Orthodontic treatment can improve your dental health and change your facial appearance for the better, and it can boost your self-esteem. It can provide you with the chance to participate in improving the way you look. Patients often feel more self-confident even before treatment is completed.

As you see yourself looking better, you may find yourself feeling better and enjoying a better quality of life. With an attractive smile, you can face your career and your personal relationships with confidence.

At the same time, some young children may greatly benefit from early detection of problem bites, and, in some cases, early treatment of those problems. We can help guide tooth and jaw development as a child grows and adult teeth come in. Early treatment may prevent more serious problems from developing, and may make treatment at a later age shorter or less complicated. For these reasons, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that all children get an orthodontic screening no later than age 7.

"It's a miracle,", she says. "Today, I don't mind walking up to people and saying, 'Hi, how are you doing?' And I look them straight in the eye!"

Arthur, a lawyer in his mid 40's, realized that he wasn't as effective with his clients as he would have wished. "I'm a public person, and people were looking at my mouth. Once, I heard some comments made behind my back." After braces, that's not an obstacle anymore.  "It doesn't bother me if people don't notice my teeth. That means they're normal."

It takes many years to become an orthodontist and the educational requirements are demanding.

An orthodontist must complete college requirements before starting a three- to five-year graduate program at a dental school accredited by the American Dental Association (ADA). After dental school, at least two or three academic years of advanced specialty education in an ADA-accredited orthodontic program are required to be an orthodontist. The program includes advanced education in biomedical, behavioral and basic sciences. The orthodontic student learns the complex skills required to manage tooth movement (orthodontics) and guide facial development (dentofacial orthopedics).

Only dentists who have successfully completed these advanced specialty education programs may call themselves orthodontists.

Dr. Gittess is Certified as a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontists, an orthodontist with special recognition by other orthodontists.