Orthodontics refers to a branch of dentistry that treats misalignment or irregular positioning of teeth. If you have straight teeth that line up together, you don’t need to worry about your bite. You can bite, chew, bite, and speak properly. Some people have crooked teeth that are not correctly positioned when they close their mouths. This situation leads to an improper bite. Further, misaligned teeth are difficult to clean and invite abnormal enamel wearing to make people highly vulnerable to unwanted dental complications over time. Orthodontic treatment addresses all irregularities to ensure proper teeth function and healthy smiles.
Orthodontics is a complex dental procedure
Orthodontics is not a simple dental procedure. Your teeth must be moved to new positions to solve the malocclusion. So, this procedure involves changes in soft tissues, facial bones, and jawbones. If you want to make your teeth straight and optimally functional, you need to consult an orthodontist.
Detailed examination and a custom treatment plan
When you approach an orthodontist, he/she performs a detailed examination of the teeth and mouth to understand the existing condition. Dental records like x-rays and plaster models of your teeth are also used to make an accurate assessment. After analyzing all relevant aspects, the orthodontist develops a custom treatment plan that meets your unique needs.
What types of dental issues are solved using orthodontics?
You can seek the help of an orthodontist to close wide gaps between your teeth. Orthodontics is the best dental procedure for treating an improper bite. If you want to align the tips of your teeth, you can opt for this treatment. It is hard to find a better procedure to straighten crooked teeth. Many people rely on this procedure to prevent long-term excessive wear or trauma of their teeth. You can also consult an orthodontist to improve speech and chewing ability. Last but not the least; it improves the long-term health of teeth and gum.
How do orthodontic treatments work?
Orthodontics uses different types of fixed or removable devices, including braces, plates, and headgear to deliver the expected results. By applying gentle pressure on your teeth and jaw, these devices retrain muscles and move your teeth slowly.
Orthodontics – Fixed appliances
Fixed appliances are the most common devices utilized in orthodontics. When precision is the prime objective, these types of devices are used. You can ear normal while using fixed appliances. However, orthodontists ask patients to avoid sticky foods, carbonated drinks, and hard candy. You need special gum shields if you get engaged in contact sports after the treatment.
Different types of fixed appliances
One of the most common fixed appliances is braces. Braces constitute brackets, wires, and bands. You can find clear as well as colored braces nowadays. If children lose their teeth prematurely, orthodontists make use of fixed-space maintainers. Sometimes, orthodontics makes use of special fixed appliances to control tongue thrusting or thumb sucking.
Orthodontics – Removable appliances
As the name suggests, you can take out these appliances when flossing, eating, and cleaning. Aligners are the most common type of removable appliances available today. Staying invisible, aligners move teeth like braces efficiently without using any metal wires and brackets. Removable space maintainers are alternative to removable space maintainers. Placed in open spaces between teeth, they keep the teeth apart to deliver the best results.
Orthodontics uses splints or Jaw repositioning appliances to treat TMJ disorders. These removable appliances are placed on the lower jaw or upper jaw to maintain a balanced jaw position. Other popular removable appliances are lip and cheek bumpers, palatal expanders, retainers, and headgear.
What are the most prominent benefits of orthodontics?
Offering cosmetic correction, orthodontic treatments improve your appearance considerably. You can expect to achieve a healthy functional bite when you hire the expertise of an orthodontist. Orthodontics also prevents teeth-related diseases to keep your oral health at optimal levels.
If you are experiencing any overbite, underbite, crossbite, open bite, misplaced midline, spacing, and crowding-related issues, you need to consult an orthodontist.
Improvement of self-esteem is a vital advantage of orthodontics. When you stay confident, your productivity increases substantially. Enhanced function of teeth leads to clear pronunciation and speech along with improved chewing.
When food particles accumulate between your teeth, you will become highly vulnerable to dental caries or decay. Orthodontics eliminates the risk of dental decay admirably. Further, you should not worry about gum injury and trauma due to overbites or malocclusions.