Orthodontic Dentistry

We all love a good transformation, and your teeth are one of the first things people notice about your looks, so having crooked, crowded, or misaligned teeth can be an unpleasant sight for yourself and others. The good news is that orthodontic dental treatments are meant to rearrange and straighten misaligned teeth, giving you that perfect smile you’ve always wanted and a boost of self-confidence.

Orthodontics is a unique branch of dentistry that treats malocclusion – a common condition in which the upper and lower teeth are not aligned properly, meaning the teeth may be crooked, crowded, or stick out when the mouth is closed. This poor positioning of teeth affects a person’s bite, oral health, and overall facial appearance.

Very few people have perfectly arranged natural teeth; if you’re one of them, kudos! If you’re not, no need to worry – orthodontic treatment can correct your teeth.

Who needs orthodontic treatment?

Treatments often start in the pre-teen or teenage years; however, adults can get orthodontic treatment too. Based on the diagnosis, your dentist will determine whether you need orthodontic treatments or not. Orthodontic treatments can correct the following teeth problems;

• Crowded teeth- Not enough room for teeth.
• Misplaced midline- the centre of upper front teeth does not line up with the centre of lower front teeth.
• Crooked teeth- Jaw misalignment
• Overbite- Front teeth stick far out.
• Underbite- Lower jaw sticks out too far forward.
• Spacing/Gaps- too much room for teeth such that teeth do not fill-up the mouth.
• Open bite- tongue can stick out when biting down.
• Deep bite- Upper teeth hide lower teeth
• Crossbite- Upper teeth fit inside lower teeth rather than outside.

Importance of orthodontic treatment

The goal of orthodontic treatment is to straighten and move your teeth and jaw into a better position, making it easier for patients to bite, chew, and talk.

Straighter teeth improve your oral health. Brushing and flossing are two primary activities of any good oral health routine. We brush and floss to protect teeth from conditions such as tooth decay, gum disease (gingivitis) and plaque build-up. Conditions such as dental caries, gum disease, tooth loss, impaired speech, poor bite etc., are less likely to occur if you have proper orthodontic treatment.

Orthodontic treatment improves one’s diet. Poorly aligned teeth can reduce your ability to chew correctly and make foods more difficult to eat. Many of these more challenging foods are healthy, and avoiding them can make you limit your diet to softer, often less-nutritious foods such as soft drinks and noodles. Straighter teeth give you a better ability to bite and chew, allowing you to eat crunchy foods like apples and carrots, stringy foods like chicken and chewy foods like nuts.

A smile that shows straight teeth are more attractive. Satisfaction in your appearance can give you more confidence and self-esteem. You will be more proud of your smile when your teeth are straight and evenly spaced. It improves your social life and encourages you to try out new things, especially important for teenagers and young adults.

Orthodontic appliances

Due to advances in dental techniques and technology, orthodontists use many different devices for specific orthodontic treatments; however, the four most common devices are; fixed braces, removable braces (aligners), and retainers. Choosing your orthodontic appliance is dependent on your situation and personal preference.

Braces

These are fixed appliances with metallic brackets glued to the front of the teeth with wires and tiny rubber bands threaded through the brackets to provide support for your braces. Some braces are made of ceramics and are hardly noticeable due to the closeness to the natural colour of teeth. Nevertheless, metal braces deliver a constant, gentle force to move teeth. Braces are adjusted every month to bring about the desired results, which can be achieved within a few months to a few years.
Nowadays, braces are smaller, lighter and have less metal than before. They are designed with bright colours for kids and plain styles preferred by many adults.

Aligners

Aligners are clear, thin removable orthodontic appliances that are alternative to braces. They are invisible and hardly noticeable by other people, so it’s a preferred choice by many adults. Also, they can be removed before eating, brushing, and flossing.

Retainers

Retainers look similar to aligners – they are transparent, thin, and slightly flexible plastic-like teeth shaped devices. Retainers are used after treatment to hold teeth in place and stop them from moving back to their original positions. They can also be used to prevent children from sucking their thumbs. Changes to tooth movement are continuous throughout a person’s lifetime – and it’s completely normal. Retainers are a great option if you want to maintain straight teeth all the time.

Who provides orthodontic treatment?

An orthodontist provides orthodontic treatments. An orthodontist is a dentist who has additional study to specialize in diagnosing, preventing, and treating problems in the alignment of teeth and jaws. She’s trained to straighten your teeth and improve your oral function. To achieve these goals, your orthodontist uses a range of dental devices that can be fixed or removable such as braces, aligners, and retainers.

Before proceeding with any treatments, your orthodontics will take detailed records of your teeth and jaw with X-rays to detect any problems. After diagnosis, she will carry out the care as required.

Caring for your teeth during orthodontic treatment.

It is essential to clean your teeth properly during orthodontic treatment to prevent plaque build-up, tooth decay and gum disease. When wearing braces, your orthodontist will recommend that you brush and floss regularly because food particles can be stuck in between the brackets and wires and bred bacteria, causing teeth and gum infections.

Your orthodontics may recommend floss thread for braces or interdental toothbrushes. Interdental toothbrushes are small brushes designed to get into small spaces where ordinary toothbrushes will miss. They are beneficial for cleaning the space between brackets and braces’ wires.