Smiles By Design - Team

Dentofacial Orthopedics

Located in D’Iberville, Smiles By Design Orthodontics provides for the Orthodontic needs of both children and adults who reside along the entire Mississippi Gulf Coast and surrounding areas. Dr. Rahaim is a highly skilled Orthodontist that is a specialist in both Orthodontics as well as Dentofacial Orthopedics. Although many individuals have heard about orthodontics, many individuals do not understand the title that references dentofacial orthopedics.

All orthodontists begin their training in a College of Dentistry. After graduation from a certified College of Dentistry, many dental college graduates will begin their practice as a dentist. However, some graduates from a College of Dentistry will pursue an advanced dental related specialty. Specialty training requires additional training that is provided during a two and up to three-year residency advanced training regimen. The American Dental Association (ADA) sanctions nine dental specialties that require advanced training. Many individuals have heard of the following:

  • Pediatric Dentistry – Dentistry For Children
  • Periodontics – Dental Practice Focus On Treating The Gums
  • Oral Surgery

One of the nine different dental specialty fields includes Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. Typically, the field of orthodontics provides for the management of the movement of teeth. The field of dentofacial orthopedics revolves around the management of both facial growth and facial development.

The development and growth of the face primarily occurs during childhood years. Dental appliances are frequently utilized to manage the movement of teeth. The most common appliance utilized to manage the movement of teeth are called braces. In addition, and depending on what abnormal facial features are encountered, other more specialty appliances such as headgear and expanders could be utilized. On occasion, some form of orthopedic treatment might precede the application of conventional braces. However, both orthopedic treatment and some forms of appliance are frequently utilized on a concurrent basis. Consequently, if a child is provided with both braces as well as headgear, the child is actually being administered both orthodontic as well as dentofacial orthopedic treatment.

Dr. Austin Rahaim is a highly skilled Orthodontic and Dentofacial Orthopedic dental specialist whose practice is in D’Iberville. Dr. Rahaim is extremely well qualified to provide accurate diagnosis of all jaw or teeth elements that could be misaligned, including the structure of the face itself. Depending on his diagnosis, Dr. Rahaim will provide a proven regimen that will integrate both the most advanced orthodontics as well as orthopedic treatments that are currently available on the entire Mississippi Gulf Coast.

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