The article orthodontics is the treatment of malocclusion through orthodontics or surgery, etc. Malocclusion refers to the malformation of the teeth, jaws and craniofacial surface caused by congenital factors or acquired factors during the growth and development of children. Malocclusion is listed as one of the three most common diseases of the oral cavity together with dental caries and periodontal disease, and its prevalence is as high as more than 50% of the population. Pre-orthodontic consultation and examination After deciding to have orthodontic treatment, you should first go to the orthodontic department of the hospital for pre-orthodontic consultation and examination. During the first visit the doctor will initially understand your dental situation through conversation and ask you about the areas you want to straighten and the expected results you want to achieve. This generally includes what are your main concerns? How are your teeth aligned? What does your face look like when you smile? How is your facial alignment? How does your bite fit together? How do your teeth function in the chewing movement and the health of your teeth, etc. Afterwards, a series of preparations are needed, such as biting the teeth (i.e., taking a model), taking a facial photograph, taking X-rays, and testing liver function. The doctor will determine the diagnosis and make the orthodontic treatment plan based on the results of the model analysis and X-ray projection measurements. Before orthodontic treatment, dental and periodontal diseases in the oral cavity must be treated, such as treatment of dental caries and cleaning of calculus. This is very important, because only healthy teeth can carry out orthodontic treatment, if the teeth are in bad condition, it will affect the orthodontic treatment process, and in serious cases, it will lead to treatment failure. So be sure not to neglect the dental condition check. Some people may go through long periodontal treatment before they can undergo orthodontic treatment, but they are worth it. Step 2: Determine the treatment plan At your first follow-up visit, your doctor will analyze your problem in detail and discuss the treatment plan with you to determine the practical issues such as whether to extract teeth, how many teeth to extract, and the course and cost of treatment. While simple orthodontic treatment does not involve extraction of teeth, treatment of more complex dental problems may involve extraction of teeth, and in some cases, the doctor may recommend that you have your wisdom teeth removed. This depends on each individual case. The duration of orthodontic treatment is usually one and a half to two years. Younger, less severe patients will take less time, and adult orthodontics will take longer as appropriate. The average cost is between 6,000 and 10,000 yuan, of course, it also depends on the treatment plan and treatment instruments you choose, but do not blindly believe that the high price is necessarily good. Step 3: Tooth extraction is required before treatment Tooth extraction is performed before treatment. Generally orthodontic extractions are symmetrical extractions of four or eight teeth. The extraction under the guidance of a doctor will not cause any harm to the body, but it must be done in a regular dental hospital, especially when pulling wisdom teeth, do not be greedy for a moment of cheapness and damage to the teeth. The number of extractions should not exceed two at a time, and usually the teeth on the same side are extracted together, which facilitates the recovery of the teeth. After a week or so of interval, if no particular abnormality or adverse reaction is found, the extraction can be continued. Step 4: Installation of Aligners After the extraction, you can continue to follow up with your doctor, who will usually install your aligners at this time. Some serious malocclusions are not treated with braces and must be surgically corrected. After wearing the braces, you should strictly follow the doctor’s instructions and actively cooperate with the doctor so as to ensure the effectiveness of the treatment. In the first three or four days of wearing the braces, there will be discomfort to the braces, with mild pain, soreness and other uncomfortable feelings. This is a normal phenomenon and requires a period of adaptation process. It is also very important to maintain good oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment, because the resistance of teeth and periodontal tissues decreases during orthodontic treatment, and poor oral hygiene will cause teeth and periodontals to be more susceptible to dental caries than usual. Step 5: After installing the orthodontic appliance, you should have a follow-up visit every month or so. The orthodontist will gradually add force to the aligners depending on the treatment of each individual. This in turn can cause pain. Some people think that the pain is caused by too much force, but in fact the right orthodontic force can sometimes cause tooth pain. Therefore, using the appropriate orthodontic force in orthodontic treatment to prevent trauma from occurring is a measure to reduce pain. As the treatment time increases, the level of this pain will decrease.