Looking for some topic to blog today, it happened that today it is my son 17th visit to an Orthodontist. What Orthodontist? I myself is not aware of this term until I brought my son to see an orthodontist end of 2005 to put braces to straighten some of his crooked teeth.

Prior to putting the braces, the orthodontist will first have to do a check up and determine whether any tooth need to be extracted before braces can be fix. After putting the braces, he has be go back monthly for checking and tightening of the braces. Sometimes, rubberband will be added to fasten the alignment of the crooked teeth.

It is very uncomfortable and painful during the 1st 1-2weeks while getting use to it and it is quite hard to take in solid foods. After each monthly visit, it will also be uncomfortable for 1-2 days.

What is the cost? Is is not cheap? In my son case, RM3,200.00 for the braces only. We paid RM800.oo and monthly RM100.00 for the next 24 months. Modern days kids are very fortunate. My time, we go to government hospital to extract teeth to save $$$. Where got so fortunate to think of braces.?

Why get braces? Braces can help you look better and fell better. In one website, it is said that people with braces live longer and lower risk of cadiovascular disease.

Orthodontics is a specific area of dentistry that specializes in diagnosing, preventing and treating dental and facial issues, the most common, "straightening of crooked teeth". In layman's terms, the area of dentistry that deals with a "bad bite" also known in the dental profession as "malocclusion".

What is the different between Orthodontist and Dentist.?
Many people ask what the main difference is between orthodontists and dentists. Less than 10% of dentists can actually call themselves an orthodontist. After a dentist graduates from dental school they can further there education by specializing in a branch of dentistry such as orthdontic by taking a 2 - 3 year residency program taking advanced orthodontic courses approved by Dental Association . They will learn specialized skills relating to tooth movement and balancing facial irregularities. A dentist can only call themselves an orthodontist after completing this required advanced specialized education.