ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ORTHODONTICS

Orthodontics, if the word sounds Greek to you, you are right. ‘Orthos’ in Greek means straight and ‘dontos’ means teeth. Orthodontics is a speciality of dentistry that is concerned with the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of teeth displacement and facial irregularities. Orthodontists are dentists who specialize in treating teeth and facial irregularities. Orthodontic treatments are usually done with braces to improve the appearance of irregularities in the teeth.

How to know if orthodontics is for you?

A visit to your dentist can determine if you require orthodontic treatment. With the help of medical and dental history, clinical examination, X-rays and models your dentist can determine if orthodontics is for you. An orthodontist will then come up with a customized treatment plan based on your requirements.

What are the common dental problems which require orthodontic correction?

Proclination– If your upper front teeth are more forwardly placed than your lower front teeth, orthodontic treatment can help correct this bite.

Crowding– if your teeth are irregularly placed leading to food lodgement, gum problems, orthodontic treatment can help in the alignment.

Spacing-gaps between your teeth can be corrected by orthodontic treatment to provide good aesthetics.

Deep Bite- if your upper teeth completely overlap your lower teeth causing injury to your gums, such a bite is known as deep bite and requires an immediate orthodontic consult.

Open Bite- if there is no overlap between your upper and lower teeth, causing difficulty in chewing, and such a bite requires correction by orthodontic treatment to improve the appearance and chewing efficiency.

Cross Bite- A cross bite occurs when your upper teeth bite inside your lower teeth. This can happen on one or both sides of your jaw and can affect your front or back teeth.

Impacted tooth- An impacted tooth is one that is unable to erupt through the gum naturally. Treatment can include extraction or exposing it so a brace can be fitted to the surface.

Temporomandibular joint pain/headaches/earaches

Clicking/pain in the joint region while opening your mouth, pain around your ears, headaches may require an orthodontic consult to check your bite.

What are the uses and benefits of orthodontics?

1. Straightens your teeth

2. Improves your smile

3. Improves your appearance

4. Boosts your self-esteem

5. Helps prevent teeth discolouration and mouth odour

6. Helps prevent tooth decay

7. Reduces or prevents dental emergencies

What are the different ways an orthodontist can correct your teeth/facial irregularities?

Traditional Braces- this is the most common method of orthodontic treatment. Braces are appliances that are fixed on your teeth and consists of brackets/bands and wires. They help position your teeth and correct any irregularities.

• Aligners- They are the alternative to braces. They are similar to braces in function but are not fixed. They need to be removed while eating and brushing. Treatment includes changing into a new set of aligners every two weeks as your teeth shift into proper alignment.

• Lingual Braces- They are braces attached to the back of your teeth making them almost invisible to others. They consist of brackets, bands and wires like the traditional braces. They can be more difficult to clean properly because it is on the back of your teeth which is harder to reach. There may be speech difficulties because of their positioning and you may also develop sores on your tongue.

• Surgical options- Orthodontics services comprise more than just different types of braces. There are surgical options as well. Surgery can help accelerate your orthodontic treatment or correct jaw misalignment to achieve results which are not possible by braces alone.

 

Conclusion

Nowadays anyone can achieve a beautiful, healthy smile which can have a positive impact on your life in many ways. If you are interested in what orthodontics has to offer you, get in touch with us to start your smile journey.

 

THE RIGHT AGE TO START BRACES FOR YOUR CHILD

Thinking about whether your child requires braces? You’ve come to the right place. Orthodontic treatment can be a very important part of your child’s oral health care. We’re here to answer some of the questions you might have regarding orthodontic treatment for your child.

What is the purpose of orthodontic treatment?

The purpose of orthodontic treatment is to create a healthy bite, which is part tooth alignment and part jaw position. When jaws and teeth fit in correctly, they are able to function in a proper manner. This promotes good oral and general physical health. There is always the added advantage that orthodontic treatment also brings out a beautiful smile.

How will orthodontic treatment help my child?

Orthodontic treatment will help your child to bite and chew in a healthy manner, which will also contribute to clear speech. It helps your child’s jaw to function properly and also look nice. An attractive smile is a pleasant side effect of orthodontic treatment, and can have emotional benefits. Self-confidence and self-esteem improves as orthodontic treatment brings teeth, lips and face into proportion. It improves your child’s overall health as straight teeth are less prone to decay, gum disease and injury.

What’s the right age for orthodontic treatment?

Ideally, it is recommended that your child gets an orthodontic evaluation no later than the age of 7, when the permanent teeth begin to erupt. Timing is also determined by the type of problem that the child has or may be developing, and the child’s stage of dental development. Some may require tooth movement only, while others may need help with guiding the growth of their jaws, or to correct a abnormal habit that can re-shape the bone. There are some orthodontists who recommend an interceptive approach. This usually involves the use of dental appliances when the child is younger and still has most of his or her baby teeth. Then, once a child has mostly adult teeth, a second phase of treatment can begin, which normally includes braces. It is this second part of treatment that might be shorter than a traditional course of braces. This is thanks to the early interceptive treatment and the benefits of preventive orthodontics.

Where did my child’s orthodontic problems come from?

Most orthodontic problems are inherited. Some are acquired, developing over time by an abnormal habit such as, sucking the thumb or fingers, mouth breathing, abnormal swallowing, or dental disease, poor dental hygiene, early or late loss of baby teeth, accidents and poor nutrition. Whatever the cause, orthodontists are usually able to treat most conditions successfully.

Problems to watch out for in your child.

Won’t my child’s teeth straighten out as they grow?

Unfortunately, your child’s teeth will not straighten out as he or she grows. The space available for the permanent teeth does not increase as one grows.Untreated orthodontic problems can become worse, and more difficult to treat as a child gets older. Untreated problems may lead to tooth decay, gum disease, broken front teeth and loss of bone tissue that holds teeth in place.

Isn’t 7 too young to get braces?

Around 7 years of age, your child’s permanent teeth begin to erupt. A check-up at this age will help your orthodontist understand if a problem exists or is developing. Remember, there is a lot of difference between a check-up and actually requiring braces treatment. Usually, your orthodontist might suggest a wait and watch approach, with a periodic follow-up in case any developing problem is detected. Also, not all orthodontic problems require correction with the help of braces.

What if my child is older than 7 – is it too late for a check-up?

If your child is older than 7, it is not too late for a check-up. Should treatment be needed, keep in mind that many patients begin treatment between the ages of 9 and 16, depending on their physiological development and treatment needs. Orthodontists are usually able to treat most conditions successfully.

Should we wait to see the orthodontist until my child has all of his/her permanent teeth?

No. Waiting until all the permanent teeth have come in could make correction of some orthodontic problems more difficult. Orthodontic treatment for jaw related problems may require treatment when the patient is in the growing stages. Some things cannot be accomplished once the face and jaws are no longer growing.

What is early orthodontic treatment?

Early orthodontic treatment, also known as Phase One treatment, helps in correcting bite related problems as well as guide the jaw’s growth pattern. Early treatment may also help to make extra room in the mouth for the permanent teeth to be properly placed as they begin to erupt.

Early orthodontic treatment begins when a child’s jaw bones are still soft. They do not harden until children reach their late teens. As the bones are still pliable, corrective procedures work faster and more effectively than they do for teens and adults. Appropriate early treatment is an effective interceptive measure that lays the foundation for a healthy and well-functioning mouth in adulthood.

Sometimes, it is extremely obvious, like when you have trouble biting, speaking or chewing or if your teeth are protruding, crowded or too spaced out. Other times, the misalignment of your teeth may be minor to notice, including clenching your jaw, grinding your teeth or mouth breathing.

What is teenage orthodontics?

Phase II of orthodontic treatment is for teens who received Phase I already or didn’t require Phase 1 treatment and have most of their permanent teeth. The goal of this phase is to ideally position all of the permanent teeth in order to maximize appearance and function.

If you’re still unsure of when to schedule your first orthodontic treatment, reach out to us. We’d be happy to share what we believe to be the best solution to get a beautiful smile based on your individual situation.