DEPARTMENT OF ORTHODONTICS
The Department of Orthodontics is a specialty of dentistry that deals with the proper placement of teeth on the dental bones (alveolar crests) and diagnosing and treating facial irregularities. The word orthodontics consists of the Greek words “ortho” and “odons” meaning straight teeth. The purpose of orthodontics; to prevent the occurrence of orthodontic anomalies, treat the anomaly that has occurred, provide a good chewing and speaking function, a pleasing smile, and then the permanence (retention) of this condition. Orthodontics is concerned with correcting the curvature of the teeth and deals with the treatment of closure disorders of the lower and upper jaws, cleft lip-palate, chewing function disorders, and jaw joint problems. It carries out multidisciplinary studies with other branches of dentistry for these treatment solutions. It regulates the jaw-face aesthetics and function by correcting the relations between the jaws, with orthognathic surgical methods which cannot be corrected orthodontically in adults. It contributes to preparing the mouth for prosthetic procedures to treat missing teeth or to replace lost teeth. It takes part in the solution of periodontal problems caused by the position of the teeth. It applies early preventive and preventive treatments for closure and space problems caused by early loss of primary teeth in children or for the correction of dental disorders due to bad habits. It contributes invention of the devices in order to improve treatments to relieve the chewing functions of people with joint disorders. Collaboration with chest diseases specialists performs intraoral device applications to patients with sleep disorders to improve their night-sleeping comfort. Today, using current technologies, orthodontics can provide treatments to patients by three-dimensional (3D) examining the position of lower and upper jaws to the skull base and each other without age limit. In order to develop these treatment methods, computer-aided 3D programs and imaging methods are used. Using 3D intraoral scanning methods and 3D printers, personalized aesthetic and comfortable treatment devices can be made. In addition to the aesthetic smile that patients gain, orthodontic treatments contribute to the solution of psychosocial problems caused by speech disorders, breathing problems, and aesthetic concerns. Besides providing a healthier mouth and a more beautiful appearance, Orthodontics helps teeth to remain intact for a lifetime. For this purpose, after active orthodontic treatment, measures are taken to prevent the teeth from returning to their former places, called retention treatment, and standard controls of the patients are provided.
Who is an Orthodontist?
An orthodontist is a dentist who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of dental and facial irregularities.
Dentists trained in this specialty must have a broad knowledge of physics to move the teeth, artistic vision for an aesthetic approach, and a sensitive hand ability to apply these designs on the teeth.
In order to become an orthodontist, it is necessary to graduate from the faculty of dentistry which will be followed by a four-year specialization program of Orthodontics bypassing the Specialization Training in Dentistry Exam (DUS) conducted by ÖSYM. Only dentists who have completed this specialty training can use the title of the orthodontist. In addition, orthodontics education can be taken with doctoral programs opened in Health Sciences Institutes in Universities with Faculty of Dentistry.
