Orthodontic Treatment

Orthodontics is that branch of dentistry which specialises in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of problems in the alignment of teeth and jaws.

The technical term for these problems is malocclusion, which literally means bad bite.

Orthodontic treatment involves the design and use of corrective appliances (such as braces, plates, headgears and functional appliances) to bring the teeth and jaws into proper alignment.

Orthodontic Problems:

Crowded teeth

Crowded teeth can be unattractive and more difficult to clean. They are prone to uneven wear.

Spaced teeth

Spaces between the teeth can look unattractive and can interfere with speech.

Protruded teeth

can be unattractive and prone to accidental damage. Often teeth become worn unevenly. Sometimes, the lower front teeth can over-erupt and damage the gum behind the top front teeth.

Orthodontic treatment involves the aligning, levelling, and coordination of both arches with braces. In growing patients, the bite is corrected with headgear, elastics or functional appliances.

In severe cases, especially if growth is complete, jaw surgery might be required to correct the jaw disharmony.

Deep bite

The upper and/or lower front teeth can overupt to produce a deep bite.

A deep bite can cause excessive wear of the front teeth and can damage the gum behind the upper front teeth.

Deep bites can exert excessive strain on the jaw joint resulting in tempero-mandibular joint problems.

Open-bite

An open-bite exists when opposing teeth don't meet.

An open-bite can cause eating problems and excessive wear of those teeth which do make contact.

Anterior Cross-bite

Missing teeth

Missing teeth usually result in unattractive spaces.

Opposing and adjacent teeth can drift into the space to create further problems.

Orthodontic treatment involves moving all teeth into correct position, and creating proper space to facilitate replacement of the missing teeth with prostheses.

In certain situations, it is possible to close the spaces and avoid having to replace teeth with prostheses.



Other problems 

 

An orthodontic opinion might also be sought when there is:
Difficulty in chewing or biting
Speech difficulty
Grinding or clenching of teeth
Jaws that shift or make sounds

Why straighten teeth?

People have orthodontic treatment to improve the appearance, health and function of their teeth.

Appearance

People are very aware of how teeth look and an attractive smile can play an important role in enhancing self-confidence.

These days, with good oral hygiene and regular dental care, your teeth should last a lifetime - wouldn't it be nice if they looked good too?

Hygiene

It's more difficult to clean your teeth when they are crowded and overlapping. Inadequate cleaning is a major factor in tooth decay, gum disease and eventual tooth loss.

Whilst it is possible to keep even the most crooked teeth clean, having your teeth straightened will make it easier for you to look after them.

Tooth wear

It is claimed that some bad bites lead to clenching, grinding, and excessive wear and/or uneven wear of the teeth.

Gum damage

In severe malocclusions the teeth can damage the gum.

For example, in cases of deep bite, the lower front teeth can bite into the gum behind the upper front teeth.

Jaw joint problems

It is claimed that some bad bites stress the jaw joint causing damage and pain in and around the joint.

Speech

Some people have difficulty speaking properly because of alignment problems with their teeth and jaws.

When to start orthodontic treatment

Orthodontic problems are usually apparent by the age of seven, when most of the adult front teeth have erupted. However, your dentist may detect an orthodontic problem earlier.

Early examination allows the orthodontist to detect and evaluate problems and to plan an appropriate treatment schedule.

Early treatment may prevent more serious problems from developing or make treatment at a later age shorter and less complicated. Early treatment may also achieve results that are not possible once the face and jaws have stopped growing.

In most cases, orthodontic treatment is commenced as soon as the last baby tooth has been shed. This usually occurs in the early teens.  In some cases, it is an advantage to start just before the last baby teeth are shed.

In the past, orthodontic treatment was generally restricted to children. However, the basic process involved in moving teeth is the same at any age and orthodontic treatment is also successful for adults.

Because an adult's facial bones are no longer growing, some severe malocclusions cannot be corrected with braces alone. In such cases, orthodontic treatment combined with jaw surgery can achieve dramatic improvements.

If you think you have an orthodontic problem, the best time to see an orthodontist is now.