What is the Importance of Orthodontics?

This branch of dentistry involves treating poor bite or crooked teeth with different techniques and treatment options.

• Orthodontics addresses many dental issues, including gaps between your teeth, crowded teeth, overbite, underbite, crooked teeth, upper and lower teeth that do not meet.
• Straight teeth appear more attractive than misaligned or crooked teeth, and this branch of dentistry understands the same. A suitable orthodontic treatment can give you a better appearance and straighter teeth.
• You can opt for any of the orthodontic treatments or services not only to align your teeth but also to protect your teeth from different kinds of conditions like gingivitis, tooth decay, excessive build-up of plaque, etc. A dental surgeon also provides orthodontic treatment for tooth loss, dental caries, worn tooth enamel, and impaired speech.
• When your teeth are poorly aligned, they also affect your ability to chew food, thus hindering the same. A proper orthodontic treatment fixes such problems and helps to improve your nutrition.

Why Opt for Braces Treatment?

The problem of crooked or crowded teeth is common among many people. Braces help to align such teeth and move them to a better position, hence improving their appearance. At the same time, aligning your teeth helps you clean them easily once the treatment is complete.

Some people have their upper front teeth protruding, which doesn’t only affect their smile but leads to other oral concerns as well. Braces treatment helps to move such teeth back into line.

The treatment using dental braces is also helpful for the jaw bite problem. This condition puts a lot of pressure on the muscles of the jaw and also leads to other issues such as incorrect bites and headaches. Braces treatment lets you bite more evenly and prevents strain.

What are the Different Types of Braces?

• Conventional Dental Braces

They are also known as traditional braces and include brackets and wires made using metal. The use of metal makes them sturdy and rigid. The addition of conventional dental braces can also help you in developing a better jawline.

• Clear Braces

If you are conscious about showing braces when you open your mouth, ask your dentist about clear braces instead of conventional dental braces. These braces are made using tooth-colored ceramic or transparent brackets and wires. They are aesthetically pleasing as they disguise under the natural tone of your teeth.

• Hidden Braces

These braces are also referred to as invisible or lingual braces. Your dentist places these braces on the inner sides of your teeth facing the tongue. Such an arrangement keeps them completely hidden.

What is the Procedure for Getting Dental Braces?

When you visit our dentist, we will screen your mouth and run various tests to determine any concerns with your bite. Such tests will help us understand the type and severity of your misaligned teeth. After this, we will suggest the best treatment plan.

Before beginning the procedure, we may extract teeth from either side of the jaw to create more space for the movement of teeth. Upon the healing of the wounds, we will set suitable braces in place and tighten them as required. You will have to take periodic consultations to monitor the progress of this treatment.

What are the Different Uses of Invisalign?

Invisalign can be used to address a variety of dental issues such as crowding of teeth, spacing issues, and mild to moderate bite issues. You can opt for this procedure to treat overbite, underbite, and crossbite issues as well. We may suggest Invisalign to treat minor issues of open bite or crowded teeth.

Candidacy to Get Invisalign

Whether you are a teenager or an adult, you can opt for this procedure. Invisalign has become a successful way to straighten your teeth, and many patients are choosing this method over traditional braces. It is because Invisalign doesn’t hinder your physical appearance during the treatment period.

What are the Advantages of Choosing Invisalign over Traditional Braces?

Upon consultation with our dentist, you will come across the following advantages of using Invisalign:

• Invisalign is virtually invisible. Nobody will know that you have opted for orthodontic treatment to straighten or fix your teeth when wearing them in public. You don’t have to feel embarrassed about smiling or opening your mouth in front of your friends and colleagues anymore.
• Invisalign doesn’t create discomfort in your mouth. Upon comparison with traditional braces, this option is more comfortable and suitable for people of all ages.
• Since Invisalign does not contain any sharp edges, metal parts, or brackets, as in the case of braces, injuries to the soft tissues of your mouth are prevented.
• Another advantage of using Invisalign over traditional braces is that you can take them off while eating your food or performing dental care.

Usage of Invisalign

Our dentist will create a 3D image of your jaw and mouth. This image will be used to create a series of customized plastic aligners for your teeth. The role of these aligners is to apply pressure on your teeth, which gradually moves them into the desired places and aligns them accordingly.

It is pertinent to mention that these aligners are to be switched with a new set regularly, mostly once every two weeks, depending upon the instructions of the dentist. You can remove Invisalign while eating food, clean the teeth thoroughly after you finish, and put the aligners back on.

What is the Importance of a Retainer?

A retainer would be a custom-made orthodontic appliance designed for the teeth in their new positions. It means that if you do not wear retainers after your braces or aligners treatment, your teeth may return to their previous positions due to relapse.

Once the braces are removed from the mouth, it takes time for the teeth to get used to the new positioning. This is when a retainer plays a vital role. Wearing a retainer helps to maintain the new position of the teeth. Consequently, your teeth remain straight and stay healthy for all the years to come.

What are the Different Types of Retainers?

Retainers can be of different types, primarily – fixed or permanent retainers and removable retainers. Your orthodontist may suggest the best type of retainer after examining your case. Many orthodontists recommend a permanent or bonded retainer to their patients as it connects the front teeth and keeps them from moving. Permanent retainers last for a long time and are effective in protecting the results of your orthodontic treatment.

Removable retainers, as the name suggests, can be removed but are equally comfortable and effective. All you need to do is take optimum care of these retainers to maintain them in the long run.

Listed below are the different types of retainers:

• Vacuum Form Retainer

A vacuum form retainer is made using dental-grade plastic material and imitates a horse-shoe shape. This retainer is customized to fit perfectly into your jaw. The transparent plastic material of this retainer makes it an aesthetically pleasing option to choose.

• Hawley Retainer

This type of retainer is made using a combination of metal wires and dental-grade plastic. The plastic piece fits perfectly on the roof or floor of the mouth, whereas the metal wires rest against your teeth, thereby holding them in the right position. A Hawley retainer is the most durable of all.

• Lingual Retainer

Your orthodontist will fix a lingual retainer to the teeth on their rear side, and you don’t have to worry about wearing and taking it off repeatedly. A lingual retainer is the most effective one when it comes to maintaining the new positions of your teeth. You are merely required to take extra care of oral hygiene while wearing this retainer.