Orthodontics is a dental specialty that deals with the correction of your bite and the alignment of your teeth. Orthodontists specialize in techniques that align teeth, correct jaw structure, and manage improper bites. They use devices such as braces, aligners, and retainers to straighten teeth, improve bite alignment, and enhance oral health. You can get a beautiful smile through treatment while ensuring long-term dental health. In this blog, we will discuss how orthodontic treatment works and its benefits.
How Orthodontic Treatment Works?
The orthodontic treatment starts with your consultation with an orthodontist. The orthodontist examines your teeth, jaw, and bite alignment using X-rays and scans and creates a plaster model of your teeth. Then the orthodontist discusses it with you and creates a personalized treatment plan.
The orthodontists use various appliances to correct the alignment of the teeth. Some of them are:
Braces: Allow teeth movement using flexible wire that joins brackets and bands attached temporarily to the teeth.
Clear aligners: Tough, clear plastic aligners used to straighten teeth.
Other devices: In some cases delicate elastic bands are attached to fixed braces to move teeth.
By using these appliances, you can apply pleasure continuously to the teeth to move them and correct alignment.
After starting using braces, it is important to consult an orthodontist at regular intervals. You need to tighten the braces or replace the aligners to get good results. This consultation time period ranges from a few weeks to a month.
Most of the treatment takes 1 to 3 years and completely depends on the patient’s condition.
Also Read: Invisalign vs Braces: Which is the Right Choice For You?
Benefits of Orthodontic Treatment
Orthodontic treatment is used to straighten your teeth and it has several benefits. Some of the major benefits are:
- Improved oral health
Teeth in correct alignment are easier to clean, reducing the risk of plaque buildup and promoting overall oral hygiene.
- Reduced risk of tooth decay and gum disease
Proper alignment of teeth eliminates the gap between each tooth where bacteria can grow, which can lead to tooth decay. With orthodontic treatment, you can wipe out the risk of tooth decay and the chance of gum disease.
- Prevention of excessive wear and tear
Not aligned teeth structure can lead to an uneven bite pattern, causing excessive wear and tear. Through orthodontic treatment, you can ensure your teeth are properly aligned and thereby reduce wear and tear.
- Alleviation of jaw pain and TMJ disorders
Correcting the bite pattern can reduce the strain on your jaw, keeping you out of jaw pain and preventing Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorders.
- Boost in self-esteem and confidence
Undergoing orthodontic treatment can give you a more attractive smile, which enhances your self-confidence and increases your social interactions.
Types of Orthodontic Treatments and their Benefits
There are several types of orthodontic treatment and each has its own benefits. Let’s look at the major types and benefits of orthodontic treatment.
Orthodontic treatments consist of metal braces, clear aligners and retainers.
Metal braces are traditional braces used to straighten teeth using metal brackets attached to the teeth. A metal wire through the brackets exerts pressure to align the teeth.
Clear aligners also known as Invisalign are the most commonly used braces. They are invisible and can be removed easily. This one is the most useful and expensive of braces.
Retainers are used at the final stage of orthodontic treatment and can be either fixed or removable. The purpose of retainers is to hold the teeth while the bones and gums move. Wearing a retainer except at the time of having food can keep your teeth straight for a long period of time.
When to consider Orthodontic Treatment?
If you have any of the following signs, consult an orthodontist for orthodontic treatment.
Gaps between teeth: Gaps between your teeth can be corrected using fixed braces or clear aligners.
Crooked teeth: Crooked teeth can affect your smile and damage your confidence. This can be corrected using fixed braces.
Jaw pain: Pain in the jaw while chewing can be due to misalignment of teeth. This can also be corrected using braces.
In this blog, we have discussed the benefits of orthodontic treatments. Orthodontic treatments correct the alignment of teeth by moving them. Braces, clear aligners and other devices can be used in treatment. These treatments lead to several benefits including improved oral health. There are several types of braces available and you can select the one of your choice. If you are looking for the best orthodontist in Kochi, then Dr Sunny’s Dental Clinic is the best choice for you.
