Also called: Braces
Important: This page is general information, not medical advice. It does not recommend or prescribe any treatment. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.
About Orthodontia
Some people have naturally straight teeth that fit together. But if you have problems with your bite or the spacing of your teeth, you may need orthodontic care. Orthodontia is the branch of dentistry that deals with abnormalities of the teeth and jaw.
Orthodontic care involves the use of devices, such as braces, to:
- Straighten teeth
- Correct problems with bite
- Close gaps between teeth
- Align lips and teeth properly
Most people who receive orthodontic care are kids, but adults get braces, too. In young children, orthodontic treatment may guide proper jaw growth. This can help permanent teeth to come in properly. Straight permanent teeth can help prevent tooth problems later on.
It sits within Mouth and Teeth.
The lead U.S. institute for this subject is the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.
When to speak to someone. Reading about a topic cannot tell you whether it applies to you. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if symptoms are severe, sudden, getting worse, or simply not going away — and seek emergency care immediately for chest pain, breathing difficulty, sudden weakness or confusion, or a serious allergic reaction.
Research on Orthodontia
203 studies areregistered for this condition on ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's public registry. A selection is below — the links go straight to the registry entry, not to a summary of ours.
What a registered study does and does not mean. Registration means a study exists and has been declared publicly. It says nothing about whether the treatment being tested works, is safe, or is available to you. Many studies find no benefit — that is what research is for. Never seek out an experimental treatment on the strength of a registry entry alone.
Research currently under way
- Comparison of Orthodontic Molar Protraction With and Without Adjunctive SurgeryUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham
- Comparison of Patient-Reported Comfort Between Two Clear Aligner Trimming-Line Designs: A Split-Mouth StudyGeorge Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology of Targu Mures
- Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD) and Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) for Treatment of Adult Patients Diagnosed With Moderate Obstructive Sleep ApneaUniversity of Copenhagen
- Effects of PBM on Fixed-appliance Orthodontic PatientsThe University of Hong Kong
- Inflammation in Clear Aligners With and Without AttachmentsUniversity of Nebraska
- Bilogical Assesment During Intrusion of Lower IncisorsAl-Azhar University
Research already completed
- Silver Nanoparticle-Coated Orthodontic Brackets for Preventing Enamel DemineralizationAjman University
- Orthodontic Varnish Microbiology StudyUniversity of California, Los Angeles
- Evaluating Methods of Dental Health Instructions on the Oral Health Indices of 12-18-year-old Patients With Fixed OrthodonticsTehran University of Medical Sciences
- Effect of Gamification on Orthodontic Knowledge Retention Among Dental StudentsFoundation University Islamabad
- Effect of Low-Level Laser Therapy on Spontaneous and Chewing Pain Associated With Orthodontic Elastomeric Separator PlacementFoundation University Islamabad
- Photobiomodulation Therapy (PBMT) for Accelerating Maxillary Canine Movement Using Two Wavelengths (650 nm and 976 nm): A Split-Mouth Randomized Controlled Clinical TrialKufa University
Study data from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 2026-07-30. Registry entries are supplied by study sponsors and investigators; ClinicalTrials.gov does not verify their scientific validity. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH.
Where to read more
Rather than paraphrase, we point you to the primary sources. Every link below is to a government health agency, a national institute or a recognised medical body — grouped by what you are trying to find out.
Learn More
- All about OrthodontiaNemours Foundation
- Braces (For Kids)Nemours Foundation
- Braces (For Parents)Nemours Foundation
- Braces Have Changed, From Metal to Tooth-Colored to ClearFood and Drug Administration
- Malocclusion (Misaligned Teeth)Merck & Co., Inc.
- Panoramic Dental X-RayRadiological Society of North America
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: OrthodonticsNational Institutes of Health
Patient Handouts
- Malocclusion of teethMedical Encyclopedia
- Widely spaced teethMedical Encyclopedia
Medical subject headings
Clinicians and researchers index this subject under Orthodontics. These are the terms to use when searching medical literature.
This page is built from the MedlinePlus health topic record for Orthodontia, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health. Information is from MedlinePlus.gov. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH. Retrieved 30 July 2026.