Misaligned and crooked teeth; It can lead to dental problems such as tooth decay, gum disease, painful or difficult chewing, which can reduce your quality of life. If the teeth have a crooked appearance or large gaps, these problems can be eliminated with orthodontic treatment. Orthodontic treatment significantly increases patients’ self-confidence by aligning the teeth beautifully and creates an aesthetically pleasing result. In addition, dental diseases are prevented. Orthodontics has developed quite recently and offers different methods according to the demands of the patients.
What is Orthodontics?
Orthodontics defines the practices made to ensure the regular formation of teeth and dental supports. It involves using braces to correct the position of the teeth. The exact treatment method and process depends on the problem in the teeth. Treatment is usually started after most of the permanent adult teeth have erupted. For adults, this treatment can begin at any age, but treatment options are more limited than for children and teenagers.
Why Do Orthodontic Problems Occur?
The biggest factor in the emergence of orthodontic problems is genetic predisposition. Problems that exist not only in parents and siblings, but also in distant relatives can affect this situation. Some dental problems may occur in the course of daily life. Problems in milk teeth cause orthodontic problems (decay of milk teeth, premature loss of milk teeth or untimely extraction of milk teeth, overlapping teeth) as well as genetic predisposition. Conditions such as thumb sucking, continuous mouth breathing, pencil biting, continued swallowing of the baby, and long-term use of pacifiers and bottles also cause orthodontic problems.
What is done in Orthodontic Treatment?
Orthodontic treatment (usually with braces) is most often used to improve the appearance and alignment of crooked, protruding or crooked teeth and to correct problems with teeth biting. Apart from this, the following is done with the treatment:
- Wide gaps between teeth are closed.
- The tooth tips are aligned and crooked teeth are corrected.
- Improved long-term health of gums and teeth.
- It is treated to prevent long-term wear and trauma of the teeth caused by the wrong bite. A healthy bite allows you to eat, chew and talk properly.
- With treatment, the appearance of the teeth is improved.
- Jaw misalignment is corrected.
- Evenly spaced straight teeth align with opposing teeth in the jaw.
- In some cases, it can help protect teeth from damage or decay.
How Is Orthodontic Treatment Done?
If the patient has tooth decay and gum problems and does not have a good oral hygiene standard, the treatment process will not start. First of all, these problems need to be solved. In the first phase of treatment, the current position of the teeth and how they may change over time are evaluated. This stage usually consists of taking X-rays, making plaster models, and taking pictures of the teeth. According to the results obtained from these, a treatment plan is given to the patient. This stage may suggest more than one way to treat the dental problem. It decides the type of braces to be used according to the age of the patient and the required treatment. In treatment, appliances are used to correct the position of the teeth. The orthodontist uses a range of medical devices, including caps, plates, and braces.
braces; consists of wires, bands and brackets. The bands wrap the teeth and are fixed around it with care. Brackets are usually attached to the front of the teeth. In addition, braces are available in both transparent and colored ones. If the patient’s teeth are too close together and this causes them to bend or overlap, some teeth may need to be extracted as part of the treatment.
There are four basic types of orthodontic treatment. It is possible to rank them as follows:
- Fixed braces: These are non-removable braces consisting of brackets attached to the front of each tooth and connected by wires.
- Removable braces: These are plastic plates that usually cover the roof of the mouth and are attached to some teeth.
- Functional braces: A pair of removable plastic braces designed to fit both upper and lower teeth, usually joined or interacting together.
- Headgear: This is not an orthodontic appliance, but can be used with other appliances and is usually worn at night.
In more severe cases, treatment may require fixed braces and surgery to move the jaw.
How Long Does Orthodontic Treatment Take?
The length of treatment depends on how complex the dental problem is and the patient’s recovery process. In addition, any bite problems such as crossbites, the age of the patient and the health of the teeth determine how long the treatment will take. In general, orthodontic treatment can take between 12 and 36 months.
Why is Orthodontic Treatment Important?
Orthodontic problems make it difficult to keep teeth and gums clean and can make teeth more likely to be damaged. In some cases, the abnormal position of the teeth and jaw can even affect the shape of the face. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to maintain good oral health and a beautiful smile. For this reason, orthodontic treatment is very important in eliminating dental problems. Orthodontic care can help monitor facial and jaw development, reduce the risk of impacted teeth, and correct lifelong dental problems. In addition, it also reduces the risk of tooth decay caused by the accumulation of food particles between the teeth.
What Should Be Considered After Orthodontic Treatment?
There are some issues that patients should pay attention to when the treatment is finished. These:
- A restraining corset should be worn after the treatment. This is usually removable. It needs to be fitted every night to hold the teeth in their new positions. They are usually used for at least 12 months. However, the orthodontist will decide the exact time.
- In some cases, a thin wire may be permanently fixed behind the teeth to hold the teeth in place.
- In a few cases, it may be necessary to wear a cap or temporarily insert small needles into the chin.
- The condition of the patients within six, nine and twelve months after the braces are placed is checked by the orthodontist. Then they go for an annual examination to check whether the retainers are in place and whether the teeth are in their correct places.
- The patient should avoid foods or drinks containing strong coloring and acid, such as tomatoes, curry, coffee and tea.
- Hard foods such as popcorn, ice, boiled sweets, hard shells should never be eaten. Because these foods can damage the braces.
- After each meal and before going to bed, teeth, gums and wires should be thoroughly brushed. This is because poor oral hygiene can cause puffy, bleeding gums, inflammation and permanent white spots on the teeth. Inflammation and bleeding gums cause prolongation of the treatment process.
What are Orthodontic Treatment Prices?
Orthodontic prices may vary. The main factors affecting treatment prices can be listed as follows.
- Patient’s age
- How much to move your teeth
- Type of braces to be fitted
- The length of time the braces will be attached
- The place of treatment and the expertise of the orthodontist
Orthodontic treatment helps to establish good oral health; paves the way for a healthy smile now and in the future. For a more functional and more attractive smile, you can visit Klinik34, which has been serving with its experienced and expert team since 2014. If you think you need orthodontic treatment, we are here to help you on your way to a great smile. You can safely apply to Klinik34 for the treatment of all your dental and orthodontic problems.