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Orthodontics:
Dental Braces in the 21st Century
Years ago, dental braces were
only appropriate for pre-teens and teens having problems with
their bite (malocclusion). Today, orthodontic treatments are
not only for pre-teens and teens, but for adults as well.
Close to 30% of all orthodontic patients in Australia are
adults. But it pays to start early for maximum effectiveness:
the Australian Dental Association recommends that children
receive an orthodontic evaluation by age seven.
A malocclusion is usually a
restorative issue, since it may interfere with eating and
speaking. It may also be an esthetic issue that involves cosmetic
dentistry since a malocclusion may prevent the development
of a beautiful, well-aligned smile or facial jaw lines.
No matter what your age, orthodontics
can protect your bite (occlusion), maximize your teeth's effectiveness
in performing their functions, and create a well-aligned smile.
In orthodontics today, the teeth and underlying roots are
repositioned, providing better support for the crown of the
tooth. Orthodontic treatment can also rejuvenate your facial
appearance by reshaping the jaw, neck, and lips, especially
when combined with maxillo-facial surgical procedures.
Finally, well aligned teeth
make oral hygiene easier to accomplish. In fact, today’s orthodontics
has been associated with the benefits of greater esthetic
appeal, more comfort and reduced treatment time.
Orthodontic Practioner............
Orthodontist practioneer are
the dentists who focus on the practice of orthodontics. An
orthodontic practioner is typically required to complete an
additional two to three years of post-dental school education
before becoming a certified practitioner of orthodontics.
The Orthodontic
Evaluation
If you are a candidate for orthodontics,
you would likely be referred by your family dentist to an
orthodontist for evaluation of your bite. During the first
orthodontic visit, your orthodontist may use several methods
to develop an individualized treatment plan, including:
1. Oral, facial and functional
evaluation (examination).
2. Intraoral and facial photographs.
3. Panoramic and Cephalometric x-rays.
4. Impressions for models of the teeth and bite.
An orthodontist will review
your dental records, perform a clinical assessment, take x-rays
of your mouth and head, as well as make models of the teeth
by creating an accurate impression of the teeth - all of which
is studied in order to formulate the best plan.
During the second visit, your
orthodontist will typically review the treatment plan and
estimate the number of months for the active phase of treatment.
The standard treatment phase is two years. After this, you
may be required to wear a retainer for a while.
Orthodontic treatment time can
vary, based on age, the required changes to produce a satisfactory
outcome, and how closely you follow your treatment plan. For
example, younger patients may respond more quickly to treatment
than adult patients because the bones supporting young teeth
are more pliable than older bones. But adults tend to follow
treatment instructions more consistently than pre-teens.
In some cases the treatment
time is longer. For example, oral surgery and recovery may
be needed before or during the braces treatment.
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The Advantages
of Today's Dental Braces
Today's dental braces are much
improved for a variety of reasons:
Reduced Treatment Time:
Computer-aided technology offered through some orthodontic
offices today helps the orthodontist to create ideal tooth
positions. There are reports which indicate that the aid of
such technology may reduce treatment time significantly.
Comfortable Treatment:
The brace wires are now made of materials that serve to reposition
the teeth and underlying roots more readily and with less
discomfort than in the past. Titanium implants are sometimes
anchored in the bone on the side of the mouth and palate to
help easily shift the front teeth back and allow for more
space where necessary. The molars of a braced patient may
have magnets attached to them in order to help lift and reposition
underlying molars. And in some cases, headgear is no longer
needed as it was in past orthodontic work.
Esthetic Appeal:
A new, popular form of braces for those with mild tooth movement
requirements is tooth-colored or clear braces. These "invisible
braces" or aligners may be made of a flexible, clear
thin material that fits tightly over the teeth and is changed
out every two to three weeks so that gradual tooth movement
can occur. To monitor the progression of the teeth's movement,
your orthodontist will likely see you every six to eight weeks.
In the end, you are rewarded
with a beautiful, well-aligned smile.
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What's
Behind a Bite?
Malocclusions may be caused
by one or more factors:
Small Mouth:
A small mouth may mean that the teeth do not have enough room
to grow and the teeth will become crowded when permanent teeth
erupt.
Tongue Thrusting: Tongue
thrusting is when a child plunges his or her tongue forward
to press against the lips, with a force that may result in
the protrusion of teeth or “open bite”, among other problems.
Extra Teeth or Not
Enough: Sometimes, more than the average number of
teeth develop and/or protrude. Other times certain teeth may
not develop or protrude at all. Finally, the untimely loss
of baby teeth or traumatic injury to the face, mouth, or jaw
may affect the bite.
Misaligned Jaw and
Bone Structure: A misaligned jaw or supporting bone
structure may affect the bite and create a malocclusion. Malocclusion
may result in difficulty chewing, speaking, or otherwise impacting
the functionality of the teeth. Furthermore, malocclusion
may contribute to other dental conditions such as TMD (TMJ)
and teeth grinding.
Poor Muscular Functional
Habits: Malocclusions may be caused by poor muscular
functional habits such as thumb sucking during infancy and
later. Some adults still suck their fingers or thumbs. The
resultant tongue thrust habits are a detriment to dental and
facial development.
Orthodontic problems
 
 
All these problems can be fixed
using orthodontics - please call the Smiles Dr today to get
more infomation on orthodontics or to just book an
appointment
to see our orthodontic practioner. Liverpool (02)
9821 4480 | Mascot: (02) 9317 2222.
TEETH
IN AN HOUR - NOBELGUIDE
Teeth In An Hour is a new protocol
that allows patients to leave the office with fixed teeth
in less an one hour.
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