Orthodontics: Revolution of the Branch of Dentistry
The branch of dentistry that corrects teeth and jaws that are not properly aligned is known as orthodontics. Having teeth that are not properly aligned makes cleaning very difficult and as a result they are more prone to decays periodontal disease.
This in turn causes extra stress to the muscle that is used to chew food and therefore constantly causing headaches, shoulder, neck and back pains. Crooked teeth can also affect personal appearance as well as confidence and self esteem. Orthodontic treatment helps patients improve their appearance, have good oral health and at the same time maintain teeth that can last them for a lifetime.
Whether or not a patient is candidate for this kind of treatment is determined by their dentist or orthodontist. The doctor will look at the dental history of the patient, perform an assessment test, make plaster impression of teeth, and take a special X-ray and pictures of the teeth.
All these will help them determine if a patient will benefit from orthodontics and thereafter develop a treatment plan. There are some arrangements of teeth that make a patient perfect for this treatment plan. Buck teeth where the upper front teeth stick out, bulldog where lower teeth are too forward or upper teeth are far backward.
Other arrangements include open bite, cross bite, misplaced midline, spacing, and crowding.
To make orthodontics a success there are different types of appliances that are either removable or fixed. The appliances used help move teeth, shape the growth of the jaws and retrain muscles.
They work by putting stress on the jaw and teeth. The appliance to be used depends on the severity of the dental problem. The most common appliances used are braces which consist of wires, bands and brackets. Braces are adjusted mostly monthly as treatment progresses and may take a few months or years. Today they are lighter and less visible.
Other fixed appliances include special fixed appliances used to control tongue thrusting and thumb sucking. Fixed space maintainers are placed when a baby tooth comes off before time to keep the space open until a permanent tooth erupts.
Removable appliances used in orthodontics include aligners. They work the same way as braces and they are virtually invisible and only removed during brushing, flossing and eating. Removable space maintainers keep the space of lost a tooth open. Others include; palatal expander, headgears, lip and cheek bumpers, among others.
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