Orthodontics (Dental Braces)

Benefits of orthodontics  

Dental and oral health care is essential in promoting confidence and personality. The most common dental problems are crowding, misaligned teeth, or diastema. This makes orthodontics become a popular treatment because it helps improve dental health and enhances confidence from having straight teeth. Orthodontics help improves dental occlusion so that the patient can chew food more thoroughly. It also helps the patient to be able to clean teeth more efficiently, which will reduce problems relating to tooth decay and gingivitis. 

Orthodontics can be categorized into two types, as follow: 

1. Fixed braces are as follow:

• • Metal braces are a common brace type. This type of braces uses a metal tool with a multi-colored elastic band. Patients can choose the elastic bands colors according to their preferences. The dentist will make an appointment with the patient once a month to replace the elastic bands and prevent the elastic band’s degradation.
  • Ceramic braces are braces that work similarly to metal braces; however, this dental material uses ceramics with the same color as the teeth.
  • Self-ligating braces or Damon are an orthodontic treatment that uses a smaller tool than metal braces. The tool mechanism allows the wires to be immediately in places. Therefore, it helps eliminates the need to use elastic band. Damon is also more flexible and helps with teeth friction comparing to metal braces.  

2. The clear and removable orthodontics treatment is called Invisalign. It is a modern and popular orthodontics innovation in the present day. Patients feel confident in their works or their daily lives because the clear braces make it impossible to see the orthodontic tools. Invisalign uses a 3D computerized treatment plan to demonstrate orthodontic tooth movement. The dentist will inform the patient about a dental treatment plan from the start of the treatment until the end. 

This type of orthodontic treatment is 30% faster than traditional orthodontic treatments. Invisalign’s advantage is that it reduces oral ulcers or chances of wires pricking inside the cheek. Each type of tools can be categorized based on the suitability and complexities of each case as follow:  

• Invisalign Express uses 7 orthodontic tools.
• Invisalign Lite uses 7-14 orthodontic tools.
• Invisalign Moderate uses 14-26 orthodontic tools.
• Invisalign Comprehensive uses more than 26 orthodontic tools. 

Advantages of orthodontics treatment 

1. Enhance personality as a beautiful smile can help increase confidence.
2. Oral care is now easier, so this helps reduce bad breath.
3. Orthodontics help improves chewing due to improve dental occlusion.
4. Teeth are arranged, making it easier to clean the teeth and reduce tooth decay and improve oral care.
5. Orthodontic treatment helps structure the face shape for a facial balance structure.
6. Orthodontics treatment help patients with dental occlusion problem to be able to speak and pronounce clearly.

Disadvantages of orthodontics treatment 

1. Some orthodontics treatment requires tooth extraction to help complete the treatment process.
2. Oral care can become more difficult during the orthodontic process with braces in place, and it could result in tooth decay and bad breath.
3. Orthodontic treatment can cause the patient to speak or pronounce unclearly due to braces.
4. The patient is required to check their teeth after they eat as there could be food in braces.
5. Orthodontic treatment may lead to tooth sensitivity or slight pain resulting from teeth that move from the elastic band’s force.
6. The patient is required to wear retainer as recommended by the dentist. Failure to comply could lead to orthodontic tooth movement, and the patient may need to redo another orthodontic process.

Processes of orthodontics treatment  

1. Make an appointment with a dentist; the dentist will then provide detailed information about orthodontics treatment to consider and make decisions regarding the treatment.
2. A specialized dentist will evaluate the patient through a dental examination, tooth types, oral health, along with performing an X-ray to examine the facial structure, jaw, and bone mass to support teeth alignment along with teeth printing. After the evaluation is completed, the dentist will send the patient for further examination to clean the teeth before the teeth alignment process. The dentist will recommend tools that are suitable for the patient.
3. After the dentist has finished cleaning the teeth; they will make another appointment with the patient to install braces or start teeth alignment clearing.
4. After that, the dentist will make an appointment with the patient to adjust the tools, the period that the patient requires to make an appointment with the patient will differ based on types of devices. An example is metal braces will require tool adjustment every 4-6 weeks. Damon requires tool adjustment every 6-8 weeks. Invisalign will require the dentist to review the tools every 2-3 months. The frequency of the appointment will depend on each patient’s orthodontic tooth movement.
5. After the orthodontic treatment process is completed, the dentist will remove the orthodontic tools. The patient is required to wear retainer and strictly follow the dentist’s instructions. The duration of the patient’s wearing the retainer will depend on each case.

Oral care during orthodontic treatment is vital because orthodontic tools can cause tooth decay and gingivitis from teeth plaque on the braces. So, patients should strictly follow the dentist’s suggestions for dental care, as follow:

1. It is recommended to brush your teeth at least two times a day after each meal, and if possible, brush your teeth after eating at all times. The braces installation could lead to food in braces. 
2. Patients should use a toothbrush especially for orthodontic treatment, including an interdental brush, dental floss, or mouthwash as recommended by the dentist. If the patient strictly follows the dentist’s oral care instructions, this will help reduce tooth decay risks.
3. Meet the dentist for a follow-up appointment regularly; other than tooth adjustment the dentist will also help check for teeth plaque or other oral health problems.
4. It is essential to inform the dentist if the patient plays a sport. The dentist will be able to prepare the cushioning device to prevent accidents during sports. If any accident occurs during the orthodontic process, it may cause more injury to the patient.
5. The patient should avoid chewing hard or sticky food. Food should also be divided into bite-sized portions. The patient should avoid using their teeth to divide the food.
6. If the pain occurs during the orthodontic treatment process as it could be due to orthodontic tool installation or adjustment, the patient can take pain reliever medicines to relieve the symptom.
7. If there is any wound or irritation from the orthodontics tools or wires prick from the teeth movement, the patient can apply orthodontic ointments on top of the irritated area. The patient should also inform the dentist at the next appointment.

Credit

• https://www.medparkhospital.com/content/dental-braces