What
is Orthodontics?
Orthodontics is a special field of dentistry that concentrates
on the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental and
facial irregularities. The technical term for these problems
is "malocclusion", which means "bad bite".
The practice of orthodontics requires professional skill
in the design, application and control of corrective appliances,
such as braces, to bring the lips and jaws into proper alignment
and to achieve facial balance.
What
is an Orthodontist?
All orthodontists are dentists, but only 6% of dentists
are orthodontists. An orthodontist is a specialist in the
diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental and facial
irregularities. Through extensive training, the orthodontist
learns the skills required to manage overall care of the
orthodontic patient. Only dentists, who have successfully
completed the advanced specialty education, may call themselves
orthodontists.
What
causes Orthodontic problems?
A Large percentage of orthodontic problems (malocclusions)
are inherited and some are acquired. Inherited problems
include a wide variety of irregularities involving the jaws,
teeth and face such as crowding of teeth, spacing, extra
or missing teeth and/or upper and lower jaw deficiencies.
Acquired problems occur due to finger habits, airway obstruction
by enlarged tonsils and adenoids, allergies, asthma, premature
loss of baby permanent teeth, and dental disease. Whether
inherited or acquired, many of these factors affect the
alignment of teeth as they erupt and the facial development
throughout the growing years.
What
is the best age for treatment?
Each orthodontic problem determines it's best starting time.
However, the Orthodontist recommends that all children be
evaluated by age 7, even earlier, if the problem is noted
by either parent or the family dentist. Most orthodontic
problems are inherited and therefore cannot be prevented.
However, at this age, developmental problems relating to
facial growth or eruption of teeth can be improved or corrected,
if diagnosed early.
Orthodontics, for any age, is appropriate as long as there
is healthy bone, teeth and gum tissue. The following signs
may indicate that you or your child need to be evaluated
by an Orthodontic Specialist:
1. Thumb or finger sucking
2. Overlapping or crowding of erupting permanent teeth,
broken or missing teeth
3. Difficulty chewing food
4. Mouth breathing due to allergies, enlarged tonsils and/or
adenoids
5. Jaw joints that click, pop or experience discomfort
6. Developing under bite, overbite, cross bite or abnormal
bite development
Why
is Orthodontic treatment important?
1. Crowded and malaligned teeth are difficult to clean and
maintain.
2. Condition may cause tooth decay, eventual gum disease
and/or tooth loss.
3. Reduces or eliminates factors contributing to abnormal
tooth wear.
4. Improves inefficient chewing function that causes excessive
stress on gum tissue and the bone that supports the teeth.
This inefficiency may also result in TMJ dysfunction of
the jaw joints resulting in headaches and joint discomfort.
5. Left untreated, many orthodontic problems become worse.
Orthodontics is often less costly than the additional dental
care required to treat more serious problems that may develop
in later years.
6. An attractive, healthy smile is a personal asset that
will follow the young and remain with the old, throughout
life. A great smile is vital to one's self confidence and
improves one's general attitude towards life.
When
should orthodontic treatment be started?
This depends on the problem; some cases should be started
as early as 7 to 8 years of age while others are best started
around puberty and near eruption of all permanent teeth
around 10 to 13 years of age. Girls are usually treated
earlier than boys.
How
long does orthodontic treatment last for?
Usually 18to 24 months, but this also depends on the problem
and on the scope of treatment. Some minor alignment cases
may not need more than 3-6 months of treatment.
Is
retention necessary and for how long?
Every orthodontic treatment must be followed by
a retention period this can vary from a one year
period to a life long retention. Retainers can be
of several types: transparent, acrylic with wire,
or fixed retainers bonded to the teeth from the
inside.
How
do I take care of my retainers?
Transparent:
this usually should be used all the time except
when eating for 6 months then at night only for
another 6 months, then tried on each night indefinitely.
It should be cleaned with water and soap it should
not be put in hot water and should not be brushed
with the tooth brush and paste.
Acrylic one: should be taken out
for eating ,can be cleaned with water and soap,
can be brushed with special effervescent cleaning
tablets which are available in drug stores to keep
it as good as new.
Fixed retainers: super floss and
good brushing must be used daily to keep the teeth
clean in the area of the retainer.
How
do I take care of my braces?
Keeping your teeth clean with braces is of utmost
importance to prevent decay and gum disease. Failure
to do proper brushing can leave the teeth with permanent
stains and scars that can only be removed by restorations.
Avoiding hard and sticky food all throughout treatment
is equally important.
Does
it hurt to have orthodontic treatment?
There might be minor discomfort for a maximum of few days
after initial fittings of braces that goes away later on.
Special techniques can even reduce this discomfort to a
minimum.
Are
there certain food items to avoid while orthodontic treatment?
You must avoid hard and sticky food like toffee and sweets
all through orthodontic treatment, carrots and apples should
be cut into small pieces, pop corn and chewing gum should
be avoided. All of this can cause braces to become loose
and lead to longer treatment duration and more visits to
the office.
