What Is Orthodontics and What Conditions Require Treatment?

Orthodontics is the dental specialty that diagnoses, prevents, and treats irregularities of the teeth and jaws — most commonly crowded teeth, spacing problems, and bite issues. According to the Association of Orthodontists (Singapore) (AOS), treatment aims to improve how teeth are aligned and how the upper and lower jaws meet, which supports both function and appearance. If you have crooked, crowded, or protruding teeth, or a bite that feels off, that is the general profile of a case an orthodontist would assess.

What orthodontics covers

Orthodontics sits within dentistry but is a distinct specialty. The AOS, which represents the orthodontic specialty in Singapore, frames the field around correcting tooth position and jaw relationships rather than treating decay or gum disease.

In practical terms, orthodontic treatment usually involves:

• Alignment — straightening teeth that are rotated, tilted, or overlapping.
• Spacing — closing gaps between teeth or creating room where teeth are crowded.
• Bite correction — adjusting how the upper and lower teeth fit together.
• Growth guidance — in younger patients, influencing jaw development while it is still ongoing.

Conditions that typically need orthodontic treatment

The AOS page on orthodontics points to a set of conditions that call for assessment. These generally fall into three groups.

Crowding and spacing problems

• Crowded teeth — not enough space in the arch, so teeth overlap or erupt out of line.
• Gaps between teeth — excess space or missing teeth leaving visible gaps.
• Impacted teeth — teeth that fail to erupt into the correct position, a common example being impacted canines.

Bite problems

• Overbite — upper front teeth overlap the lower front teeth too much.
• Underbite — lower teeth sit ahead of the upper teeth.
• Crossbite — some upper teeth bite inside the lower teeth instead of outside.
• Open bite — front or side teeth do not meet when the back teeth are closed.

Alignment that affects function or wear

Teeth that meet unevenly can concentrate force on a few teeth, which may contribute to uneven wear, difficulty chewing, or speech issues. These are functional reasons treatment may be recommended even when appearance is not the main concern.

Who treats these conditions

A key distinction the AOS makes is between an orthodontist and a general dentist. An orthodontist is a dentist who has completed additional specialist training in orthodontics and limits practice to that field. A general dentist may offer some alignment treatments, but complex bite and growth cases are typically handled by a specialist.

The AOS also addresses direct-to-consumer (DTC) orthodontic products — remote aligner services marketed without in-person specialist supervision. Its position is that these products cannot replace an orthodontist, because diagnosis, monitoring of tooth movement, and management of the jaw relationship require clinical assessment.

How to use this if you are deciding

• If you notice crowding, gaps, or a bite that feels uneven, the first step is an assessment rather than choosing a product.
• Ask whether the person assessing you is an orthodontist or a general dentist, and whether your case involves jaw growth or a complex bite.
• For children, timing matters: some growth-related problems are easier to guide while the jaw is still developing.

For general information, the AOS website (aos.org.sg) publishes public-facing sections on what orthodontics is, how an orthodontist differs from a dentist, and why DTC products are not a substitute for specialist care.