What Is Orthodontics?

Some people are lucky enough to have naturally straight teeth that align beautifully, but most of us have at least some crooked teeth that may affect our bite or smile. Nowadays, modern orthodontic solutions mean you can straighten teeth relatively easily and attain a healthy bite, sometimes quite quickly.

Orthodontics is a dental specialty that diagnoses and addresses problems with how teeth and jaws are aligned. An orthodontist has first trained and qualified as a general dentist before choosing this specialty, spending several additional years in advanced training. Once qualified, they have to become state-certified to practice. By choosing an orthodontist, you are assured of getting the most up-to-date and advanced treatment to give you a straighter and more attractive smile.

What Are the Potential Benefits of Orthodontic Treatment?

Most people will seek orthodontic treatment because they want a more attractive smile, and it’s true that evenly aligned teeth look more attractive. However, orthodontics can provide more than merely aesthetic benefits. Teeth that are substantially crooked or overlapping can be harder to keep clean, especially when trying to floss between them. This can increase the risk of tooth decay or gum disease.

When teeth don’t bite together properly, they wear down more quickly because some will bite down before others, increasing the stress and strain on these teeth. It can be harder to chew properly, and a poor bite or malocclusion can affect your temporomandibular joints.

This is a problem called TMD or TMJ, where these jaw joints become inflamed and painful. Additionally, TMD can cause other problems like chronic headaches and neck, shoulder, or back pain. It can make it difficult to open your mouth fully without your jaw joints clicking or popping or being too painful to move properly.

How Does Orthodontic Treatment Work?

An orthodontist can use numerous appliances, including fixed or removable ones. These appliances can retrain facial muscles, move teeth, and guide jaw growth in the case of younger children who are still growing and developing. They work by placing gentle pressure on teeth and jaws.

When you first see an orthodontist, they will assess how your teeth bite together, look at your jaw growth, and may take x-rays, photographs, and dental impressions for further analysis.

Depending on the problems requiring correction, your orthodontist can advise which treatment approach will best suit you. Various options may be available, which are outlined below.

Fixed Orthodontic Appliances

The following appliances are fixed onto your teeth for the duration of treatment.

Fixed Braces

You probably already know what fixed braces look like, as they have metal brackets and wires and are often powered by elastics. The brackets are cemented onto teeth and attached to archwires.

Treatment progresses as the archwires are slowly tightened, increasing the pressure on your teeth and moving towards the proper positions. With this option, you usually need to see your orthodontist fairly frequently for adjustments, and you may need to wear the braces for several months to 2 or three years.

Fixed Space Maintainers

These fixed appliances are sometimes used when a young child uses their milk or primary teeth prematurely. The space maintainer is fitted into the mouth to help hold open the space left behind by the missing tooth. It prevents the remaining teeth from shifting toward the gap and causing problems with overcrowding and misalignment when the adult tooth comes through. The space maintainer is removed as the adult tooth starts to erupt.

Special Appliances

Other special appliances are used to control habits like tongue thrusting or thumb sucking. These may have bands that fit around the existing teeth and are generally used after other appliances may not have achieved the right results. This is because they can feel a little uncomfortable during mealtimes.

Fixed Retainers

After completing orthodontic treatment, these are used to ensure teeth remain in their new positions as the jawbone remodels around the tooth roots. They usually consist of a metal wire bonded onto teeth so they cannot move.

Removable Appliances

The following orthodontic appliances can all be removed during treatment.

Aligners

Removable aligners are a popular way for adults and older teens to straighten teeth instead of using traditional fixed braces. They are clear plastic trays, so no metal wires or brackets are involved, and once in the mouth, they are extremely discreet.

Aligners are not entirely invisible, as it is possible to see a small halo effect around teeth, but you would need to look quite closely. The aligners are very easy to use as they are removed for meals and oral care, so there is no need to adjust everyday activities or your diet.

However, they need excellent patient compliance because the aligners must be worn at least 22 hours daily and ideally only be removed for meals, brushing, and flossing.

Removable Retainers

Removable retainers serve the same purpose as fixed retainers after completing orthodontic treatment. They can look like clear aligners but retain teeth in their new positions rather than move them.

Removable Space Maintainers

Removable space maintainers are used like fixed space maintainers, holding open the space between teeth when milk teeth are lost too soon. They have an acrylic base supporting plastic or wire appliances that hold the space open but are removable for easy cleaning.

Removable Appliances for TMD

These appliances are sometimes called splints and work by training the jaw muscles so the jaw closes in a better alignment.

Palatal Expander

A palatal expander may be recommended when a child has a thumb or finger-sucking habit that has pulled the upper jaw outward, causing it to elongate and narrow and the upper front teeth to protrude. It consists of a plastic plate that is separated in half by a screw and fits into the roof of the mouth.

The screw gradually widens the appliance, forcing the upper jaw to expand and guiding jaw growth. The result is a wider upper arch with enough room for adult teeth to erupt normally without causing problems with overcrowding.

Headgear

These appliances are usually necessary when more complex orthodontic problems need correction and when the jaws must be guided into the correct positions while repositioning teeth.

What Type of Orthodontic Problems Can Be Corrected with Treatment?

Orthodontic care can correct numerous problems affecting your bite, including the following.

Overbite

An overbite is where the upper front teeth bite too far in front of the lower front teeth.

Underbite

An underbite is the opposite of an overbite, where the lower front teeth will bite in front of the upper front teeth instead.

Crossbite

Usually, when your upper and lower teeth bite together properly, your upper teeth bite just outside of your lower teeth all the way around. However, with a crossbite, your upper teeth will bite just inside the lower teeth, which can affect one or both sides of your mouth or the front teeth.

Open Bite

When you bite your teeth together, your upper and lower front teeth should meet, but some people have an open bite with a gap between the front upper and lower teeth.

Incorrectly Located Midline

Ideally, your upper and lower incisors should line up accurately, so if you imagine a line between your two upper front teeth, this should align exactly with an imaginary line between your two lower front incisors. Sometimes, this line is misplaced, and realigning the teeth can create a more aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Overcrowding

Teeth can be overlapping or overcrowded when there is insufficient space in the upper or lower arch or both, causing alignment problems.

Spaces between Teeth

Some people have the opposite problem where there are spaces between teeth, and these can act as food traps or create dark areas in their smile. When there is a space between your two upper front teeth, it’s called diastema. Some people like having this gap because it is unique to them, while others prefer to close it.

It might sound as if treatment will be complicated, but when you see your orthodontist, they can develop a custom plan that will work for you, helping you achieve your aims and potentially ensuring a healthier and more attractive smile. If there is more than one option available, such as fixed or removable braces, your dentist can go through treatment with you, explaining the pros and cons of each and the predicted costs.

When straightening teeth, there is a lot to consider, but the benefits can last for years so it can be a great investment in your dental health and your smile.