Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry that deals with the correction of the upper and lower jaw, as well as tooth densification. Orthodontics is a branch of science that helps improve the quality of life for individuals by idealizing the function and aesthetics of the teeth and jaw .
Orthodontic problems that are not treated early enough become bigger problems later. Since it is difficult to clean crowded and poorly positioned teeth, there is a risk of developing periodontal disease (gum disease) and early tooth loss due to tooth decay Due to increased pressure on the jaw muscles, a temporomandibular joint disorder can occur, which causes major headaches, pain in the back and shoulder area
In addition, impaired braces and early tooth contact lead to abnormal wear of the tooth surfaces, difficulty chewing and speaking, excessive stress on the teeth, which leads to root tip lesions and destruction of the supporting bone and gum tissue.
Crossed teeth also affect your appearance. With orthodontic treatment, you can have a healthier mouth, more expressive appearance and beautiful teeth that stay in your mouth longer.
Only the dentist or orthodontist can determine if you need orthodontic treatment. After an examination that includes many diagnostic methods such as your extensive medical and dental background, your oral and dental examination, creating your jaw models and taking some special X-ray films and photos can help determine if you need orthodontic treatment and what type of treatment to have.
- Overbite: The upper incisors are positioned well in front of the lower incisors.
- Underbite: The lower incisors are positioned higher than the upper incisors, or the upper teeth are positioned lower than the lower teeth.
- Crossbite : The lower and upper front teeth overlap.
- Openbite : The lower and upper front teeth do not come into contact when closing.
- Midline Shift : The midline of your upper incisors does not match the midline of your lower incisors.
- Gaps : Tooth gaps that are desanded by tooth extractions or naturally.
- Deviousness : There is not enough space in the jaws for the teeth to align.
The treatment that can be done to move the teeth, affect the growth of the muscles or the jaw can be fixed or flexible. These treatments are used by applying very light forces to the teeth or jaws. The type of treatment depends on the severity of your problem.
Following methods are:
- Attaching brackets: The most common method of attaching brackets is with wires, brackets and tires. Brackets are attached to the teeth, wires are passed through the brackets, and force is applied to the teeth. Thus, the teeth are gradually moved and correctly positioned. Treatment can last a few months or a few years, and adjustments are made every month to ensure the desired improvement in teeth. The brackets used today are lighter and contain less metal. It is made in different colors and transparent for adults to motivate children.
- Private fixed attachments: Private tapes are attached to the teeth to overcome the finger-sucking habit, but this method is really not an immediate method as it makes it difficult for the patient to eat.
- Placeholders: In cases where the milk teeth are lost prematurely, a placeholder is used to prevent the other teeth from sliding into the gaps until the permanent tooth comes out.
By using the elastic deformation of the wire, braces exert force on the teeth and ensure tooth movements. Braces treatment usually lasts between 18 and 24 months and is usually checked every 3 to 5 weeks. The advantage of braces is that it corrects the structure of the teeth without damaging the structure of the teeth and irreversible procedures. Braces can not only correct teeth, but also skeletal disorders. This correction is usually performed with externally deployed devices or functional devices that can be attached and removed. One of the most common skeletal disorders is the lower jaw. This disorder is corrected with functional devices at the age of 11-12 and then with braces. At any age, only dental diseases can be treated. The only requirement for orthodontic treatment is that the teeth and the jawbone that support the teeth are healthy.
Is there an alternative treatment to orthodontics?The best part of orthodontic treatment is that the patient is beautified with their own teeth. At the end of their orthodontic treatment, their teeth are no different from the day the treatment started. Before orthodontic treatment spread, it became the usual Method used to correct crooked teeth, veneers were made from trapezoidal teeth. The reason for not using this procedure is that the enamel structure of the teeth is abraded during bridge construction and artificial porcelain coatings are used instead.
