Orthodontic treatment
The goal of orthodontic treatment is a beautiful smile and good bite, meaning straight teeth that mesh well with the teeth in the opposite jaw and look great. The position of your teeth and jaws has an effect on your bite. Your bite is how your top and bottom teeth come together. When your top and bottom teeth do not fit together properly, this is called a malocclusion or a bad bite. Problems like missing, crooked, crowded can contribute to a bad bite. Thumb or finger sucking may also affect your bite . A bad bite can make it hard to chew some foods and may cause wear down and overloading on some teeth . It can also cause muscle tension and pain. Teeth that stick out are more easily chipped or broken. Crowded and crooked teeth are harder to clean and may be more likely to get cavities and gum disease. Orthodontic treatment not only improves the look of your smile but your health as well. Straight teeth are easier to clean and less likely to get tooth decay or injured.
Orthodontic techniques have been improved and it makes possible that at every age (until permanent teeth exist) treatment could be applied. So people of any age can benefit from orthodontic treatment and THERE IS NO AGE LIMITED!
An orthodontic appliance is prescribed based on a patient's age and his or her teeth and jaw alignment needs. There is a wide range of available orthodontic appliances. Each appliance has several techniques for treatment use. The most commonly known orthodontic appliance used to straighten teeth and correct bad bites is braces. They may be used in conjunction with other orthodontic appliances prescribed to widen the palate or jaws or to shape the teeth and jaws.
There are two major types of appliances: fixed and removable. If you are a candidate for braces, we will recommend the type best suited for you.
Fixed appliances
Several types of are available:
Conventional braces require elastic or metal ligature to hold the archwire in place.
Self-ligating braces do not require elastic or metal ligature. We use Lotus system that is one of the most resent and modern self-ligating braces. these braces greatly reduce or eliminate the need for extractions, shorten treatment time, eliminate friction between the bracket and the archwire , create proper tooth alignment faster, more comfortably, and with fewer adjustments (and office visits) than conventional braces.
Cosmetic Orthodontic Appliances
Ceramic braces are less noticeable than Conventional braces because they tend to blend with the wearer's natural tooth color. Functionally they are similar to conventional braces, but because they are made from porcelain, they are more expensive and susceptible to fracture and damage.
Lingual Braces: The term "lingual braces" refers to a method of orthodontic treatment where the brackets and wires that produce the patient's tooth realignment are attached to the backside of their teeth and making them invisible to other people. Lingual braces are one treatment alternative available to those patients who are in need of orthodontic treatment but, primarily for cosmetic reasons. Not everyone is a suitable candidate for lingual braces treatment. It is not suitable for people with very small teeth or with certain bites and children who still retain some of their milk teeth.
Clear Brace®
Also known as’ invisible braces’: ® is the way to straighten your teeth without braces. This type of brece is made from transparent material which means that it is hardly noticeable to the naked eyes.they are plastic brace which fits easily over the teeth and moves them gradually into the desired position.
Removable appliances tend to be used to correct simple problems, often in patients who still have primary (milk) teeth in place. However they may be used at the same time as fixed braces to help treatment. Some complex tooth movement cannot be achieved with a removable brace.
Retainers
A retainer is a custom-made orthodontic appliances designed to "retain" or hold the position of your teeth. Once your braces come off, your teeth need to settle into the jawbone and soft tissue that hold them in place. As you age, your teeth tend to move. Your retainer helps control this naturally occurring, age-related shifting. Wearing your retainer is the best insurance that your orthodontic treatment results last a lifetime.
Types of Retainers
Hawley Retainers: The most common type of retainer. Hawley retainers have a design that consists of wires and clasps embedded in a relatively thick plastic body that covers over the roof of the your mouth or lies along the tongue side of your lower teeth.
Clear Retainers: These retainers are clear plastic vacuum-formed appliances. Although they are slightly less noticeable, they don't have the life span of Hawley retainers.
Fixed Retainers: Fixed retainers are also referred to as "bonded" or "permanent" retainers. these types of appliances are bonded directly to the backsides of the front teeth (3 teeth left of center and 3 right of center).
Proper brushing and flossing is even more important for people with braces because plaque can easily build up around the edges of your braces. If this plaque is not properly removed, white or brown marks may appear on the enamel surface of your teeth and these marks may be permanent. caring for your brace also is important. If you have braces, you should not bite on hard things such as ice cubes and nuts. Also avoid sticky treats like chewing gum or toffee because they can loosen braces.