ORTHODONTICS

Dental appliances have lately become the favorite accessory of teenagers all over the world. They have understood that you can obtain a perfect lifelong smile only by having appropriate orthodontic treatment.

Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry which deals with treating and correcting dento-maxillary anomalies. The dentist studies 3 more years after medical school to become an orthodontist and to be able to perform this type of treatments.

What is an orthodontic appliance?

Dental appliances correct the dento-maxillary anomalies which are typical for children and teenagers. Its role is not only to reposition your teeth to look nice, but also to help them stay healthy. It is well known that nicely aligned teeth are easier to clean, do not have spaces where decay can form and cannot get fractured due to an inadequate position. Thus, wearing an orthodontic appliance is more than an esthetic necessity; it is a medical necessity.

When is an orthodontic appliance recommended?

Teenagers may wear an orthodontic appliance once the first permanent molar (the 6 year molar) protrudes and grows. They may wear an orthodontic appliance only after the orthodontist has thoroughly examined the case (consultation, x-rays, pictures, dental molds), and considers as necessary to recommend this type of treatment.

The most common anomalies to be corrected with an orthodontic appliance are:

• crowded/cramped teeth
• rotated teeth
• teeth in an unusual position in the arch (too much ahead, or too much in the back)
• diastema (the gap between the two front teeth)
• malocclusion (an inadequate alignment of the teeth on the two arches, incorrect bite when the mouth is closed) – the upper teeth are too much in the front compared to the lower teeth and cover them too much; the lower teeth are too much ahead; the existence of a large gap between the upper and lower arch, where the tongue comes when talking or swallowing and causes phonetic difficulties.
• teeth which are impacted in the bone are to be brought out in the arch
• Closing post extraction areas in order to perform a dental treatment

The importance of a timely orthodontic treatment

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that a child’s first visit to the orthodontist should be not later than the age of 7.

Crooked teeth, teeth with gaps or cramped teeth are some of the first issues in dental health and esthetics, when we talk about children. Specialists highlight the fact that if these problems are not treated in time, they will lead to long and complex treatments.

Not treating teeth malpositioning can cause:

• digestive affections caused by faulty mastication
• emotional disorders caused by un unpleasant appearance
• forming of decays on cramped teeth
• pronunciation issues
• development of other anomalies such as malposed teeth or hyperdontia