Dentofacial Orthopaedics

You may have noticed that Dr. Keenan specializes in "Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics". While most people have heard of orthodontics, many are confused by the "dentofacial orthopaedics" part of the title. We can explain!

Every orthodontist starts out in dental school. Upon completion of dental school, some graduates immediately go into practice as dentists. Others choose to pursue a dental speciality, which requires additional schooling during a two- to three-year residency program. There are nine specialities sanctioned by the American Dental Association. Some you are likely familiar with are Paediatric Dentistry (dentistry for children), Periodontics (dentistry focusing on the gums), and Oral Surgery.

One of the nine specialities is "Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics". You probably know that an orthodontist straightens teeth, and indeed: "ortho" comes from the Greek for "straight" or "correct", and "dontic" from the Greek for "teeth". But what about dentofacial orthopaedics? "Dentofacial" is "teeth" plus "face" while "ortho" again means "straight" and "pedic" is from the Greek for "child."

Essentially, while orthodontics entails the management of tooth movement, dentofacial orthopaedics involves the guidance of facial growth and development, which occurs largely during childhood. In both cases, appliances are frequently used – the more familiar braces for orthodontics, and other specialized appliances like headgear and expanders depending on what facial abnormalities are present. Sometimes orthopaedic treatment may precede conventional braces, but often the two are accomplished at the same time. So if your child gets braces and headgear, he's undergoing orthodontics and dentofacial orthopaedics!

Because Dr. Keenan is skilled in both areas, he is able to diagnose any misalignments in the teeth and jaw as well as the facial structure, and can devise a treatment plan that integrates both orthodontic and dentofacial orthopaedic treatments.