You may have noticed that Dr. Crump specializes in "Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics". While most people are familiar with the term orthodontics, many are confused by the "dentofacial orthopedics" part of the title. We can explain!

Specializing in dentofacial orthopedics is a special distinction earned by orthodontists who have received their orthodontic specialization in an accredited orthodontic department, and have completed a two to three year orthodontic residency program.

Treatment timing.

While orthodontics entails the management of tooth movement, dentofacial orthopedics involves the guidance of facial growth and development, which occurs largely during childhood. Children are often the best candidates for dentofacial orthodontic therapy. Therefore, it is important to screen children around 9 years of age to determine if early (Phase I) treatment is needed to take advantage of their jaw growth. 9-11 years of age is a period of significant growth in most children and it is important to take advantage of that growth in children who have certain types of bite problems:

• Lower jaw and teeth too far behind the upper teeth when biting together (overbite).
• Upper back teeth too narrow compared to the lower teeth when biting together (crossbite).
• Upper front teeth behind lower front teeth when biting together (underbite).

Dr. Crump can monitor your child's jaw growth to determine if treatment is indicated and the most effective time for that dentofacial treatment. If treatment is indicated while there is a mixture of primary (baby) teeth and permanent teeth, it is known as Phase I treatment.The goal of Phase I treatment is to make sure the upper and lower jaws are properly aligned.

Dentofacial orthopedics is the process of "normalizing" the growth and positionof a child’s jaws and minimizing any imbalances of the face and jaws.

Orthodontic appliances are used for this treatment:

• Limited number of braces on certain permanent teeth are sometimes used.
• Specialized orthopedic appliances like the MARA appliance that Dr. Crump uses frequently for overbite correction.
• Palatal expanders for crossbite correction.

This process often involves a two-phase treatment and often begins when the patient is around 7 or 8 years old.

Dentofacial Orthopedics for Children

Children are often the best candidates for receiving dentofacial orthopedic therapy. Beginning at a young age, your orthodontist will examine and monitor your child’s growth to determine when treatment starting treatment will be most effective. If your child begins orthodontic treatment before all adult teeth have erupted, it is known as phase-one treatment. During phase-one treatment, your orthodontist will use treatments designed to correct your child’s jaw growth and make sure that the jaw bone is properly aligned before beginning the second phase of treatment, which usually involves braces to straighten the teeth.

Dentofacial Orthopedics for Adults

Dentofacial orthopedics is also used to treat adults; however, this process may involve surgery. In children, the jaw bones are still forming and have not completed their growth, making it easier for orthodontists to control bone growth and tooth movement. Adults, however, are no longer growing, and their jaw bones have completed their growth, making it more of a challenge to adjust the bite and move teeth into proper alignment, if the facial bones are misaligned.

Orthodontic treatment in combination with jaw surgery may be needed to adjust the jaw bone and establish the proper bite alignmment. With dentofacial orthopedics, adults can still achieve the beautiful smile they’ve always wanted.

Because Dr. Crump is skilled in dentofacial orthopedics, he is able to diagnose any misalignments of your child's teeth, jaws and facial structure.To learn more about dentofacial orthopedics, and to find out if this type of treatment is right for you or your child, please contact our office and schedule an orthodontic consultation with Dr. Crump.

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