What is “orthodontics” all about? Orthodontic treatment is the movement of teeth by orthodontists with the help of aligners to correct malocclusion (e.g., uneven teeth, protruding teeth, receding jaws, “bunions”, etc.). Tooth movement is a slow process, so orthodontic treatment takes a long time, usually about 2 years. The goal of orthodontic treatment is to align crowded teeth to achieve healthy teeth, or to correct protruding teeth to improve the patient’s side appearance. Orthodontic treatment is a cosmetic “investment” for parents and is relatively costly. The orthodontist must undergo a careful clinical examination, functional analysis, phantom measurement analysis, x-ray cephalometric analysis and lateral profile analysis before a more reasonable orthodontic plan can be developed. Treatment can only be implemented after informed consent. During the treatment period, full cooperation of the patient is required with regular follow-up appointments to add strength. Failure to follow up on a regular basis can prolong the entire treatment cycle. After the aligners are removed, because the tissue remodeling around the teeth is not yet complete and the teeth are not yet stable in their new position, they are very prone to relapse and retainers are needed to stop relapse. Retainers are usually worn for 1-2 years, and the doctor will design the retention time based on the patient’s age and type of malocclusion. For some patients, such as those with severe periodontal disease, long-term retention may be necessary, and in some cases, lifelong retention may be required. Monthly follow-up visits to the hospital are required during the treatment period, and usually no follow-up visits are needed during the retention period.