment depends on the severity of the underbite and the childs age.