BRACES / ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT

What is orthodontic treatment?
Orthodontic treatment is a way to correct teeth and jaws that are positioned improperly. By fixing this problem, it will improve your smile. Straight teeth are pleasing to look at and greatly boost confidence and self-esteem. More importantly, it will also increase your dental health. Crooked teeth can be harder to clean, putting you at risk for cavities and gum disease. Properly aligned teeth enhance the biting, chewing and speaking functions of the jaw.

When should I begin the treatment?
Orthodontic treatment is generally best carried out in 10-14 year-old-children. This is when a child’s head and mouth are still growing and teeth are easier to straighten. But patient can get braces at any age. In fact, more and more adults are getting braces.

What does the treatment involve?
First, your dentist will have a full examination. This will usually involve looking at your teeth, taking x-rays and making plaster models of your teeth so your dentist enables to get a precise idea of the position of your teeth and the amount of correction needed.

Next, your dentist will recommend custom orthodontic device to gently move the teeth into proper alignment. This orthodontic appliance may be fixed or removable. The correction of most orthodontic problems requires braces. Braces are made of a silver metal and are attached to individual teeth. Clear braces are also available. The archwire is threaded between these brackets and secured via metal bands or colored rubber one.

When the teeth have been correctly aligned, fixed braces and removable devices will be removed and discontinued. Your dentist will replace it with a retainer. The goal of the retainer is to ensure that the teeth do not begin to shift back to their original positions. Retainers need to be worn for a specified amount of time per day for a specified time period. During the retention phase, the jawbone will reform around the realigned teeth to fully stabilize them in the correct alignment. The retainer can be removed as and when necessary.

How long does the treatment take?
To be successful, orthodontic treatment requires cooperation and time. Orthodontic treatment usually takes 18 – 24 months. Your dentist will regularly adjust it to ensure adequate and continual pressure is being applied to the teeth. It is essential to visit the orthodontist at the designated intervals and to call if part of the device breaks or becomes damaged.