There are numerous reasons for malaligned or irregular teeth. These are briefly:
- Small jaw.
- Thumb-sucking.
- Bad lip and tongue habits.
- Other habits like breathing through the mouth, nail biting.
- Incompetent lips.
- Injury/accidents.
Before planning treatment, the Orthodontist examines the teeth, jaws, jaw joints, face and profile and studies how the patient bite and swallows. The dental and medical histories are taken. If the patient is looking for cosmetic changes in his/her smile or face, he/she will be asked about the specific goals for Orthodontic.
Evaluation is done with the help of :
- X-Rays
- Models
- Photographs etc.
Palatal Expander Habit Corrector Braces
An early phase of treatment may precede braces to take advantage of a child's growing jaws. Early treatment moves jaw bones and chewing muscles into position, setting the stage for the most stable bite correction possible. This phase may last for a year year or more.
Benefits of Early Orthodontics:-
- Enhancing self esteem by improving the child's appearance with proper jaw alignment.
- Creating a more stable long term result especially with severe bite problems.
- Shortening or improving results of second phase of treatment.
- Allowing for treatment at an age when children are more cooperative.
- Helping prevent fracture to buck teeth.
- Minimizing future jaw surgery.
- Minimizing removal of permanent teeth.
When is early treatment needed ?
- An unbalanced profile.
- An overbite, underbite, crossbite, gummy smile, deep smile or open bite.
- Overlapping or crowded teeth.
- Difficulty in chewing.
- Open - mouth breathing.
- Speech Problems.
- Tongue thrusting.
- Thumb or finger sucking after age of 4.
- Jaw joint problems.
Types of Early Treatment
- Palatal Expander - It gently widens a too small upper jaw to make room for crowded teeth.
- Habit Corrector - Helps stop thumb - sucking, tongue thrusting or mouth breathing.
- Functional Appliance - It guides growing jaws into position and teaches chewing muscles to ' bite right '.
- Braces - These move a child's teeth into position.
- Headgear - This helps realign jaws or move teeth into line.
- Retainers - These help stabilize teeth into their new position.
Surgery - This may be recommended for severe bite problems to achieve a stable bite and more dramatic cosmetic result.
Headgear Retainer Braces
The most common age group for Orthodontics, teenagers have most of their permanent teeth and more mature jaws. Today's braces are less noticeable than ever and won't interfere with the active life styles that teenagers enjoy. Treatment may last from one to three years and include a combination of appliances.
These are:
- Spacers - These may be placed between four teeth before you are fitted with appliances these small elastics or
- wires fit snugly between each tooth to help bands can be fitted around them about a week later.
- Braces - They are either tiny bended brackets or full bands, that gently move teeth into position.
- Headgear - This helps to realign jaws or move teeth into line.
- Retainers - These hold teeth in their corrected positions until they are stabilized.
- Palatal Expander - This may be used in teenagers whose jaws are yet growing.
Lingual Braces Splint Braces
More and more adults are seeking Orthodontics, eager for more attractive face and smile, healthier gums and freedom from jaw joint pain.
Today less visible braces can be given to suit the adult lifestyle. Appliances used in combination are
- Braces - These may be banded bracelets and full and full bands, ' invisible '. Lingual braces (which fit inside of teeth ), clear or tooth colored braces or removable braces.
- A Splint - This can help temperomandibular joint problems (Sore jaw, joints)
- Headgear - To move protruding teeth into position.
- Retainer - To stabilize teeth in their new position.
- Surgery - This may be recommended for severe bite problems to achieve a stable bite and more dramatic cosmetic result.
The treatment is usually not that painful, but occasionally the pain may be mild and last from 2 to 4 days after a visit to the Orthodontist. After this, there is absolutely no pain. During subsequent adjustments or wire changes, there may be mild discomfort (but the patient gets used to it). Recent advances in Orthodontics have made treatment far more comfortable. The braces become a part of you, just like a pair of spectacles.
You can continue to eat your favourite foods but they will have to be prepared specially. Your food will have to be softened, or cut into small pieces, or be well-cooked before eating. Ice creams and colas may be had as usual but corn will have to be sliced off the cob, hard fruits will need to be sliced, nuts and chikki ground and chocolate must not be eaten after refrigeration.
Foods that are best avoided are popcorn, sticky chocolates, hard nuts and fruits, hard crusts and chewing gum. These foods can break or loosen your braces making you uncomfortable and can delay treatment.
Brushing with braces on your teeth requires a little more effort than, if you didn't have any.
- Use of a soft bristled toothbrush or an orthodontic toothbrush.
- Brush twice a day in gentle circular motions with special emphasis to dislodge food that is lodged between teeth and the braces. Use a mouthwash to rinse additionally.
- Never allow plaque or food to accumulate on the teeth and braces.
You may have to wear small elastic bands which you change regularly. Some treatment requires a retractor or head gear, a lip bumper and other functional appliances which your orthodontist will show you how to use. Report any untoward change or damage of the braces immediately.