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General information about Orthodontist Specialist

What is orthodontics and what does an orthodontic specialist do?

Orthodontics is a specialty field of dentistry that deals with the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of irregularities in the position of the teeth and in the growth and development of the jaws and face. In practice, an orthodontic specialist doesn't only look at a single tooth that grew in crooked, but examines the whole system: how the teeth are arranged in the arch, how the upper and lower jaws meet during closing and chewing (the bite), and how the set of teeth fits into the proportions and structure of the patient's face.

That is why straightening teeth goes far beyond an aesthetic improvement of the smile. In many cases the goal of treatment is medical and functional: correcting bite problems that make chewing or speaking difficult, preventing uneven wear of the teeth, making room for an impacted tooth that did not erupt properly, or preparing the mouth for other complex treatments such as dental implants, oral rehabilitation or jaw surgery.

The training path of an orthodontic specialist

In Israel, orthodontics is an official specialty field supervised by the Ministry of Health. After completing six years of dental school and receiving a general dentist license, the specialist goes through a full-time academic and clinical residency program lasting three to three and a half years at a recognized institution. At the end of the residency, they must pass the government exams of the Scientific Council of the Israel Dental Association, and only then are they granted a specialist license in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics.

How are teeth actually moved?

Teeth are moved by applying gentle, controlled and continuous force, which causes the jawbone around the root to remodel and allows the tooth to move gradually into its correct position. There are two main methods for carrying out this process:

Fixed appliance (braces): the familiar, long-established method, based on small brackets (metal or clear ceramic squares) bonded to the front of the tooth and connected to each other by a dedicated metal wire. The wire applies gentle, constant pressure that guides each tooth into its exact place.
Clear aligners (clear trays): an advanced technology based on a series of clear trays custom-made using a computerized scan. The patient switches to a new aligner every week or two, with each tray moving the teeth by a further fraction of a millimeter until the final result. The aligners are almost invisible and can be removed while eating and brushing teeth. The choice between the methods depends on the complexity of the bite, the patient's age and how cooperative they are.

When should you see an orthodontist?

When the teeth are crowded, rotated, protruding or when there are large gaps between them.
When there is a mismatch in the way the upper and lower teeth meet (such as a deep bite, open bite or underbite).
Following a referral from a general dentist or a pediatric dentist who has identified an irregularity in tooth eruption.
As part of a multidisciplinary plan to prepare the jaw for a dental implant, a bridge or orthognathic surgery.
For children – it is recommended to come for a first assessment around age 7 to 8, when the teeth begin to change, even if everything looks fine from the outside, in order to detect problems in jaw growth or in the eruption of the permanent teeth early on.

What's the difference between a general dentist and an orthodontic specialist?

Many patients are surprised to discover that under Israeli law, any licensed dentist may perform orthodontic treatment, even without formal specialization in the field (and sometimes after only short courses). By contrast, an orthodontic specialist is a dentist who, after completing general dental studies, was accepted into a full-time academic and clinical residency program lasting three to three and a half years, passed the government exams of the Scientific Council, and holds a specialist license from the Ministry of Health.

The gap in training and experience becomes critical when the problem goes beyond aesthetic straightening of crowded teeth. An orthodontic specialist is trained to diagnose and treat deeper problems related to the bite (the way the jaws meet), to guiding bone growth in children and teens, to managing impacted teeth and to preventing damage to the roots of the teeth and the gums during movement. Since the title "orthodontic specialist" is reserved by law for holders of a specialist license only, it is recommended to check the Ministry of Health's database of license holders before starting treatment and enter the doctor's name to make sure an official specialty in orthodontics appears next to it.

Frequently asked questions about Orthodontist Specialist

At what age should a child first see an orthodontist?

The Israel Orthodontic Society recommends an initial examination around age 8 to 9. At this developmental stage, the mouth has a combination of baby teeth and permanent teeth, and the jaws are in an active growth process. This point in time allows the specialist to identify hidden problems early in the bite, in tooth eruption or in the direction of jaw growth, which often aren't visible to parents at a routine glance.

An examination at a young age doesn't mean starting treatment right away. Only a minority of cases require early intervention at these ages – for example, in cases of a reversed (cross) bite, excessive protrusion of the front teeth that exposes them to injury, or prolonged habits such as thumb-sucking. In most cases, the orthodontist will simply monitor growth and the change of teeth periodically, and determine the best timing to start treatment in the future if needed. And if the child is already older? No problem at all – it's never too late to come for an examination.

Can teeth be straightened at an older age as well?

Absolutely. Contrary to the common belief that orthodontic treatment is reserved for children and teens, teeth can be moved and straightened at almost any age. What determines whether treatment can begin is not chronological age, but the health of the teeth, the gums and the jawbone that supports them. The main difference in adults is that the bone is denser and growth has already ended, so tooth movement is somewhat slower and requires gentle, controlled forces, which are sometimes delivered with aesthetic, almost invisible appliances such as clear aligners or clear brackets.

Because of these characteristics, gum health is of decisive importance in orthodontic treatment for adults even before starting. People with gum disease or gum recession can also have their teeth straightened (and sometimes straightening even improves the condition of the gums and makes cleaning easier), but a necessary condition is that the disease is treated and fully stable, with no active inflammation. Moving teeth in the presence of gum inflammation can accelerate bone loss and worsen the damage, so treatment is carried out in close cooperation with a gum specialist (periodontist) and includes ongoing monitoring and frequent cleaning by a dental hygienist throughout the process.

Clear aligners or regular braces: which is better, and are there other methods?

There is no single method that is best for everyone, and the choice between a fixed appliance (braces) and clear aligners depends on the complexity of the bite, the type of movement required and the patient's lifestyle. According to data from the Israel Orthodontic Society, about a quarter of all orthodontic treatments in Israel are carried out with clear aligners, and among adults their share already exceeds 50%. Clear aligners are very effective in mild to moderate cases, and offer a clear advantage in maintaining oral hygiene and gum health since they are removed while eating and brushing, and hardly cause injuries or emergencies involving brackets that have come loose.

On the other hand, in severe cases or complex tooth movements – especially rotating round teeth and moving teeth vertically – fixed braces have a clear biomechanical advantage and deliver more precise and predictable results.

The success of aligner treatment depends entirely on self-discipline (wearing them about 22 hours a day), whereas fixed braces work continuously regardless of the patient. There are also significant differences in plastic quality and imaging accuracy between the different aligner manufacturers.

Other advanced methods and technologies for straightening teeth

Hidden inner braces (lingual orthodontics): brackets bonded to the inner side of the teeth (facing the tongue). This method combines the precision and mechanical control of fixed braces with complete aesthetics, since the appliance is completely hidden from view.
Clear brackets and self-ligating brackets: external braces made of tooth-colored ceramic or crystal that blend in with the look of the smile, or advanced brackets with a built-in clip that holds the wire without the need for elastics (which reduces friction and makes cleaning easier).
Orthodontic mini-implants (TADs) and combined (hybrid) treatments: tiny, temporary screws inserted into the jawbone that serve as a stable anchor. Combining mini-implants or fixed auxiliary appliances with clear aligners now allows orthodontists to overcome some of the limitations of aligners and perform complex movements without the need for headgear or extractions.
Biological acceleration of tooth movement (PAOO): a minor surgical-orthodontic method (performed together with a gum specialist) that stimulates bone activity and makes it possible to shorten the duration of orthodontic treatment in adults by about 60% to 70%.