Orthodontics

Orthodontics is a specialty of dentistry that deals with the diagnosis, prevention and correction of malpositioned teeth and jaws. Orthodontic procedures are used as preparatory treatment before prosthetics. There are many problems arising from misaligned teeth. People with misaligned teeth have difficulty in chewing or speaking, their teeth wear out very quickly. Cleaning teeth may be harder and teeth may be vulnerable to damage. Besides, it can cause pain in the jaw joint eventually. For many people, misaligned teeth cause discomfort; they lack self-confidence and do not want to smile. Advanced technologies can help to solve the problem easily.  Orthodontic treatment is not just for kids, an increasing number of adults are now also seeking treatment. Specialists of the clinic recommend that children should be seen by an orthodontist at around age 8-13 yrs. At this age the baby teeth change to permanent, the facial bones grow, therefore problems with bite often arise. Detecting malocclusion (bad bite) at an early stage helps to avoid more serious problems in future, and treatment is shorter and easier.

Orthodontic treatment is necessary when:

• Teeth are crowded.
• Protruding or misaligned teeth.
• The upper and lower front teeth do not meet when the mouth is closed.
• The teeth are in a regular line, but they are crooked.
• There are fixed and removable types of brace systems used for orthodontics.

Orthodontic plates

In orthodontics, a plate is a hard plastic device, which fits around the top teeth, the bottom teeth or sometimes both. It uses wires and springs to push the teeth into position or to hold them in place as other adult teeth enter the child’s mouth. It is easy to clean. Plates are usually worn by younger children to fix minor crowding or bite problems. The wires or springs are not fixed to the teeth, so the plate can be removed, unlike braces. However, children are often tempted to not wear a plate at all, and as a result, the treatment does not give the expected results.  

What is the procedure?

The orthodontist examines the patient and determines whether the treatment with the plate is sufficient. A plate is made using an impression. The impression is sent to the orthodontic lab, where they make a model of the teeth. Then the doctor adjusts it for the patient and the treatment begins. As a rule, the plates should be worn continuously during the entire period of treatment, but there are cases when the plate is worn only at night.

Braces

Dental braces— the most common appliances, they consist of bands, wires and/or brackets. They are more expensive than plates. They are permanently fixed during the treatment period, require extremely thorough cleaning, and frequent visits to the dentist. It is much more effective and convenient orthodontic treatment. Sometimes it is the only way of treatment. Getting braces put on takes about an hour and it is an absolutely pain free. In the first few days or after following visits, you may feel pressure the braces put on the teeth. During the first week after getting braces, you may experience discomfort or cuts, but after a few days, it disappears. If necessary, the doctor prescribes pain relievers. Orthodontic wax is also used to soothe and protect against the discomfort.

What is the procedure?

The dentists examines the patient and determines whether the braces treatment will be effective. The patient chooses the type of braces, and has it put on during the next visit. Orthodontic cement is used to glue the parts to the teeth. This cement does not harm the tooth surface; it is removed after treatment and leaves no traces. The patient must remember to brush teeth very thoroughly during the entire treatment, otherwise plaque accumulates around the braces and it can cause decays.  The parts are connected by the arch wire, sometimes with the help of additional elastics. The patient visits orthodontist every 4-6 weeks. He monitors the results of treatment and adjusts the braces. The duration of treatment is very individual and depends on the teeth growth.

• Metal braces. These are the metal brackets and wires. These braces look a little worse than other types. However, they are the most popular, since they are cheaper than others and the treatment is shorter in time. The braces are more stable – they do not break and crack.
• Ceramic braces. Parts are made of white ceramic, and the arc can be white or metallic. This system is more expensive, treatment takes longer, braces are less resistant to damage, but the aesthetic advantage of this system is obvious.
• Damon system. Damon braces are fitted in the same way as traditional metal braces. They use a different method for moving teeth into the right position. Instead of having brackets that tighten and adjust the braces regularly, Damon braces use a slide mechanism that attaches wires to brackets to move naturally with the teeth as they realign. They are attached to memory wire that connects slide brackets without the pressure that traditional elastics often produce. This makes them more comfortable, better looking and able to provide strong results in a shorter time. In addition, the patient visits the orthodontist less often- once in 6-8 weeks. Unfortunately, this system cannot be applied in all cases and costs more than traditional metal braces.