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Treatment >> Dental Procedures >> Orthodontics
Teeth that are crooked, crowded or that protrude affect the way
you look. The way your teeth fit together can affect your bite and
be more difficult to clean. If you are not happy with the way your
teeth look or work, orthodontic treatment may help.
What is orthodontic treatment?
How orthodontics is done
Things to consider
What is Orthodontic Treatment?
Orthodontic treatment straightens your teeth so they look and work
better. It may even make your face look better, and help your jaw
muscles function properly. Orthodontic treatment uses braces or
other appliances to put gentle pressure on your teeth and eventually
move them into the right position.
Your dentist may do basic orthodontic treatment or refer you to
an orthodontist - a dental specialist with two to three years of
extra university training in this area.
Why you may need orthodontics
A number of factors may affect the size and position of your teeth
and jaws. Problems like crooked teeth may "run in your family." You may have a habit that affected your teeth, such as thumb-sucking.
You may have lost a tooth (or teeth), and the teeth that are left
may have moved or shifted.
No matter what the cause, your dentist or orthodontist can treat:
- crowded teeth;
- crooked teeth;
- an overbite, an underbite and an overjet;
- an openbite;
- too much space between teeth;
- the results of extra or missing teeth.
Some orthodontic problems should start to be treated before all
the adult (or permanent) teeth come in.
Different Appliances / Methods used in orthodontics
1. Braces
1. the bracket or band
2. the cement or bonding material that attaches the bracket or band
to each tooth;
3. the arch wire that fits into all the brackets;
4. elastics or wire ties that hold the wire into the bracket or
band.
Brackets, bands and arch wires are made of metal, but brackets
and elastics can also be clear, tooth-coloured or multi-coloured.
2. Headgear
Headgear is used to guide the direction of tooth movement and/or
jaw growth in someone who is still growing. Headgear may be worn
before braces are applied, or during any part of orthodontic treatment.
3. Removable appliances
Removable appliances are not as precise as braces, but they can
move a tooth or a group of teeth and are fitted by a dentist or
orthodontist. They can be worn:
before braces are put on;
- while braces are worn; or
- on their own to treat specific orthodontic problems.
4. Retainers
Retainers keep teeth in the right place once braces have been removed.
Retainers can be attached to the teeth or they may be removable.
Your orthodontist or dentist will tell you if you have to wear your
retainer all the time or for part of each day.
5. Oral surgery
Tooth removal may be needed if teeth are crowded, or if a tooth
(or teeth) is badly out of position.
Jaw surgery (or orthognathic surgery) may be needed when there
are major differences in the size or position of the upper and lower
jaws. It helps the upper and lower jaws line up. If your orthodontist
thinks you will need jaw surgery, he or she will refer you to an
oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
Things to Consider
- Success
- Discomfort
- Time
- Care
- Cost
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