4 Types of Orthodontic Treatment That Can Straighten Your Smile

All of us desire that picture-perfect smile that we see on the cover of beauty magazines. Sadly enough, not everyone was born with the much-coveted perfectly aligned teeth. Others had to endure their smiles and learnt to live with misaligned or crooked teeth.

Correcting crooked teeth is not entirely about aesthetics, but some complications can arise due to malocclusion.

Some may experience tooth decay since crooked teeth are difficult to clean. Others may develop the temporomandibular joint disorder, which is a condition that affects the jaw joints and jaw muscles. You might even experience headaches and neck pain because of the extra stress exerted on the chewing muscles.

Be of good cheer, modern dentistry has come a long way, and there is orthodontic treatment for adults and kids. Before the introduction of the different types of orthodontic treatment, there were psychosocial factors that adults faced that made most of them shy away from seeking orthodontic treatment, and these are:

• Aesthetic concerns
• Treatment expectations
• Willingness to adhere to instructions
• The discomfort that arises from wearing the appliances

Having considered all the above factors, the scope of orthodontic treatment near you broadened. But before we lunge into the types of orthodontic treatment, let’s get define some terms.

It’s All About Appliances

In a nutshell, orthodontics is a term that is used to refer to a branch of dentistry that deals with correcting teeth that are not properly positioned in the mouth a condition known as malocclusion.

At the heart of orthodontics, is the use of different appliances that are designed to move your teeth to their proper position gradually.

An orthodontist, a specialist in this field, is trained to treat anyone who has any of the following conditions:

• Overbite
• Underbite
• Crossbite
• Open bite
• Misplaced midline
• Spacing
• Crowding

Without further ado, let’s look at the types of orthodontic treatments.

Orthodontic Treatment Procedure

To get your teeth straightened, expect the following:

• A dental checkup and diagnosis, which involves taking X-rays and dental impressions
• The treatment plan is created after discussing with you about your expectations
• Your teeth can be cleaned
• Our orthodontist will then fix the orthodontic treatment and follow the treatment plan
• When you attain the desired results, the treatment will be removed.

Fixed Appliances

Fixed appliances are mostly used when precision is critical. Fixed appliances are widely used in orthodontics. Examples of fixed appliances include:

• Metal Braces

These are the traditional braces, which consist of mainly brackets, wires and bands. Braces work by retraining your muscles and change the way your jaw grows. Pressure from the braces is applied over time to move your teeth to the desired position.

The bands, which act as anchors for the braces, are fixed around your teeth. Then the brackets are fixed to the front of your teeth. The wires are used to connect the brackets and the bands.

With every visit, our dentist will tighten the wires, to continue to nudge your teeth to the desired position.

Braces are not an adult’s first choice, and many have run away from orthodontic treatment because of the thought of them having a mouth full of wires.

• Fixed Space Maintainers

This treatment is designed for your kids. If your toddler loses a tooth prematurely, we recommend the use of a space maintainer to keep the space unoccupied until your baby’s permanent tooth erupts.

• Special Fixed Appliances

If your baby has a habit of tongue thrusting or thumb sucking, these fixed appliances are attached to their teeth to curb the habit. Just use it as a last resort, since they are very uncomfortable, especially during meals.

• Removable Appliances

Mostly, these appliances are made from plastic and are used to achieve a limited tooth movement. These appliances are appropriate for adults since there is flexibility, and they are easy to use.

Some of the removable appliances include:

• Aligners

If you have a bite issue and you were shy to get treatment because of metal braces, then aligners were made with you in mind. They are virtually invisible, and you can remove them to brush your teeth and eat your favorite meal.

• Retainers

Just as their name suggests, they are used to stop teeth from moving back to where they were initially.

Functional Appliances

These appliances are removable braces that are designed to work on your upper and lower teeth at the same time. They aid in the proper teeth alignment and growth of your jaw.

Headgear

Our orthodontist may recommend the use of a headgear, which is strapped around the back of your head then connected to a metal wire at the front, to slow down upper jaw growth. They can also be used to pull back the front teeth while keeping the back teeth in position.
In case you are wondering about orthodontic treatment price, you can expect the price to be as low as $90 a month at Mi Casa Dental. Straighten your smile today.