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Health Line: Do you need dental braces?
YOU might have noticed your friends and relatives in school or at a birthday party wearing steel wires in their mouth. Well they wear them for a good reason, and that is to straighten crooked or crowded teeth. All of us are not fortunate enough to be born with teeth that would help us own a million dollar smile. Most of us develop crooked and very badly aligned teeth by the age of 8 years. This is due to ‘mother-nature’ or perhaps our own bad oral habits.
Orthodontics is the science of treating crooked teeth. The dentists who specialize in braces are known as orthodontists. They are trained to treat badly crooked and mismatched teeth with braces and wires. Consulting an orthodontist for braces is a short procedure. He or she will perform a pain free routine checkup to determine whether you require braces, the length of treatment and the extent to which this tooth problem can be resolved.
How does it work?
TEETH respond to very gentle but constant pressures. These can be applied by means of orthodontic appliances or ‘braces’ to align the teeth by moving them in the desired directions.
What can it achieve?
FIRST, a nice, even smile. Straight teeth look better than teeth which are irregular, crowded or spaced. In a growing child, orthodontic treatment may sometimes be able to modify facial growth, improving the contour and profile of the face.
There are some functional reasons to undergo orthodontic treatment. Straight teeth are easier than crooked teeth to keep clean with a healthy gum condition. Chewing may be more efficient and teeth that ‘bite’ properly are less likely to cause jaw joint problems later in life.
Best age for treatment
MOST orthodontic treatment begins between the ages of 11 and 13, depending on how quickly the permanent teeth come through. However, there are indications for earlier treatment in the mixed dentition.
Though adult orthodontics is also becoming more popular due to cosmetic and functional reasons, treatment becomes somewhat slower and the amount of improvement may be limited since facial growth would have ceased.
Orthodontic treatment
IF you have a few badly rotated teeth, and if you cannot clean your teeth properly around them, then you need braces.
Types of braces
THERE are two main types. Removable appliances are suitable for simple tooth movements. They consist of an acrylic plate, which fits into the roof of the mouth. Teeth are guided into position by orthodontic wires. Removable appliances can be taken out for cleaning purposes.
Fixed appliances are bonded to the teeth for the duration of the treatment. Each tooth has a small bracket bonded to its surface. The brackets are attached to a thin flexible wire, which achieves the straightening and alignment. Fixed appliances are more accurate than removable appliances and are generally used for the treatment of more difficult and complex irregularities. Some fixed appliances use small elastics that need to be changed by the patient every 24 hours.
Headgear is often used to help orthodontic treatment where backward movement of the teeth is required or for anchorage purposes. This is added to the existing orthodontic appliances and is worn at night and sometimes in the evenings too.
Braces be worn full-time?
TEETH do need constant pressure signals to maintain a satisfactory movement. Removable as well as fixed appliances require to be worn day and night. Failure to do this greatly retards progress.
An exception to this is the so-called ‘functional appliance’. This is a growth-regulating brace but is only suitable for use in a limited number of treatments.
How long does treatment take?
THIS depends on how far the teeth need to be moved as well as the cooperation of the patient. Most orthodontic treatments can be completed within two years and some of the simpler ones in considerably less time.
How important is patient cooperation?
SATISFACTORY results are not possible without 100 per cent cooperation. Appliances must be worn full-time as instructed. Great care must be taken to avoid eating hard or crunchy substances. These can damage the delicate wires and detach the brackets used with fixed appliances. Toffees and chewing gum should be avoided as these are likely to cause breakage.
Regular visits for appliance adjustment are essential for good progress and the safety of your teeth. Visit your normal dentist regularly for checkups so that good dental health can be maintained throughout treatment.
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