If you have crooked teeth and/or a misaligned bite (an underbite or overbite), braces and retainers are two treatments that may help correct your teeth.

Many general dentists do basic tooth alignment and orthodontics, but orthodontists specialize in addressing tooth abnormalities.

Your dentist or orthodontist will enquire about your health, do a clinical exam, take impressions of your teeth, photograph your face and teeth, and order X-rays of the mouth and head. Based on the analysis of the collected data, a suitable treatment plan is developed.

In certain circumstances, a detachable retainer is all that is required. In certain circumstances (particularly when there is a significant overbite or underbite), surgery may be required. In most circumstances, braces will be required.

What Kinds of Braces Are There?

If braces are the best option for you, your dentist or orthodontist will create a custom appliance for you. Bands, wires, and other permanent or removable correction equipment may be used in the braces. There is no one strategy that works for everyone.

Braces: How Do They Work?

Braces function by exerting constant pressure to teeth over time to progressively shift them in a specified direction. As pressure is applied to the bone, it changes form as the teeth move.

Braces are composed of the following elements:

Brackets are little squares that are either cemented to the front of each tooth using a particular dental bonding agent or linked to orthodontic bands. Brackets serve as grips for the arch wires that move the teeth. There are numerous kinds of brackets available, including stainless steel and tooth-colored ceramic or plastic brackets, which are often chosen since they are less visible. Brackets are often glued to the back of teeth to conceal them from view.

Orthodontic bands are made of stainless steel, transparent, or tooth-colored materials that are bonded to the teeth using dental bonding agents. They wrap around each tooth and serve as a foundation for the brackets. Clear or tooth-colored bands are more pleasing visually, but they are more costly than stainless steel. They aren't utilized on every patient. Some folks merely have brackets, no bands.

• Spacers are separators that fit between teeth to provide a little distance before orthodontic bands are placed.
• Arch wires are attached to the brackets and serve as rails for the teeth's movement. Arch wires may be metal, transparent, or tooth-colored.
• Ties are little rubber rings or thin wires that are used to secure the arch wire to the brackets. They might be transparent, metallic, or colored.
• A buccal tube on the band of the final tooth secures the end of the arch wire.
• Ligatures are tiny elastic rubber bands that attach the arch wires to the brackets.
• Springs on the arch wires between brackets may be used to push, pull, open, or shut the gaps between teeth.
• Two bands on the upper teeth may have headgear tubes attached to them to keep the headgear's facebow in position. (A headgear is another item used by orthodontists to help correct tooth abnormalities; see below).
• Elastics or rubber bands are attached to bracket hooks and worn in a variety of ways between the upper and lower teeth. They use pressure to move the top teeth against the lower teeth in order to obtain an exact fit of individual teeth.
• Facebow headgear is a wire device used to shift the top molars back into the mouth in order to rectify bite discrepancies and make way for crowded teeth. The facebow is made up of two parts: an inner metal component shaped like a horseshoe that goes in the mouth and attaches to buccal tubes, and an outside metal part that goes around the exterior of the face and is attached to a headgear strap.
• Some people may benefit from newer "mini-braces," which are substantially smaller than standard braces. Another form of teeth straightening that involves removable plastic retainers may also work if the crowding is not too severe. Your orthodontist will go through the different kinds of braces with you and decide which one is ideal for you.

How long will I be need to wear braces?

The length of time it takes to get braces depends on the severity of the condition, the amount of space available, the distance the teeth must travel, the quality of the teeth, gums, and supporting bone, and how strictly the patient follows instructions. But, once the braces are set on, they normally stay on for one to three years. Most patients will need to wear a retainer all the time once their braces are removed for the first six months, then just at night for many years.

How Often Will I Have to See the Orthodontist Throughout Treatment?

Your orthodontist will want to visit you every month or so to ensure that the braces are putting consistent pressure on the teeth. The orthodontist will make changes to the braces' wires, springs, or rubber bands to increase tension and pressure on your teeth. Braces alone aren't always adequate to straighten teeth or move the jaw. In these cases, an external device, like as headgear, may be required to be worn at home in the evenings or during the night.

Would Braces Hurt My Teeth?

Some of the changes your orthodontist may make to your braces may cause soreness or discomfort in your mouth. Over-the-counter pain medicines such as Motrin or Tylenol may assist ease discomfort when required. If you are always in discomfort after having your braces changed, speak with your orthodontist; he or she may be able to perform the modifications differently.

Does the Age Influence Brace Success?

At whatever age, the mechanical procedure utilized to shift teeth with braces is the same. As a result, both toddlers and adults who want to enhance their look and bite might benefit from orthodontic procedures. The key difference between adult and child therapies is that some adult adjustments may need more than braces alone, and treatments may take longer since adult bones are no longer developing.

Can I participate in sports while wearing braces?

You may continue to participate in any sport if you wear braces. While participating in sports where there is a chance of being struck in the mouth, a specifically constructed mouthguard must be worn. The mouthguard is constructed of strong plastic and is meant to fit comfortably over your braces, protecting the sensitive tissues within your mouth.

What Kind of Aftercare Can I Expect After My Braces Are Removed?

Your teeth will be properly cleaned when your braces are removed. Your orthodontist may want to take further X-rays and bite imprints to determine how successfully your braces straightened your teeth and whether any wisdom teeth have formed. If wisdom teeth begin to emerge after braces have been removed, your dentist or orthodontist may advise that they be extracted to prevent freshly corrected teeth from slipping.

A retainer will also be fitted by your dentist or orthodontist. A retainer is a custom-made, removable or fixed item that aids in the retention of teeth's new position after braces have been removed. Minor orthodontic issues may also be treated with retainers. The use of a retainer is a critical component of post-braces care. Retainers, which are commonly composed of rubber or transparent plastic with metal wires that cover the exterior surface of the teeth, must be worn at all times for the first six months and thereafter just at night. The length of time a retainer should be worn varies from patient to patient. A retainer is required because, although braces may have effectively straightened your teeth, they will not be totally settled in their new position until the bones, gums, and muscles adjust to the adjustment. Moreover, teeth tend to move over time.

---------------------------------- 

Champion Dental Clinic
Vietnamese & English: (028) 5411-2295
中文: (028) 5411-2297 172 Nguyen Luong Bang, Tan Phu Ward, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City.
Fanpage: Champion Dental Clinic 牙科診所
Zalo: Champion Dental Clinic
Youtube: Champion Dental Clinic 牙科診所
Google map: https://goo.gl/maps/DCDXjqQtfBcaRKNT8