Orthodontics - Braces

Do you dream of having aligned and straight teeth ?
Do you wish to get a beautiful smile that is very attractive ?

You may have a few questions that you would like answered to choose the suitable treatment for you, at the right time, so here we provide you answers to all the queries that go on in your mind and more…….

Adolescence or early adulthood? What is the best age to get dental braces?

Dental braces are more commonly associated with children and adolescents simply because this is the age that most people notice that their teeth are not balanced and something is off about their smile. However, as long as you have good oral health there is no age specific for dental braces. Children, adolescents and even adults may undergo orthodontic treatment with dental braces because it is an effective technique to correct the alignment and bite to give you a beautiful, straight, healthy and vibrant smile for life.

How do you know if you need braces?

There are some certain signs that are obvious and others more tricky to help you identify if dental braces is a good treatment for you. Despite the difficulty in being able to decide whether or not you might need braces, it is possible by your dentist or orthodontist to do some certain examinations and check your medical history, radiographs, and the current position of your teeth in order to diagnose why you might need braces and for how long you will need to have them.

There are some clear symptoms that make orthodontics a suitable treatment for you :

If your teeth are crooked or tilted, your smile appears unnatural.

When the front teeth are protruding especially in children, it might be more vulnerable to trauma and fracture and this will affect your smile to a great extent

The loss of alignment in the anterior front teeth will prevent a normal bite making chewing difficult

Spaces or gaps between the teeth result in in food impaction which will then in turn cause a bad odour in the mouth.

Therapeutic or Esthetic?

Dental braces will corrrecnt the alignment pf your teeth anf beautify your smile as it works to move the teeth into their correct desired position. This alignment will make the teeth and jaw in harmony, correcting the bite. This is good to prevent any jaw joint problems, decay or tooth wear and you will have a beautifully aligned smile

Advantages of having dental braces?

Dental braces is not only used to treat esthetic problems it is also used as a therapeutic method of treatment such as :

Being used to treat cleft lip and palate at the end of the phase of mixed dentition.
Orthodontic treatment with braces correct position of teeth and alignments restoring the teeth to the natural desired positions
Some cases may require orthognathic surgery if the discrepancy is within the bone and not just the teeth.
The orthodontist may formulate a treatment plan with the endodontist to simultaneously reposition the teeth and do a complete root canal treatment where required.
Dental braces is used as an adjunct treatment in some cases of sleep apnea where the treatment plan is formulated between the orthodontist and the sleep specialist. An initial investigation is done to understand the reasons for and if it is a result of jaw positioning, or the muscles of the face. An appropriate orthodontic device is then made for the patient and tried in the mouth, while giving the patient suggestions and advice on how it is to be used at night to correct it breathing and get rid of this these sleepiness problems.

The main goal of dental braces is to correct the position of the teeth and improve the smile. It may give the following extra benefits such as :

correcting the bite to improve mastication which in turn will improve digestion
It can also improve phonetics and increase confidence during speech.
Alignment of teeth reduces the chances for food impaction and plaque and so reduces risk of caries
Helps to reduce risk of tooth wear and periodontal disease
Easier to have crowns, bridges or even veneers after the braces treatment as the teeth will require less preparation then.

How how long does the treatment of dental braces take ?

The average time of treatment is between 1 to 3 years depending on how badly positioned the teeth are and their alignment. Don’t let these numbers scare you! Although they may seem complicated but it is easier than you can imagine Some simple cases take only 12 months whereas more complicated treatments may last up to 24 months.

Which is better, braces with a dentist or orthodontist?

100 percent of orthodontists are dentists. But only 3 percent of dentists are orthodontists. Both work in different ways, dentists treat all oral cavity problems including braces but an orthodontist is limited to braces only. This is the main difference.

What are the different types of dental braces and what is the best?

There are different types of braces but they all have the same function of placing pressure on the teeth to move them to their correct positions. Gradually with time dental braces make the teeth all aligned to make a balanced smile.

Fixed Orthodontic Treatment (braces)

This type is the most commonly used as it is the most effective to correct all malalignment and badly positioned teeth. A specialised dentist will place it accurately on each tooth and it needs special care after. Brushing regularly with a soft brush and a special orthodontic toothbrush to clean in between the brackets to prevent any decay that might happen to the teeth.

Removable orthodontic treatment

This type of treatment is by appliances that can be worn or removed easily by the patient and so the teeth can be maintained and cleaned easily during treatment. It is used in mild cases, to treat simple malpositioning of teeth.It is difficult to predict the results of such treatment as the prognosis depends on how well the patients wear the appliance and adhere to the instructions given by the dentist. Due to this alot of dentists don’t suggest this treatment option.

Removable aligners

These can be used in all ages including adolescents where only mild malpositioning of the teeth has happened. These aligners are made of plastic that is transparent and custom-made to match the teeth of each individual.

In the case of removable aligners, this appliance is changed every 2 weeks with a new aligner that puts pressure on the teeth and moves them into their desired positions.

This is the costliest type of treatment due to the fact that it is extremely esthetic. Transparent and can be worn to the patient’s comfort.

Fixed orthodontic treatment can be divided into two

Metal braces

This is the conventional type of dental braces and is used most commonly to fix teeth orthodontically. It consists of metal brackets made of stainless steel that are glued on the surface of the teeth and connected using a wire and elastics. Every month, when a patient comes in for adjustment, the dentist will change the elastic and wire, creating a certain amount of force in the direction needed to create pressure to move the teeth gradually.

Ceramic braces

This type of fixed dental braces is preferred by slightly older adults as the brackets are made of ceramic which is transparent and cannot be seen easily making it a more aesthetic option. It is more expensive as a result of this, however, it functions in a similar way to metal braces. Although the brackets are clear, there is still a wire holding the bracket in place that may be visible and the elastics that apply force.
These brackets are also more likely to fracture upon extra chewing forces unlike the stronger metallic brackets.

Lingual braces

Lingual braces is very similar to metal braces. The name is derived from the fact that the brackets are placed on the inside of the teeth where it cannot be seen easily
This type of braces is used in case of crowding of the teeth due to a small jaw, as it helps in the expansion of the jaw and changing the shape of the face. It usually needs a long time of treatment as it is very costly than other types of dental braces

Alternatives to dental braces to have a bright and vibrant smile

If you don’t want to have braces for whatever reasons, then the other options that will able to help you

achieve the smile that you desire without undergoing orthodontic treatment are the following

Retainers for the teeth

These are usually worn by the patient, easily worn or removed. Mainly to retain the shape of the teeth after dental braces, however they can be used independently if only minimal movement is required.

Six months Smile

This type of treatment involves the use of aligners that are able to correct mild problems that occur especially in the front teeth when smiling. This works within about 3 to 6 months but placing pressure on only a few teeth at a time.

Veneer

Veneers are considered to be the best treatment option to treat malpositioning of teeth for patients who don’t want dental braces. It consists of a thin layer of porcelain that is added on the surface of teeth to improve esthetics and solve several other issues.

Most commons queries regarding orthodontic treatment

Do dental braces braces require a special type of care? and can it result in dental caries?

Special care needs to be taken while undergoing orthodontic treatment to ensure the success of the treatment. The most common complications that may arise from this type of treatment is the appearance of white opaque spots on the surface of teeth. There are usually a storm of early caries that are not yet cavitated. This happens are a result of bacterial accumulation and poor oral hygiene. Teeth need to be cleaned regularly, brushing and flossing frequently. The following need to be followed as part of the treatment :

Clean the leak cavity with tooth bush and toothpaste after every meal and using a special orthodontic brush while flossing where necessary.
The dentist recommends using toothpaste rich in fluoride and similar mouthwash to reduce risk of caries.
Brushing and cleaning to prevent plaque and calculus accumulation as these might cause further yellowing of teeth.
Avoid biting into hard foods and cutting them into small sections to Chew with the back teeth
Avoiding hard and sticky foods that may result in the bracket moving, or breaking.
Cleaning of the retainer should be done once a day using a soft toothbrush and placing it in a denture cleaning solution once a week.

Does wearing braces prevent you from enjoying your favorite foods?

You can still eat most foods even with your braces but with extra care. There are some foods better be avoided during your braces treatment because cleaning after them is difficult such as sticky foods or they may pose a risk of fracturing the brackets such as eating ice or hard candy

Is orthodontic treatment painful and uncomfortable?

It might be painful in the first couple of days until you get adjusted to the braces and the tight feeling. A few painkillers after installation will be enough to tolerate the discomfort. Similarly the same discomfort might arise at every adjustment visit and can be relieved by pain killers.

What happens are removal of the dental braces?

After removal of the braces, once the teeth are straight and bite has been corrected a retainer must be used to hold the teeth in place. If a retainer is not used there’s a risk of relapse and the teeth moving again and becoming malpositioned. Wearing the retainers is a crucial part of the treatment process and it is necessary to maintain your beautiful smile.

Are there follow up visits required as part of the treatment?

During the treatment process the dentist will specify the time required for the treatment and how many months will be required for the adjustments. It is very important to adhere to the orthodontist instructions and to not miss the appointments as this will result in the treatment getting longer.