Dental Braces
Why do I need braces?
Smiles are a large part of our lives. In a big matter, it is the showroom to our insides, it helps us in determining our identity. Our smiles create perceptions of how we perceive ourselves, how others see us, and ultimately how we feel about ourselves. In a recent study done in America on 1000 people (above the age of 18), 72% agreed that people of all ages with healthy and straight teeth are treated better in social circumstances than their counterparts with crooked teeth. Another 50% agreed that people with crooked teeth leave a negative first impression. And first impressions last.
Get in touch with our team to book an appointment with one of the country’s best orthodontists if you’re in need of dental braces.
Apart from the social issues around crooked teeth, certain health issues are also related to malocclusions. Teeth that are straight and spaced evenly in the jaw are easier to clean, resulting in healthier gums and a healthier body. Teeth that are against each other have a better function, not only resulting in fewer food impactions but also better chewing resulting in better digestion. Aligned teeth create a better bite.
A better bite is a better relationship between the upper and lower jaw, making the joint sit in a more natural position. This can alleviate any clicking or painful jaw joints. Having less stress, headaches, and trauma on supporting jaw tissue as a result of a better bite.
Below are abstracts of an article recently published in the American Academy of Orthodontics Journal. Berger J. Journal of Clinical Orthodontics 2000.
Objective
- A retrospective assessment of clinical studies relating to the effectiveness and efficiencies of self-ligating brackets as compared with conventionally ligated straight wire appliances.
Methodology
- More than twenty published articles/clinical studies were analyzed.
Findings
- Self-ligating brackets were found to provide greater patient comfort, shorter treatment time, reduced chair time, and more precise control of tooth translation.
- Self-ligating brackets demonstrate dramatically less friction. Such reduction in friction can help shorten overall treatment time, especially in extraction cases. The authors of several studies reported an average of four months reduction in treatment time and a significant savings of chair time in changing arch wires.
- Self-ligation reduces the risks of percutaneous injury. It also protects the patient from soft-tissue lacerations and possible infections from the cut ends of steel ligatures.
Elastomeric ligatures not only show a rapid rate of decay and deformation but they are often associated with poor oral hygiene. With the elimination of ligatures, self-ligating appliances can significantly improve the hygiene of all patients.
How long
should I wear dental braces?
This all depends on various factors, to name a few:
Oral hygiene: The better you clean the better the results can be and less time wasted on fillings etc.
Self-control: The better you comply with instructions from your dentist the better and faster the results, especially with active appliances like elastics and bite correctors.
Type of Malocclusions: The type of teeth discrepancy influences treatment time as different corrections take different times.
Type of Orthodontic treatment: 2 Fundamental differences in the type of orthodontic brackets are known, the self-ligating and the conventional ligated bracket.
We use self-ligating brackets, this is shown to have tremendous advantages over the ligating type of bracket.
To answer your question about treatment time, it is patient-dependent. Although we do everything to move the teeth as fast and safely as possible it is still dependent on various other factors.
Normally treatment time can be as fast as 10-18 Months.
Invest in your oral health and stay smiling
Straightening your teeth has more than just aesthetic advantages… here’s why it’s worth investing in your smile for optimal oral health.
- It’s easier to clean your teeth crowded teeth can make it difficult to clean your mouth thoroughly, with hard-to-reach areas. straight teeth make for j easier cleaning surface, helping to keep harmful bacteria at bay.
- You can look after your gums cleaning your teeth properly is important, helping to prevent gums from becoming inflamed by bacteria. inflamed gums could lead to periodontal disease down the line.
- You can prevent jaw strain and pain crooked teeth could put added pressure on your gums, jaw, and supporting bone. the right jaw alignment through teeth straightening could help with teeth grinding, jaw clenching, and resulting tension headaches.
More Questions ?
No, every time an adjustment is made the teeth will immediately be sensitive to pressure but only for the first 2 days, there after the bone is starting to adapt around the tooth. During treatment your teeth might feel slightly mobile but this is all normal as the bone is hardening around the tooth ligament. Once treatment is done a retention appliance is made to keep the teeth in the right position. This needs to be worn as much as possible in the first year after treatment and then in the evening for another few years, especially if you are still in your 2nd decade of life.
Some instances yes but this is only severe cases, these days we do not just take out teeth anymore. With the use of self-ligating brackets, much better forces are applied on the teeth and jaw having to reduce the number of teeth needed to be taken out. As a rule, if anyone says that a tooth needs to be taken out then get a second opinion.
