By Dr Jacob John
Orthodontics is a specialised branch of dentistry that focuses on diagnosing, and treating dental and facial irregularities. This includes crooked, crowded and protruding teeth and poor jaw alignment.
Today orthodontic braces are not only for youngsters but adults as well. Though an orthodontist can enhance a smile at any age, there is an optimal time period to begin treatment. Beginning treatment at this time ensures the greatest result and the least amount of time and expense. It is however recommended that all children have an orthodontic screening not later than age seven, as some orthodontic problems may be easier to correct if treated early.
Most commonly seen orthodontic problems are crowding, crooked, spacing, protruding upper teeth, missing teeth, cross bite, deep over bite, disproportional jaw size and abnormal oral habits like thumb sucking, mouth breathing, tongue thrusting etc.
The scope and practice of orthodontics involve design, application and control of corrective appliance (braces) to bring teeth, lips and jaw into proper alignment by different orthodontic appliances to achieve aesthetically pleasing profile.
Fixed Orthodontic Treatment (braces) — In this treatment procedure alignment of irregularly placed teeth, correction of crowded, malpositioned, rotated, proclined, retroclined and spacing of teeth for better aesthetics is carried out by using braces. This treatment can be done with or without extraction of selected teeth, depending on the severity of the case. Treatment duration is 12-15 months with a monthly once follow up with the orthodontist.
Braces are the most efficient and accurate way of moving teeth, they are glued to the teeth and act as handles to which the arch wires can be attached. Thanks to today’s technologies we use a variety of dental braces to help patients of all ages to achieve a beautiful and attractive smile as a healthy, functional bite. Orthodontics offers a wide variety of braces to meet the individual needs and desires of each of our patients.
Metal braces — they are the commonly used and are made up of stainless steel. Today’s metal braces are smaller, more comfortable and more attractive.
Ceramic (tooth coloured) braces — they are made up of translucent clear material. They are most popular with adult patients, due to their cosmetic appeal.
Lingual braces (invisible braces) — placed behind the upper and lower teeth creating more aesthetically pleasing effect and are virtually undetectable allowing you to retain your normal appearance for the duration of your treatment.
Clear aligner therapy
The Invisalign® System is a series of clear overlay templates — called aligners — that have been generated by computer simulation to gradually move the teeth.
Growth modification treatment
A disproportion in the size or position of the jaws results in a skeletal discrepancy like forwardly placed upper jaw (prognathic and excessive maxilla), small upper jaw.Forwardly placed lower jaw (excessive and large mandible), small lower jaw (deficient and retruded mandible). Management of these problems can be done by growth modification appliances. These appliances are most effective during the mixed dentition period (7-12 years) as it takes advantage of the pre-pubertal growth period.
Headgear is the most effective mode of treatment for the patients with excessive maxillary growth whereas chin cup therapy is used for the treatment of mandibular excess.
Functional appliances are devices used to correct a significant disharmony in the relationship between the upper and lower jaws. The most common use of a functional appliance is to encourage the forward growth of a retrusive or “under-developed lower jaw (small mandible).
Habit breaking appliances like tongue crib, oral screen, flexible night guards are used as preventive orthodontic measures for the abnormal oral habits like tongue thrusting, mouth breathing, night grinding etc.
People are very aware of how teeth look and an attractive smile can play an important role in enhancing self-confidence.
From traditional metal braces and ceramic braces to clear aligners that can be worn to improve appearance of misaligned teeth, and orthodontics can help you achieve a beautiful and healthy smile you’ve always dreamed about.
*** Dr Jacob John, BDS, MDS, M Orth RCS (UK) Dental, will be visiting Aster Hilal, Musherib and Al Khor from January 31- February 2.
