Overview
Orthodontic
treatment is used to correct a “bad bite.” This condition, known
as a malocclusion, involves teeth that are crowded or crooked.
In some cases, the upper and lower jaws may not meet properly
and although the teeth may appear straight, the individual may
have an uneven bite.
Protruding, crowded or irregularly spaced teeth and jaw problems
may be inherited. Thumb-sucking, losing teeth prematurely and
accidents also can lead to these conditions.
Correcting the problem can create a nice-looking smile, but
more important, orthodontic treatment results in a healthier
mouth. That’s because crooked and crowded teeth make cleaning
the mouth difficult, which can lead to tooth decay, gum disease
and possibly tooth loss. An improper bite can interfere with
chewing and speaking, can cause abnormal wear to tooth enamel,
and can lead to problems with the jaws.
What
is Orthodontics?
Orthodontics
is the branch of dentistry that corrects teeth and jaws that
are positioned improperly. Crooked teeth and teeth that do not
fit together correctly are harder to keep clean, are at risk
of being lost early due to tooth decay and periodontal disease,
and cause extra stress on the chewing muscles that can lead
to headaches, TMJ syndrome and neck, shoulder and back pain.
Teeth that are crooked or not in the right place can also detract
from one's appearance.
The
benefits of orthodontic treatment include a healthier mouth,
a more pleasing appearance, and teeth that are more likely to
last a lifetime.
A specialist in this field is called an orthodontist. Orthodontists
receive two or more years of education beyond their four years
in dental school in an ADA-approved orthodontic training program.
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Who
provides orthodontic treatment?
Most dentists are trained to treat some
minor orthodontic problems. If the dentist thinks the patient
should see a specialist for treatment, he or she will provide
a referral to an orthodontist. Orthodontics is a specialty area
of dentistry that is officially known as Orthodontics and Dentofacial
Orthopedics http://www.ada.org/prof/ed/specialties/definitions.asp
. The purpose of orthodontics is to treat malocclusion through
braces, corrective procedures and other “appliances” to straighten
teeth and correct jaw alignment. An orthodontist is a dentist
who specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment
of dental and facial irregularities
.
Although treatment plans are customized for each patient, most
wear their braces from one to three years, depending on what
conditions need correcting. This is followed by a period of
wearing a “retainer” that holds teeth in their new positions.
Although a little discomfort is expected during treatment, today’s
braces are more comfortable than ever before. Newer materials
apply a constant, gentle force to move teeth and usually require
fewer adjustments.
Good
oral hygiene is especially important when
braces are present. Brushing regularly, as directed by the dentist,
flossing daily and scheduling dental visits can help keep teeth
healthy.
Patients with braces should maintain a balanced diet and limit
between-meal snacks. Your dentist may recommend avoiding certain
foods that could interfere with braces or accidentally bend
the wires. These foods may include nuts, popcorn, hard candy,
ice and sticky foods like chewing gum, caramel or other chewy
candy.
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How
do I Know if I Need Orthodontics?
Only
your dentist or orthodontist can determine whether you can benefit
from orthodontics. Based on diagnostic tools that include a
full medical and dental health history, a clinical exam, plaster
models of your teeth, and special X-rays and photographs, an
orthodontist or dentist can decide whether orthodontics are
recommended, and develop a treatment plan that's right for you.
If you have any of the following, you may be a candidate for
orthodontic treatment:
•
Overbite, sometimes called "buck teeth" —
where the upper front teeth lie too far forward (stick out)
over the lower teeth.
• Underbite — a "bulldog" appearance
where the lower teeth are too far forward or the upper teeth
too far back.
• Crossbite — when the upper teeth do not come
down slightly in front of the lower teeth when biting together
normally.
•
Open bite — space between the biting surfaces
of the front and/or side teeth when the back teeth bite together.
• Misplaced midline — when the center of your
upper front teeth does not line up with the center of your lower
front teeth.
• Spacing — gaps, or spaces, between the teeth
as a result of missing teeth or teeth that do not "fill
up" the mouth.
• Crowding — when there are too many teeth
for the dental ridge to accommodate
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How
Does Orthodontic Treatment Work?
Many
different types of appliances, both fixed and removable, are
used to help move teeth, retrain muscles and affect the growth
of the jaws. These appliances work by placing gentle pressure
on the teeth and jaws. The severity of your problem will determine
which orthodontic approach is likely to be the most effective.
Fixed
appliances include:
• Braces — the
most common fixed appliances, braces consist of bands, wires
and/or brackets. Bands are fixed around the teeth or tooth and
used as anchors for the appliance, while brackets are most often
bonded to the front of the tooth. Arch wires are passed through
the brackets and attached to the bands. Tightening the arch
wire puts tension on the teeth, gradually moving them to their
proper position. Braces are usually adjusted monthly to bring
about the desired results, which may be achieved within a few
months to a few years. Today's braces are smaller, lighter and
show far less metal than in the past. They come in bright colors
for kids as well as clear styles preferred by many adults.
• Special fixed appliances — used
to control thumb sucking or tongue thrusting, these appliances
are attached to the teeth by bands. Because they are very uncomfortable
during meals, they should be used only as a last resort.
• Fixed space maintainers — if a baby
tooth is lost prematurely, a space maintainer is used to keep
the space open until the permanent tooth erupts. A band is attached
to the tooth next to the empty space, and a wire is extended
to the tooth on the other side of the space.
Removable
appliances include:
• Aligners — an alternative to traditional
braces for adults, serial aligners are being used by an increasing
number of orthodontists to move teeth in the same way that fixed
appliances work, only without metal wires and brackets. Aligners
are virtually invisible and are removed for eating, brushing
and flossing
•
Removable space maintainers — these
devices serve the same function as fixed space maintainers.
They're made with an acrylic base that fits over the jaw, and
have plastic or wire branches between specific teeth to keep
the space between them open.
•
Jaw repositioning appliances — also
called splints, these devices are worn on either the top or
lower jaw, and help train the jaw to close in a more favorable
position. They may be used for temporomandibular joint disorders
(TMJ).
•
Lip and cheek bumpers — these are
designed to keep the lips or cheeks away from the teeth. Lip
and cheek muscles can exert pressure on the teeth, and these
bumpers help relieve that pressure.
• Palatal expander — a device used
to widen the arch of the upper jaw. It is a plastic plate that
fits over the roof of the mouth. Outward pressure applied to
the plate by screws force the joints in the bones of the palate
to open lengthwise, widening the palatal area.
• Removable retainers — worn on the
roof of the mouth, these devices prevent shifting of the teeth
to their previous position. They can also be modified and used
to prevent thumb sucking.
• Headgear — with this device, a strap
is placed around the back of the head and attached to a metal
wire in front, or face bow. Headgear slows the growth of the
upper jaw, and holds the back teeth where they are while the
front teeth are pulled back.
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What
are braces made from?
Braces (also called orthodontic appliances) can be as inconspicuous—or
as noticeable—as you like. Brackets—the part of the braces that
attach to each tooth—are smaller and can sometimes be attached
to the back of the tooth, making the brackets less noticeable.
Brackets may be made of metal, ceramic, plastic or a combination
of these materials. Some brackets are clear or tooth-colored.
There are brackets shaped like hearts and footballs, and elastics
(orthodontic rubber bands) in school colors or holiday hues
such as red, white and blue. And there are gold-plated braces
and glow-in-the-dark retainers.
Are they left in the mouth or can they be removed?
There are two types of orthodontic appliances: fixed, which
are worn all the time and can only be removed by the dentist,
and removable, which the patient can take out of the mouth.
The dentist selects the type based on your needs.
When should treatment begin?
Malocclusions often become noticeable between the ages of 6
and 12, as the child’s permanent (adult) teeth erupt. Orthodontic
treatment often begins between ages 8 and 14. Treatment that
begins while a child is growing helps produce optimal results.
As a result, children should have an orthodontic evaluation
no later than age 7. By then, they have a mix of primary (baby)
teeth and their permanent (adult) teeth. Your child’s dentist
can spot problems with emerging teeth and jaw growth early on,
while the primary teeth are present. That’s why regular dental
examinations are important.
How
about adults wearing braces?
Children aren’t the only ones who can benefit from orthodontics.
If you’re an adult, it’s not too late to correct problems such
as crooked or crowded teeth, overbites, underbites, incorrect
jaw position, or jaw-joint disorders. The biological process
involved in moving teeth is the same at any age. Usually, adult
treatment takes a little longer than a child's treatment. Because
an adult's facial bones are no longer growing, certain corrections
may not be accomplished with braces alone. No matter your age,
it's never too late to improve your dental health and beautify
your smile.
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