Alignment

Alignment is the process in orthodontic treatment that organizes all teeth into a smooth curvature when looking down on the biting surfaces of the dentition. Aligning teeth corrects crowding, a situation in which the jaws cannot accommodate all teeth so the teeth become stacked inside the mouth.

Alignment through the use of a mini suspension system of bracket and wires (dental braces) is performed by an orthodontist to correct this condition of crowding by lining up the teeth into an even, aesthetically and functionally pleasing curve.

Ideally, alignment can be achieved by making use of naturally available space in the mouth. If there are simply too many teeth to line them smoothly in a curve, an orthodontist may refer a patient to a dentist for tooth extraction before continuing orthodontics treatment.