Orthodontics

Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that corrects teeth and jaws that are positioned improperly. Crooked teeth and teeth that do not fit together correctly are harder to keep clean, are at risk of being lost early due to tooth decay and periodontal disease, and cause extra stress on the chewing muscles that can lead to headaches, TMJ syndrome, and neck, shoulder and back pain.

Teeth that are crooked or not in the right place can also detract from one’s appearance. The benefits of orthodontic treatment include a healthier mouth, a more pleasing appearance, and teeth that are more likely to last a lifetime.

How do I Know if I Need Orthodontics?
Only your dentist or orthodontist can determine whether you can benefit from orthodontics. Based on diagnostic tools that include a full medical and dental health history, a clinical exam, plaster models of your teeth, and special X-rays and photographs, an orthodontist or dentist can decide whether orthodontics are recommended, and develop a treatment plan that’s right for you.

How Does Orthodontic Treatment Work?
Many different types of appliances, both fixed and removable, are used to help move teeth, retrain muscles and affect the growth of the jaws. These appliances work by placing gentle pressure on the teeth and jaws. The severity of your problem will determine which orthodontic approach is likely to be the most effective.

Self-ligating braces:

Self-ligating braces look very similar to the traditional fixed braces that orthodontists have used to straighten teeth for decades. However, they are now available with clear or ceramic brackets, making them far more discreet.
They also use clips instead of elastic bands to hold the brace’s wire in place. This creates less friction and makes it easier for you to brush around your brace and keep your teeth clean during your orthodontic treatment.

Lingual braces:
Lingual braces attach to the lingual (tongue) side of your teeth. No one can see them, but they’ll be hard at work straightening your teeth from the inside. Your lingual brace will look and function just like a fixed brace, using brackets and wires to gradually move your teeth.

In the case of lingual braces, though, the brackets are custom-made to fit the more irregular back surfaces of your teeth. If you’re looking for a discreet brace, this is the crème da la crème of ‘invisible’ braces.

Retainers:

Strictly speaking, retainers aren’t braces. Instead of moving your teeth, their job is to hold them in their new position once your braces come off. They’re so important, though, that we think they’re always worth a mention.

How do I know if I need Orthodontics?
We can help you determine whether you can benefit from orthodontics. Based on diagnostic tools that include a full medical and dental health history, a clinical exam, plaster models of your teeth, and special X-rays and photographs, we can help you decide whether orthodontics are recommended, and develop a treatment plan that’s right for you.

If you have any of the following, you may be a candidate for orthodontic treatment:
Overbite, sometimes called “buck teeth” — where the upper front teeth lie too far forward (stick out) over the lower teeth
Underbite — where the lower teeth are too far forward or the upper teeth too far back
Crossbite — when the upper teeth do not come down slightly in front of the lower teeth when biting together normally
Open bite —space between the biting surfaces of the front and/or side teeth when the back teeth bite together
Misplaced midline — when the center of your upper front teeth does not line up with the center of your lower front teeth or the center of your face
Spacing —gaps, or spaces, between the teeth as a result of missing teeth or teeth that do not “fill up” the mouth
Crowding —when the size of the teeth are larger for the dental ridge to accommodate
How Does Orthodontic Treatment Work?
Many different types of appliances, both fixed and removable, are used to help move teeth, retrain muscles and affect the growth of the jaws. These appliances work by placing gentle pressure on the teeth and jaws. The severity of your problem will determine which orthodontic approach is likely to be the most effective.

Fixed appliances include:
Braces — the most common fixed appliances, braces consist of bands, wires, and/or brackets. Bands are fixed around the teeth or tooth and used as anchors for the appliance, while brackets are most often bonded to the front of the tooth.

Archwires are passed through the brackets and attached to the bands. Tightening the archwire puts tension on the teeth, gradually moving them to their proper position. Braces are usually adjusted monthly to bring about the desired results, which may be achieved within a few months to a few years.

Today’s braces are smaller, lighter, and show far less metal than in the past. They come in bright colors for kids as well as clear styles preferred by many adults.

Special fixed appliances — used to control thumb sucking or tongue thrusting, these appliances are attached to the teeth by bands. Because they are very uncomfortable during meals, they should be used only as a last resort.

Fixed space maintainers — if a baby tooth is lost prematurely, a space maintainer is used to keep the space open until the permanent tooth erupts. A band is attached to the tooth next to the empty space, and a wire is extended to the tooth on the other side of the space.

Removable appliances include:
Aligners — an alternative to traditional braces for adults, clear aligners are being used to move teeth in the same way that fixed appliances work, only without metal wires and brackets. Aligners are virtually invisible and are removed for eating, brushing, and flossing.

Removable space maintainers —these devices serve the same function as fixed space maintainers. They’re made with an acrylic base that fits over the jaw and has plastic or wire branches between specific teeth to keep the space between them open.

Jaw repositioning appliances — also called splints, these devices are worn on either the top or lower jaw and help train the jaw to close in a more favorable position. They may be used for temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ).

Palatal expander — a device used to widen the arch of the upper jaw. It is a plastic plate that fits over the roof of the mouth. Outward pressure applied to the plate by screws forces the joints in the bones of the palate to open lengthwise, widening the palatal area.

Removable retainers — these devices prevent shifting of the teeth to their previous position. They can also be modified and used to prevent thumb sucking.

Headgear — with this device, a strap is placed around the back of the head and attached to a metal wire in the front, or face bow. Headgear slows the growth of the upper jaw and holds the back teeth where they are while the front teeth are pulled back.