Orthodontic care involves the use of corrective appliances , usually braces. These devices can be used to:-
a€? Straighten teeth
a€? Correct an irregular bite
a€? Close unsightly gaps
a€? Bring teeth and lips into proper alignment
a€? In young children , orthodontic treatment may guide proper jaw growth permanent tooth eruption
Benefits of Orthodontic Care
Orthodontic care is not just cosmetic in nature.
Straight , properly aligned teeth are easier to brush and floss , which helps to prevent tooth decay and gingivitis such as inflammation that damages gums
People with bad bites have less chewing efficiency . correcting the bite with orthodontic care can make it easier to chew and digest foods Orthodontic treatment can also correct speech if upper and lower front teeth dona€?t align right causing speech difficultie
Correct age for Orthodonic Care
Starting orthodontic treatment early in life say by the age of 7 may have many advantages. For example , while children are still growing expansion devices can be used to widen the palate . this can help teeth come in straightner by providing more space. It also may help correct the way the top teeth and bottom teeth meet or come together.
Many people undergo orthodontic treatment during preteen and teenage years. At this time , most of the permanent teeth have come in and treatment can be most effective
However , adult treatment say in 30 s /40s/50s can be more complicated . it may require more than one dental professional to fully correct a problem . for example, adult patients may be more susceptible to gum problems and will need to address these. Sometimes they also have jaw alignment problems that require corrective surgery . one of the biggest limitations in adult treatment is that adult are no longer growing.
Treatment
Most orthodontic treatments occur in two phases
a€? The active phase a€“ braces or other appliances are used to move the teeth into proper alignment and correct the bite
a€? The retentive phase a€“ a retainer is used to hold the teeth in their new position for the long term
a€? The retentive phase- a retainer is used to hold the teeth in their new position for the long term
a€? In addition to braces , orthodontists sometimes use , special appliance to direct the growth of the jaw in young children
Some time it is necessary to remove teeth to gain sufficient space to align the remaining teeth . my decayed teeth should be filled and the teeth sometimes need to be cleaned before orthodontic treatment is started.
Treatment Time
Orthodontic treatment usually takes 18- 24 months. Some cases may be finished earlier and others may take linger to complete . the total treatment time depends on the severity of the original malocclusion, the type of treatment carried out, and 5th co-operation of the patient.