Orthodontics
Orthodontics
Orthodontics, formerly known as orthodontia, originates from the Greek word orthos, meaning “straight” or “proper “, and odous, meaning “tooth”.
Orthodontics is the first specialty of dentistry and concerns the study and treatment of malocclusions (improper bites), which may be a result of tooth irregularity, disproportionate jaw relationships, or both. Depending on the existing oral health and age of a patient, orthodontic treatment may focus on dental displacement only, or it may deal with the control and modification of facial structure.
The latter is best defined as “dentofacial orthopaedics”. It aims to modify the jaw dimensions and relationship if these are unbalanced or asymmetric.
Orthodontic treatment may be undergone for a number of reasons. It could be for purely aesthetic reasons which would focus exclusively on improving the outward appearance of a patient’s teeth; or for more serious situations, such as reconstruction of the jaw in addition to teeth.
An orthodontist is a dental surgeon who has two to three more years of specialized training than a general dentist. An orthodontist specializes, and often limits his/her practice to orthodontics and dento-facial orthopedics.
An orthodontist focuses his/her practice on the treatment of misaligned teeth and jaws, which are medically referred to as malocclusions or faulty occlusions. However, it’s not uncommon for an individual to seek an orthodontist’s services for cosmetic reasons, as well as health reasons. Aside from the insecure self-image surrounding one’s teeth that dental irregularities often cause, malocclusions can also affect a person’s speech, or ability to properly chew.
Severely misaligned teeth and jaws can also cause additional health issues such as snoring, sleep apnea, and other breathing ailments.An orthodontist will also handle To fully diagnose a TMD, a splint is often required to be worn before we initiate the treatment. An orthodontist is also instrumental in correcting the teeth and jaws in babies born with cleft lips or palates.
The severity and types of faulty occlusions differ in their presentation and often include cross bites, open bites, over bites, under bites, and many more. The techniques that an orthodontist opts to use will depend on his/her diagnosis, which is often made following a series of cranio-facial x-rays, and having a patient bite down on a mold that will illustrate the patient’s specific alignment of teeth. “DD”
Correction methods may include braces, retainers or other special devices to realign or guide incoming teeth. medical and dental In the case of severe malocclusions, an orthodontist may involve other specialists, such as an oral or maxillofacial surgeon, to help reposition the jaw bones thus correcting the bone structure to help achieve a proper bite. theone or severalee Endodontist will assess the integrity of the roots before or during the treatment if we need to. An Ent will help assessing the airways if we suspect they have an impact on the development of the facial structure of a patient. A speech pathologist will help correct a habit (finger, thumb, tongue) before or during the orthodontic treatment. acts“”:Giving you the optimal smile!
Oral health issues that require dental services can be the result of a number of reasons, heredity, or dental problems that run in the family, often being the biggest. Due to bone structure of the jaws, baby teeth may be lost too early which , or overcrowding of the teeth occurs.
Other reasons for oral health issues include improper care of teeth, leading to tooth decay, or an injury to the mouth; all of which affect the structure of the jaws and teeth.
An orthodontist can prevent dental irregularities in young children by conducting exams before a child’s permanent teeth breakthrough the gums. It is recommended that a child should see an orthodontic no later than seven years of age, particularly if there is a family history of crooked teeth or malocclusions.
In severe cases, examination at a younger age may be necessary. Early intervention takes advantage of the still developing jaw bones, and pending eruption of the permanent teeth, future corrections will take effect quickly and more smoothly. It could also help a patient avoid surgery or other more serious corrections later in life.
Following active orthodontic treatment, patients are often prescribed retainers, which ensure teeth remain in their improved positions while the surrounding bone remodels and strengthen around them.
most, Retainers are generally worn full-time for a period ranging anywhere from a few weeks to a year, after which they are worn part-time, typically during the evenings and at night, as recommended by your orthodontist.
Retainers can be either fixed (attached to the teeth), or removable. Fixed retainers consist of a small wire concealed behind the front teeth which is not removable by the patient. , and must be removed by your orthodontist. It is possible for the teeth to stay aligned without regular retainer wear, though there is never any guarantee that teeth will stay aligned without retention. For this reason, many orthodontists prescribe a removable retainer to be worn part-time, or during the evenings, for a recommended period of time. Adults patients who undergo orthodontic treatment are more likely to require lifetime retention.
Additional components, such as headgearexpander, retainers, removable appliances and other devices may also be employed solely, or in conjunction with braces, to properly position teeth and jaw bones.
Headgear is most commonly utilized to guide the direction of tooth movement or jaw growth in a younger individual whose mouth is still developing, and therefore more susceptible to conform to healthy alignment. Headgear may be used at any point during orthodontic treatment, and is most often worn during the evening or at night. Your orthodontist will provide instruction as to how headgear should be worn and for how long every day.
One of the most common forms of orthodontic treatment is “braces”. They are used to align and straighten teeth, better positioning them with regard to a patient’s bite and improving overall oral health.
Comprehensive orthodontic treatment commonly involves special alloy metal wires that are inserted into the brackets of braces, and which can be made from stainless steel or a more aesthetic ceramic material. The wires interact with the brackets to help move teeth into the desired position.
Other methods may include using Invisalign, a proprietary method of orthodontic treatment which implements a series of clear, removable aligners to position teeth and are a viable alternative to traditional metal braces.
