Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that is officially known as Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. The purpose of orthodontics is to treat any type of malocclusion, which is simply another way of saying "bad bite."
When you have a malocclusion, it means that your teeth, lips and/or jaws don't line up the way they should. As a result, your teeth may be crooked, your bite may not work correctly and your jaws may look unbalanced.
To fix bad bites, orthodontists -- who are specially trained professionals -- use braces and other corrective procedures, including materials often called "appliances," to achieve tooth and jaw alignment. This correction of the teeth and their supportive structures makes for a healthy, attractive smile.
When most people think of orthodontics, they think of teenagers. And the fact is, most orthodontic treatment begins at ages 10, however, by age 7, most children have a mix of adult and baby teeth. Orthodontists can spot subtle problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth while some baby teeth are still present. That's important, because some orthodontic problems are easier to correct if they're found early. Moreover the upper jaw which is called the MAXILLA stops growing forward after 8 years. So if by chance there is a crossbite problem in your child it can lock the jaw growth permanently.
For these reasons, we recommend that your child gets an orthodontic check-up no later than age 7. While your child's teeth may appear to be straight, there could be a problem that only an orthodontist can detect. Of course, the check-up may reveal that your child's bite is fine, and that can be comforting news. Even if a problem is detected, we may not recommend immediate treatment. Chances are, we will take a "wait-and-see" approach, checking on your child from time to time as the permanent teeth come in and the jaws and face continue to grow. For each patient who needs treatment, there's an ideal time for treatment to begin in order to achieve the best results. The orthodontist is the specialist Provided you keep your teeth nice and clean you will be able to choose your colours when the wires are ready to be changed.
The wires will now start to very slowly move your teeth and will need to be changed or adjusted approximately every one to two months. As the teeth start to straighten, thicker wires are used.
Fitting the braces is painless, but later that day the teeth will feel strange. Individual pain sensitivity varies a lot. Some patients say this is mild and others find it tender. The best advice is to take pain relief that you would normally take for a headache, for example “Crocin Pain Relief” but be careful not to exceed the recommended daily dose. You can have the medicines upto three tablets a day, upto 3-4 days, preferably after food. After the 4th or 5th day everything will be just as normal.
Sometimes, the braces may rub the inside of your mouth and start to form a small ulcer. This happens because your cheek muscles consider the braces to be a foreign entity and become more active for sometime. To prevent this we would advise you to use the special orthodontic wax that is available from our reception. Roll a pea size piece between your fingers to make it supple. Dry the bracket that is causing the irritation and press the wax over the top of the bracket. This will stop the rubbing. The wax is harmless if swallowed and may drop off occasionally and need replacing. The cheek or gum will soon settle down.
We highly recommend using a fluoride mouthwash every day throughout the treatment. You may use either Colgate Phosfluor or Fluoritop Mouth Rinse. Take upto half the lid of the container and rinse your teeth very well for about one minute. When the time is over, spit out the mouthwash but do not rinse your mouth with water or else the beneficial effects of the fluoride will be washed away. Do not have anything for at least 2o mins. The best time to use the mouthwash is any time after brushing. This means that your teeth will have an additional coating of fluoride which is highly beneficial to your teeth. Rinsing must be done twice daily regularly.
Throughout your course of treatment it is vitally important to keep your teeth and gums in excellent condition. It is easy to give them a quick scrub; the secret is how to clean them properly, which is more difficult and takes time. Your Orthodontist will always check to see how well you are brushing
If any part of your brace breaks it is very important to contact my office and arrange an emergency appointment. Any delay in doing this may lengthen your overall treatment time.
Although every case is different, generally speaking, patients wear braces from one to three years. Treatment times vary with factors that include the severity of the problem being corrected and how well the patient follows our instructions. Patients who brush and floss thoroughly and regularly; avoid hard and sticky foods that can break appliances; wear their rubber bands and/or appliance as instructed; and keep their appointments usually finish treatment on-time with good results.
After the braces are removed, most patients wear a retainer for some time to keep or "retain" the teeth in their new positions. We will determine how long the retainer needs to be worn. Most patients remain under our supervision during the retention phase to ensure that the teeth stay properly aligned. who has the knowledge to determine when the time is just right.
In some cases, we might find a problem that can benefit from early treatment. Early treatment may prevent more serious problems from developing, and may make treatment at a later age shorter and less complicated. Typically, early treatment involves the use of orthodontic appliances, which may be removable, to guide the growth of young bones and create a better environment for adult teeth as they emerge. In some cases, we will be able to achieve results that wouldn't be possible once the face and jaws have finished growing.
Beautiful, healthy smiles are possible for anyone. From age 7 to 70, the biological process of tooth movement is the same in children and adults. As the science of orthodontics has developed gentler wires and more esthetic braces, many adults are now taking advantage of improving their own smiles. Whether you are considering orthodontic care to enhance your appearance or to correct a poor bite that has contributed to dental problems, we'd love to talk with you about the benefits of adult orthodontics.
Fixed orthodontic appliances are braces that are stuck onto the surface of the teeth, and only an Orthodontist can remove them.
Fixed braces consist of small squares or brackets that are stuck to the outer surfaces of the teeth and metal bands or sleeves that slide over the back teeth. Before bands are placed, it is sometimes necessary to place separators (small elastic bands that are flossed between the back teeth). The separators push the teeth apart slightly so that there is room for the metal band to pass over the teeth a few days later. When fixed appliances are fitted, it is necessary to keep your mouth as dry as possible so that the glue and cement can set.
At the end of the bond up appointment, wires will be threaded into the tiny slots in the brackets and bands. These wires are held in place by tiny elastic bands, which come in various colours, red, blue, purple, pink and even turquoise to name but a few. your teeth and braces. If you are struggling to keep your teeth clean, we will let you know.
Please use your orthodontic toothbrush and time yourself for at least 7 minutes four times a day. Brush twice with tooth-paste and twice without it, (just with brush and water). Try to get into the habit of brushing the biting surfaces and along the gum edges. Always ask for a demo of brushing from us. And always bring one set of brush to the clinic. Electric toothbrushes are excellent for cleaning braces; it is not necessary to scrub with an electric toothbrush as it will do the brushing for you. The best way to use them is to press the bristles lightly against the tooth until you can hear a slight change in the noise the toothbrush is making. Try to count to five seconds in your head for each tooth before moving on to the next one.
The final stage is to use a small interdental toothbrush; this looks like a tiny Christmas tree on a stick and is small enough to reach around and between the brackets and wires to remove food and plaque.
We would greatly appreciate it if you could always remember to brush your teeth before your orthodontic appointment. The one thing that is guaranteed to put us off is having to pick chunks of food out of our patients’ braces!
This is a sign that the gums are not healthy; the correct word for inflamed gums is “gingivitis”. Gingivitis is caused by germs that live around the gums which group together to form “plaque”, a creamy white deposit on the teeth. To get rid of the gingivitis you first have to get rid of the plaque. In other words brush very thoroughly and after a few days the bleeding should stop. Do not avoid the bleeding areas or they will not get better. If your gums continue to bleed in spite of regular brushing, please mention this to your Orthodontist.
When your orthodontist is satisfied with the position of your teeth your braces will be removed. This is a simple procedure. Once the braces are removed you need to wear a retainer which is nothing but post treatment maintenance. We recommend a maintenance protocol of 18 months after removal of braces. It is required to hold the teeth in their new position till the supporting structures stabilise.
1. BRUSHING: This is of prime importance in the treatment as this will be an important factor in making the treatment proceed faster.
2. RELIEF WAX: If any portion of the assembly hurts just identify the area of the assembly which is creating the discomfort and cover it with a pea size relief wax. You can also apply Hexigel Ointment on the ulcer if any.
3. WHEN IN PAIN: If pain is intolerable you can have Crocin Pain Relief after food, upto three times a day for 3-4days.
4. MOUTH WASH: Fluoritop or Colgate Phosfluor: Use one of them twice daily, as one minute rinse. Dont have anything for 20 minutes after the rinse.
5. SEPARATORS: If they come out after placement you must give us a ring and report to our office one day prior to your next appointment to get it replaced.
6. DIET: Have everything but make sure that if the food is hard you reduce its consistency and also take care that any sticky food doesn’t remain around your braces after meals. Don’t hurry through your meals. Chew comfortably and go slow. I have seen that if you sincerely follow these instructions there can never be breakages.
Having said everything I hope you have got a complete picture about the treatment process. Thanking you
Yours Truly
Dr. Ashok Surana
BDS( Cal), MDS(Ortho)(Ahm)
Consultant Orthodontist
Diplomate, Indian Board of Orthodontics.
Director, Indian Board of Orthodontics.
