There are two types of cells involved in moving teeth: those that remove bone, and those that add bone. As we move a tooth from one place to another, there are cells removing bone to allow the tooth to move and others busy at work making a new home for the tooth.
Orthodontics can also affect how the jaw bones grow, so that bite problems can be resolved. This part of orthodontics is often referred to as dentofacial orthopaedics. The upper and lower jaws grow at different rates, so if a bite problem is the result of poor alignment of the upper and lower jaw, we can encourage either faster or slower growth in one or both jaws to help in their alignment. |