
Orthodontics is the first specialty of dentistry that relates with the study and treatment of malocclusions-improper bites that arise due to tooth irregularities and disproportionate jaw relationships.
Orthodontic treatment not only focuses on dental displacement but can also deal with dentofacial orthopaedics – the control and modification of facial growth.
Orthodontic therapy is a dental treatment for irregular teeth, enhancing a person’s smile that may be disfigured due to bad teeth proportions. This improves the smile, thus in turn improving self-confidence.
Chew Better: More than just cosmetic, they help a person chew food better thus preventing the ill effects of undigested food leading to other complications.
Age Factor: There is no definitive age for putting on braces. The best time is 8 to 14yrs, however braces can be applied even in adults although the treatment duration for adult orthodontics is more than for an adolescent.
Pain: Soreness may happen in the first few days of brace therapy which will reduce subsequently either naturally or with a pain killer.
Talking: Braces usually does not affect how a person talks or affects the tone of a person’s voice.
Eating: Moderate or reduce on hard food substances, sticky, gooey or crunchy foods, caramel, taffy, peanut brittle, carrots and apples and hard rolls can stick on your braces and pull the braces off your teeth. Otherwise everything else is fine.
Frequently Asked questions
Q1: What are the early symptoms of orthodontic problems?
The following are some of the symptoms that may help in prompting you to seek orthodontic advice.
If your Dental Implants are well looked after, and if the bone they are fitted to, is strong and healthy, you can expect them to last for many years. However, just as with other surgical Implants (such as a hip replacement) there is no lifetime guarantee.
Ask your child to open their mouth, and if you see any signs of crooked teeth, gaps between your child’s teeth or overlapping teeth, your child may need orthodontic visit/treatment.
Ask your child to bite all the way down, but keeping their lips open so you can see their teeth. Do the front top teeth line up with the bottom? Do the top teeth protrude out away from the bottom teeth? Do the top front teeth cover more than 50% of the bottom teeth? Are the top teeth behind the bottom teeth? All these are indicators for potential orthodontic treatment.
Look at the alignment of your child’s jaw. Does the jaw shift off center when your child bites down? Is the chin in the middle of their face? If you see any misalignment or shifting of the jaw then you might need a visit to your orthodontist
Q2: Can I eat everything when I get Braces?
You can eat but you need to be cautious when eating hard food substances, sticky, gooey or crunchy foods, caramel, taffy, peanut brittle, carrots and apples and hard rolls as it can stick on your braces and pull the braces off your teeth in few cases.
Q3: What happens if a piece of my braces comes off and I swallow it?
All braces are tested so they are completely safe. The parts just pass through your digestive system if you swallow
Q4: Do I need to get few teeth removed for the treatment?
Removal of teeth depends from case to case. If teeth has to be pushed back and there is no space to do that then teeth might be removed.