Orthodontics and Orthodontics Treatment

Orthodontics is a field of dentistry that deals with prevention and correction of malpositioned teeth.  ‘Orthos’- in Greek means ‘correct’, ‘straight’ while ‘odont-‘ means tooth. Orthodontic treatment improves the appearance and function of the teeth that are not well aligned. You see some people while biting; their teeth don’t meet correctly mainly because they have crooked teeth.  Crooked teeth are not easy to keep clean. Sometimes, people with crooked teeth develop headache because of stress to the chewing muscles of the mouth. They may also develop neck and shoulder pain.  Abnormal jaw and teeth can even affect the look and shape of individual’s shape.  Most of the time, the complications of orthodontics is tooth decay.  Braces, headgear and some other devices are used in orthodontic treatment. These method help to move the teeth while restraining the muscles. These appliances will apply pressure on both the jaw and teeth thereby affecting the growth of jaw as well.

Importance of Orthodontics Treatment

 Orthodontic treatment will help re-position and align the teeth. It gives you a healthy mouth. You will have a better smile and appearance.

Do I need orthodontics treatment?

Most people that have over-bite, cross bite or even under bite need to see an orthodontist. You have overbite if your upper front teeth set lie too forward on the lower ones. It is also called buck teeth. In case the lower teeth lie too forward than the upper teeth, it is called under bite. It is like a bull dog look. You have open bite if there is gap between the front or side teeth when biting occur as the back teeth are closed. People with missing teeth or spaces between their teeth may need to see an orthodontist too.

See your dentist or orthodontist to carry out medical examination to decide if orthodontic will be best for you. He or she might carry out X-ray and plastic model or impression of your teeth.

What appliance do orthodontists use?

Orthodontists use both fixed and removable appliances in aligning the teeth. The removable appliances include the following

• Lip and cheek bumper- the lip and cheeks exert pressure on the mouth. These bumpers help to keep the cheeks and lips away from the teeth and thus provide relieve from pressure.
• Headgear- it helps to minimize the growth of the upper jaw while holding the back teeth and pulling the front teeth that is too forward backward.
• Aligners- it can be used in place of braces for adult. They are removed for brushing and eating. They are not too visible and there is increasing rate of aligner use by the dentists.
• Space maintainer- there is removable and fixed space maintainer. They function in keeping space between specific teeth.
• Palatal expander- it is used to widen the upper jaw’s arch.
• Repositioning appliance- it is an appliance worn over the lower or upper jaw in order to make them move close to a desired position. It is useful for treating temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder.
• Retainers- they prevent the movement of the teeth to their previous location. It is used to control people that suck thumb.

The fixed appliances are as follows;

• Braces-it is the fixed appliance widely known. They contain bands, wires and/or bracket.  They come in different colors and styles. The band serve as anchor, the wire are attached to the band as they pass through the bracket fixed mostly in the front.  They can be adjusted over time to give desire result.
  

  

  Braces come in different colors

• Fixed space maintainer- it is used temporarily in baby that has missed teeth before the permanent teeth start developing.
• There is also a special fixed appliance that is attached to the teeth by bands. It helps control thumb sucking as well as tongue thrusting mainly because they are uncomfortable while eating or chewing.

Orthodontics Treatment Procedure

There are different procedures for the fixed and removable appliance.

For the removable appliances;

Before the whole procedure starts, the impression of teeth is taken and removable appliance is fabricated in the dental laboratory. Then, it is fixed. Ensure you visit your dental team for checkup and adjustments.

For the fixed orthodontic appliance;

The bracket and wire is first placed and are connected using the ligatures which are stainless steel wire and elastics. Go for regular checkup as scheduled by your dentist. A retainer is then use after successful movement of teeth or jaw to desired position in order to stabilize it.

What is the duration of orthodontics treatment?

There is different duration for fixed and removable appliances.  Fixed appliances last for about 1.5 to 3 years while the removable appliance last from half a year to a year. 

Care of Orthodontic Appliances

Note that orthodontic appliances if not taken care off can result in tooth decay. Extra effort is needed to ensure a good oral hygiene while wearing orthodontic appliances.  You can remove removable appliance before brushing every morning and evening. Place the appliances in a bowl of water when you are not wearing it.

In case of discomfort while wearing the orthodontic appliance, see your dentist for medical examination.