The word orthodontics comes from the Greek words "ortho" meaning straight and "odons" meaning tooth. An Orthodontist works in the specialty area of dentistry that is concerned with the study and treatment of malocclusions (improper bites). Orthodontic treatment can focus on dental displacement only, or can deal with the control and modification of facial growth. Treatment performed by an Orthodontist can be carried out for purely aesthetic reasons — improving the general appearance of patients' teeth and face for cosmetic reasons — but treatment is often prescribed for practical reasons, providing the patient with a functionally improved bite (occlusion).
An Orthodontist uses braces in conjunction with other orthodontic appliances to widen the palate or jaws, create spaces between teeth, or otherwise shape the teeth and jaws. Most orthodontic patients are children or teenagers, however, recently, more adults have been seeking orthodontic treatment. The most common condition that the methods of orthodontics are used for is correcting anteroposterior discrepancies. Another common situation leading to orthodontic treatment is crowding of the teeth. The first step is to determine if braces are suitable for the patient. If braces are appropriate, a records appointment is set up where X-rays, moulds, and impressions are made. After a course of active orthodontic treatment, patients will often wear retainers, which will maintain the teeth in their improved position while the surrounding bone reforms around them.
The American Association of Orthodontists is an American advocate group and professional association for orthodontists. Most American orthodontists, about 95 percent, are members. A number of dental schools and hospitals in the United States offer advanced education in the specialty of Orthodontics to dentists seeking postgraduate education. The courses range from two to three years of full-time classes and clinical work in the clinical and theoretical aspects of orthodontics. A list of orthodontic schools can be obtained from the American Association of Orthodontists.
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 45th-largest in the United States. With an estimated population of 382,872 in 2006, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city serves as the county seat of Tulsa County, the most densely populated county in Oklahoma. For most of the 20th century, the city held the nickname "Oil Capital of the World" and played a major role as one of the most important hubs for the American oil industry.
Much of Tulsa's convention space is located in downtown, such as the Tulsa Performing Arts Center and the Tulsa Convention Center, and beginning in 2008, the BOK Center. Prominent downtown sub-districts include the Blue Dome District, the Brady Arts district, and the Greenwood Historical District. The Tulsa International Airport (TUL) and the Tulsa Port of Catoosa, the nation's most inland seaport, connect the region with international trade and transportation.
Tulsa has 14 institutions of higher education, including two private universities: the University of Tulsa, and Oral Roberts University. Rogers State University is the Tulsa area's only public four-year university. The Tulsa State Fair, operating in late September and early October, attracts over one million people during its 10 day run, and the city's Oktoberfest celebration was named one of the top 10 in the world by USA Today, and one of the top German food festivals in the nation by Bon Appetit magazine.