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Orthodontics, the branch of
dentistry concerned with the
growth of the teeth, jaws and
face, is in high demand.
Orthodontic treatment is about
making the best of your teeth;
it's about improving the harmony
of your mouth and jaws. Once you
can bite together correctly, you
can eat more comfortably and
care for your teeth and gums
more easily. And your smile will
benefit immensely!
The Starting Point
Most courses of orthodontic
treatment begin with a referral
from a general dentist to a
specialist. Depending on what
treatment is needed, most
patients are seen by a
specialist in a local practice
or by a consultant in hospital.
Some patients are treated by
dentists with extra training and
experience to treat the milder
cases.
These are some of the most
common reasons for a referral:
-
Protruding upper front
teeth - one of the most
common dental problems
-
Crowding – a narrow
jaw may mean there is not
enough room for your teeth,
resulting in crowding.
Conversely, some patients
have significant gaps
between their teeth.
-
Asymmetry –
particularly when the centre
lines of the upper and lower
front teeth do not match,
perhaps because the teeth
have drifted or the position
of the jaw has shifted.
-
A deep bite – when
your upper teeth cover the
lower teeth too much
-
A reverse bite – when
your upper teeth bite inside
the lower teeth
-
An open bite – when
your front teeth remain
apart when your back teeth
meet; the tongue is often
still visible between the
upper and lower front teeth.
Impacted teeth - in some
patients, secondary teeth
come through in the wrong
position or do not erupt at
all. Orthodontic treatment
can help bring these teeth
into the correct position.
Getting Treatment
Every patient needs tailor-made
treatment, planned by the
orthodontist and agreed with
you, the patient. In order to
decide what treatment is
required for you, your
orthodontist will need to carry
out a full assessment of your
teeth which is likely to include
x-rays, impressions (moulds of
the teeth) and photographs.
Treatment can take more than two
years so it is important you are
happy from the outset with what
is recommended. Braces are
almost always needed. Those
which are used most often are:
 A
fixed brace – this is the
most common type of brace today,
often known as "train tracks".
Brackets are glued onto the
teeth and linked by wires. Small
elastic hoops are often used to
hold the wire in position. The
wires exert gentle pressure to
move the teeth into a new
position. The brackets can be
metal, ceramic or even gold and
the elastic hoops come in many
colours.
A removable brace – this
is sometimes used for correcting
a simple problem, such as moving
a single tooth or expanding the
dental arch. It has a plastic
baseplate with wires and springs
attached. Removable braces need
to be worn all the time except
for cleaning or sport.
Functional appliances – these
are used to harness the growth
of the jaws and improve way the
upper and lower teeth meet.
There are several designs all of
which fit on to both the upper
and lower teeth and hold the
lower jaw forward. They are
mostly removable but should be
worn as near to full-time as
possible
Retainers – at the end of
treatment, all patients should
wear retainers to hold their
teeth in the new position. These
can be removable or fixed and
are an important part of
treatment.
Source: British
Orthodontic Society - http://www.bos.org.uk |
