The way the teeth in the upper jaw come together with the teeth in the lower jaw in a bite has an impact on the oral health of the person. This is called occlusion. When there are deviations in the way the upper and lower teeth come together, the condition is called malocclusion or a bad bite. The dental science that involves the study of bite and teeth positions is called orthodontics. An orthodontic treatment involves the use of appliances and tools to correct the bad bite.
Dental braces are one of the most effective tools in curing bite related problems. They work wonderfully by moving the teeth in the desired direction to improve the alignment. Our dentist at our Redlands office sets treatment plan to move teeth using dental braces. Our orthodontic treatments have been successful in creating healthy smiles for patients who visit us from different parts of Redlands, CA and other nearby cities.
Malocclusion and oral health
Malocclusion is any condition where there is a deviation from the normal way of upper and lower teeth coming together. This can result in crossbite, open bite, crowding and other orthodontic complexities. These conditions can have a long-term impact on oral health. It may become difficult to maintain oral hygiene since all the edges of the teeth may not be easily accessible when brushing teeth. This can increase the chances of a dental infection. There can be increased teeth wear because of imbalance in your bite. The teeth may loosen in the long run which may lead to loosing teeth The smile may be less attractive because of malocclusion. Dental braces are designed to move the teeth in the proper direction to bring about the necessary changes in their alignment.
Dental braces – Treatment
The treatment using dental braces requires thorough oral examination. The dentist may take impressions of teeth and 3D scan if necessary to set a proper treatment plan to move teeth in the proper direction. Any infectious condition may be taken care of before starting the treatment. The application of dental braces over teeth can be done using bonding agents. The braces have brackets and wires. The brackets are fixed over the teeth using bonding agents and the wires are fit within the brackets carefully such that they are in tension mode. The wires move the teeth in the desired direction to improve alignment. After every 6 weeks or so, the patient may have to visit the dentist to tighten the wires. Over a period of 18-36 months, the teeth are moved to come in proper alignment. The dentist may use retainers after the treatment just to make sure that the teeth do not come back in position.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I too old for braces?
Of course not! According to American Association of Orthodontists; the population of patients to get fitted with dental braces over the age of 18 is high. adults tend to be the best candidates for esthetic choices like ceramic braces and invisalign. straightening teeth not only boost your confidence but greatly improve your oral health.
How long to people have to wear braces?
It varies greatly for each person based on the severity of the problems such as crowding, spacing and bite issues. On average, for most of the kids duration of wearing braces varies from 1 to 3 years. For adults as the jaw has finished growing, this can extend the treatment duration.
Why teeth straightening takes time?
The simple fact is that this process takes time. Because your teeth need to be shifted which are set in jaw bone into their correct position using a gentle force by fitting dental braces on your teeth. The orthodontic treatment procedure is done gradually over time to protect the teeth form damage and to make the process as painless as possible.