It is common knowledge that we are drawn to people with a beautiful smile. Indeed, a fabulous smile can make the most ordinary looking person attractive. Are you happy with your smile? Does your smile look as good as it did when you were younger? Your smile is the most important feature on your face and here at Tooth Angels & Co. Dental Clinic, that is the most important to us too.
Orthodontics
Orthodontics is the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental and facial irregularities or "bad bite". Orthodontic treatment is not purely cosmetic but can boost a person's self-image as the teeth, jaws and lips become properly aligned, but an attractive smile is just one of the benefits. The alleviation or prevention of physical health problems is just as important. Without treatment, orthodontic problems may lead to tooth decay, gum disease, bone destruction and chewing and digestive difficulties. A "bad bite" can contribute to speech impairments, tooth loss, chipped teeth and other dental injuries.
Most orthodontic problems are inherited, including tooth size and jaw size, and may lead to crowding of teeth or spacing of teeth. Jutting teeth, extra or missing teeth, and irregularities of the jaws, teeth, and face are mostly inherited as well. Other orthodontic problems can be caused from accidents, pacifier or thumb sucking, dental disease, or the premature loss of either the primary or permanent teeth
The best age to do the orthodontic treatment is when you are twelve to thirteen years of age as all the permanent teeth have usually erupted by this stage. The jaws are growing at this age and so it is easier to expand your jaws and reshape your mouth.
However, it may be worth seeking advice even earlier. By the age of seven, enough permanent teeth have come in and enough jaw growth has occurred that the dentist or orthodontist can identify current problems, anticipate future problems or alleviate parents' concerns if all seems normal.
For those patients who have clear indications for early orthodontic intervention, early treatment presents an opportunity to:
- guide the growth of the jaw
- regulate the width of the upper and lower dental arches
- guide incoming permanent teeth into desirable positions
- lower risk of accidental damage to protruded upper incisors (front teeth)
- correct harmful oral habits such as thumb sucking
- help to reduce or eliminate abnormal swallowing or speech problems
- improve personal appearance and self-esteem
- recognize problems at an early stage and potentially simplify any procedures that may be required in the future
- reduce likelihood of impacted permanent teeth (teeth that should have come in, but have not)
- preserve or gain space for permanent teeth that are coming in
Parents who are concerned to know whether their child is a candidate for early orthodontic treatment should let the child be visiting his/her dentist every six months and they will advise you on any treatment your child requires. However, there are many signs or habits, which you may be able to recognize yourself such as:
- early or late loss of baby teeth
- difficulty in chewing or biting
- mouth breathing
- thumb sucking
- finger sucking
- crowding, misplaced or blocked out teeth
- jaws that shift or make sounds
- biting the cheek or roof of the mouth
- teeth that meet abnormally or not at all
- jaws and teeth that are out of proportion to the rest of the face
There are no age limits to braces treatment and orthodontic treatment can easily be done at an older age, if the dental and gingival health is good. Many people did not get braces when they were young. Either their parents could not afford braces, or their teeth could not be straightened with the techniques of 40 years ago. Most adults get orthodontic treatment because they realize that taking care of your smile reflects good personal image and grooming.
Other people did have orthodontic treatment when they were young, but they did not wear their retainers as told by their dentist. As a result, their teeth have shifted and area little bit crooked. Unhappy with their smile, they opt to redo braces as well.
Orthodontic treatment does take longer when you are older. It also feels a little different. Still, people as old as ninety are getting braces. People who live to the age of ninety know how important it is to take care of their teeth and orthodontic treatment is a part of that overall care.
Today, a greater premium is placed upon personal appearance than ever before. Many patients feel that visible appliances on their teeth would hinder them greatly in reaching their professional and personal goals. For the many adults seeking healthier, more attractive smiles, we offer several alternatives to metal braces.
Braces
The braces will not mark the teeth. However, if dental plaque is allowed to become thick around the braces the plaque itself may damage the teeth. Instruction will be given on the use of special brushes and a daily fluoride mouthrinse can be used to harden areas that are very difficult to clean. Care must be taken to choose an alcohol-free, pH-balanced rinse. Certain foods and drinks may also lead to damage. You should avoid drinking lots of fizzy drinks and keep in-between-meal snacks to a minimum.
Very crunchy and sticky foods can break your braces and should be avoided. Hard foods can be chopped up and chewed gently. It is important to realise that once braces are removed, the teeth can drift back towards their original positions or shift out of position if they are not stabilized. They must, therefore, be held in their new positions for a long time with retainers until they have settled. Retainers are either removable appliances or fixed thin wires stuck onto the inner side of the teeth, which provides stabilization. They are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime. |
