Orthodontics

WHY PEOPLE SEEK BRACES

If you have crooked teeth and/or a misaligned bite otherwise known as an underbite or overbite, there are a variety of treatments that can help straighten teeth, including braces and retainers.

Many general dentists are doing basic alignment and orthodontics, but orthodontists specialise in correcting irregularities of teeth.
When you have a consultation with the dentist or orthodontist you choose they will ask you the following questions.

  • about your health
  • conduct a clinical exam
  • take impressions of your teeth
  • take photos of your face and teeth
  • order X-rays of the mouth and head.

Once the above has been completed, the dentist or orthodontist will discuss an appropriate treatment plan which will be made based on the analysis of the above gathered information.

In some cases, a removable retainer will be all that is necessary. In other cases especially when there is an extreme overbite or underbite, surgery may be necessary. In most cases, however, braces will be needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Braces work by applying continuous pressure over a period of time to slowly move teeth in a specific direction. As the teeth move, the bone changes shape as pressure is applied. Braces are made up of the following components:

1. Brackets are the small squares that are bonded directly to the front of each tooth with a special dental bonding agent or are attached to orthodontic bands.

2. Brackets act like handles. They hold the arch wires that move the teeth. There are several types of brackets. These include:

  • stainless steel
  • tooth coloured ceramic
  • plastic, which are often selected because they’re less obvious.

3. Bat times brackets are cemented to the back of teeth, in order to hide them from view.

4. Orthodontic bands are

  • stainless steel
  • clear
  • tooth coloured materials

The above are cemented to the teeth with dental bonding agents.

5. They wrap around each tooth to provide an anchor for the brackets. The clear tooth coloured bands are more cosmetically appealing options but are more expensive than stainless steel. They are not used in all patients. Some people have only brackets and no bands.

6. Spacers are separators that fit between teeth to create a small space prior to the placement of the orthodontic bands.

7. Arch wires which can be made of

  • metal
  • clear
  • tooth coloured attach to the brackets and act as tracks to guide the movement of the teeth.

8. Ties are small rubber rings or fine wires that fasten the arch wire to the brackets. They can be:

  • Clear
  • Metal
  • Coloured

9. A buccal tube on the band of the last tooth holds the end of the arch wire securely in place.

10. Tiny plastic rubber bands, called ligatures, hold the arch wires to the brackets.

11. Springs may be placed on the arch wires between brackets. These help to push, pull, open, or close the spaces between teeth.

12. Two bands on the upper teeth may have head gear tubes on them to hold the face bow of the headgear in place. A headgear is another tool used by orthodontists to aid in correcting irregularities of teeth.

13. Elastics or rubber bands attach to hooks on brackets and are worn between the upper and lower teeth in various ways. They apply pressure to move the upper teeth against the lower teeth to achieve a perfect fit of individual teeth.

14. Face bow head gear is the wire gadget that is used to move the upper molars back in the mouth to correct bite discrepancies and also to create room for crowded teeth.

15. The face bow consists of an inner metal part shaped like a horse shoe that goes in the mouth, attaching to buccal tubes, and an outer part that goes around the outside of the face and is connected to a head gear strap.

16. Newer “mini-braces”, which are much smaller than traditional braces, may be an option for some. There is another method of straightening teeth that uses removable plastic retainers that may also work when crowding of the teeth is not too severe. Your orthodontist will discuss the various types of braces with you and determine which might be the best option for your situation.

Your orthodontist or dentist will want to see you every month or so in order to make sure the braces are exerting steady pressure on the teeth. To create more tension and pressure on your teeth, the orthodontist or dentist will make adjustments in the wires, springs, or rubber bands of the braces. In some cases, braces alone are not enough to straighten the teeth or shift the jaw. In these situations, an external appliance, such as head gear, may need to be worn at home in the evening or through the night.

The mechanical process used to move teeth with braces is the same way at any age. So the benefits of orthodontic treatments are available to both children and adults who wish to improve their appearance and bite.

The main differences between treatments in adults and children is that certain corrections in adults may require more than braces alone and the treatment may take longer as adult bones are no longer growing.

You can continue to participate in any sport you choose.

However, when playing sports there is always a possibility of getting hit in the mouth.

This is why your orthodontist or dentist will be able to design a mouthguard made of durable plastic, which is designed to fit comfortably over your braces and will protect the soft tissues inside your mouth.

Once braces are removed. Your orthodontist or dentist will thoroughly clean your teeth. Your orthodontist or dentist may want to take another set of X-rays and bite impressions to check how well the braces straightened your teeth and to see if any wisdom teeth have developed.

If wisdom teeth are beginning to come in after braces have been removed, your orthodontist or dentist may recommend the wisdom teeth be removed as to prevent newly straightened teeth from shifting.

Your dentist or orthodontist will also fit you with a retainer. A retainer is a custom made removable or fixed appliance that helps teeth maintain their new position after braces have been removed.

Retainers can also be used to treat minor orthodontic problems.

  • The use of a retainer is a very important part of post braces care.
  • Retainers, which are typically made of
    • rubber
    • clear plastic and metal
  • metal wires that cover the outside surface of the teeth, need to be worn all the time for the first six months and then usually only during sleep.
  • The time frame for wearing a retainer will vary from patient to patient.

The reason the retainer is needed is that even though the braces may have successfully straightened your teeth, they are not completely settled in their new position until the bones, gums and muscles adapt to the change.