Orthodontic Treatment
What Is Orthodontic Treatment?
Orthodontic treatment is the specialized dental care that helps correct crooked teeth and malocclusions. It can improve the health of your mouth by preventing problems like tooth decay and gum disease, which tend to occur more often when a person has crooked teeth or a misaligned jaw. It can also improve your smile’s appearance by correcting bite issues and giving you a more beautiful, straighter smile.
Orthodontists use braces and other appliances to gradually adjust the position of a patient’s teeth and jaw. Depending on the severity of the malocclusion, orthodontic treatments may take anywhere from a few months to a few years.
There are many types of orthodontic devices, but they all work essentially the same way: they apply pressure to the teeth and jaws to encourage proper alignment. The most common are fixed braces, which consist of metal, ceramic, or plastic square bonds that are attached to the front of each tooth, wires and bands that hold them in place, and a set of springs that apply force to move the teeth into alignment. Some people with minor malocclusions can use clear braces, or removable aligners that are changed every two weeks.
Other orthodontic devices include a palate expander, which creates space in the upper jaw by expanding the roof of the mouth. These are usually used on children, but adults can sometimes benefit from them as well. There are also functional appliances, which help with certain habits, such as thumb-sucking or tongue thrusting, that cause the front teeth to come forward. Finally, there are headgears, which are worn at night to help move the back teeth into place.
It is generally recommended that people undergo orthodontic treatment during childhood or adolescence, but more and more adults are getting the treatment as they realize the benefits it can bring to their health and quality of life. It is easier for orthodontists to treat young patients because their facial bones are still developing, making them more flexible and easier to manipulate.
However, adults can undergo orthodontic treatment in Downey at any age if their teeth and jaws are fully developed, and the treatment can be just as successful as it would be for a child.
Regardless of the type of treatment, it is important that patients maintain good oral hygiene while they have braces or other orthodontic appliances on. If a person neglects to brush and floss properly while they have braces on, they could end up with a lot of cavities when their orthodontic appliances are removed. It is also a good idea to schedule a routine dental cleaning close to the time that your orthodontist removes your braces, so the dentist can remove any excess plaque buildup and ensure that your teeth look and feel as healthy as possible after you’ve finished your orthodontic treatment in Downey by Downey Dental Solutions.