A Little Bit About
Orthodontic Treatment
Why are Braces Important?
Your dentist may have discussed with you the benefits
of having healthy teeth and proper jaw alignment. Crooked
and crowded teeth are hard to clean and maintain. This
can result in tooth decay, worsen gum disease and lead
to tooth loss. Other orthodontic problems can contribute
to abnormal wear of tooth surfaces, inefficient chewing
function, excessive stress on gum tissue and the bone
that supports the teeth, or misalignment of the jaw
joints. However, for most people a beautiful smile is
the most obvious benefit of orthodontics. After your
braces come off, you will love to flash those pearly
whites!
Who Can Wear Braces?
Kids
The American Association of Orthodontists
recommends that all children be seen for an orthodontic
evaluation by the age of seven. This allows the Orthodontist
to determine the best time for each individual patient
to be treated.The first permanent molars and incisors
have usually come in by that time, and crossbites, crowding
and other problems can be evaluated. If it is necessary
to provide early treatment, the orthodontist can guide
the growth of the jaws and guide incoming permanent
teeth. Early treatment can also regulate the width of
the upper and lower dental arches, gain space for permanent
teeth, avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions,
reduce likelihood of impacted permanent teeth, correct
thumb-sucking, and eliminate abnormal swallowing or
speech problems.
Adults
Orthodontic treatment can be successful at any age,
and adults especially appreciate the benefits of a beautiful
smile. Because their jaws are no longer growing, treating
adults is not quite the same as treating children. Additionally,
adult teeth may require periodontal treatment before,
during and/or after orthodontic treatment. However,
even if bone loss exists, an adult can receive orthodontic
treatment as long as his/her teeth and gums are currently
free of disease.
How Do Teeth Move?
This is a great time to wear braces! By placing a constant,
gentle force in a carefully controlled direction, braces
and wires slowly move teeth to a corrected position.
Gone are the days when a metal band with a bracket was
placed around each tooth. Orthodontic appliances can
be made of metal, ceramic or plastic. They can be removable
(as with Invisalign®), or they can be brackets bonded
to the teeth. You can choose brackets that are clear
or metallic, and can choose the color of the ties that
the hold the wire in the brackets. Further, recent innovations
in material science have resulted in wires that move
teeth more quickly and with less discomfort to patients.
How Long Does Orthodontic Treatment Take?
Treatment time typically ranges from one to three years,
depending upon the severity of the initial orthodontic
problem, the age of the patient, and the amount of remaining
growth of the face and mouth. Interceptive treatment
(also referred to as “early treatment”)
may take as few as six months, but doesn’t prevent
additional treatment at a later date. However, the essential
components to efficient and effective orthodontic treatment
are patient cooperation and compliance.
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