Finding a professional to treat issues in your bones and joints requires knowing your options. This guide explains what orthopedics is and what it is used for.

Types of Orthopedic Practices

Orthopedic doctors specialize in a variety of areas to treat patients with issues in the musculoskeletal system including tendons, ligaments, bones, muscles, and joints. Specialist areas include:

• Hip and knee replacement
• Foot and ankle surgery
• Sports medicine
• Spine surgery
• Pediatric orthopedics



Orthopedic surgeons perform everything from non-surgical procedures to more invasive surgeries. From bone grafts to spinal fusion, they are trained to provide relief wherever the body is in need of it. More specifically, dentofacial orthopedics specializes in correcting musculature irregularities through braces or other appliances.

What Is Dentofacial Orthopedics?

This particular subset of orthopedics deals specifically with improving the structure of the jaw and facial bones. You're likely familiar with orthodontics which straightens teeth, but orthopedics focuses more on the root cause of misaligned teeth: the bones that hold your teeth in place.

Dentofacial orthopedics tends to come before orthodontic treatment for children as jaw growth and development are at the forefront of this modality.

An improperly growing jaw can lead to alignment issues, which can further lead to problems like headaches, teeth damage, dizziness, muscle soreness, teeth grinding, and more. What orthopedics can do in the dentistry space is monitor and fix alignment issues before they worsen.

Dental Intervention

Much like any subset of orthopedics, dentofacial orthopedics has a range of treatment options available to fix the jaw. Many of these options are physical appliances that get recommended by your dentist. Examples of certain treatment options used include:

• Expanders for both palate and jaw
• Activators
• Bite blocks
• Headgear

Once jaw positioning has been corrected appropriately, patients can then get moved on to braces or retainers. Braces focus on aligning and correcting the positions of the teeth as opposed to the jaw itself.

When to Start?

Correcting an adult's jaw position is more difficult than it is for children. Therefore, dentists recommend treatment for misaligned bites or jaw positions at an earlier age.

Realigning bone structure is easier in children as their jaws are not fully formed and baby teeth are still in the process of falling out. Conversely, adults with fully formed jaws will have a more difficult time when it comes to adjusting the jaw bone and realigning proper bite positioning.

However, from childhood to adulthood, treatment is available at every stage. Treatment is helpful for anyone who qualifies. Including those who want to avoid damage to their teeth or avoid difficulties with speech.

When to See an Orthopedic Doctor

Due to the wide-ranging nature of specialties and treatments, how do you know when it might be time to see an orthopedic specialist? Our bodies go through a lot of daily wear and tear without us even realizing it. Simple actions such as remaining sedentary throughout the day, poor posture, and repetitive movements can all negatively impact our musculoskeletal system.

A range of signs and symptoms exist as signals that your body might be in need of professional help. Symptoms include:

• Feelings of chronic pain
• Decreased range of motion
• Significant joint or bone pain
• Persistent swelling of joints
• Difficulty swallowing or eating



If you find yourself having trouble with any of the above, it might be time to visit a specialist.

Performing Orthopedic Surgeries

When non-surgical treatments aren't available, you'll likely be recommended for a surgical operation depending on the issue at hand. Surgical treatments run the gamut from full joint replacement to spinal fusion and beyond. For adults in need of dentofacial orthopedic treatment, surgery is usually necessary in order to realign the positioning of the jaw.

For muscles or ligaments that are severely damaged, surgery might entail soft tissue repair. For injured joints or bones, treatment might include the placement of hardware within the body such as braces or palatal expanders. In addition, necessary surgery might include the cutting and repositioning of bones to help properly align facial structure.

Nonsurgical Options

Before surgery gets recommended, some orthopedic doctors will recommend nonsurgical treatment options if applicable.

Options might include basic exercises or stretches to help with the overall mobility of the jaw. Furthermore, proper positioning of the tongue and nasal breathing will be focused on in order to relieve tension and pain in the jaw. Jaw tension leads to things like headaches, neck pain, and incorrect posture. Nonsurgical treatment options will work to relieve pain and bring structure and balance back to the jaw.

Dentofacial Orthopedics for the Whole Family

We're all human and irregularities are bound to pop up in just about every body. From fixing underbites to alleviating jaw pain, orthopedics is one medical modality that truly does it all.

If you're looking for a pediatric dentist in Tijuana Mexico, you're in luck. At Dentiland, our dentists understand the importance of overall oral health. Our orthopedic treatments look at facial development and growth. We're here to prevent any oral problems from developing or worsening over time.

Making a dentofacial orthopedist appointment doesn't have to be difficult. In fact, you can contact us today by filling out our online form or calling our offices for more information.