ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT

Aligners and Braces Clinic

Invisalign Clear Aligners
Braces Treatment

“Aligners” A revolutionary advancement in treating malalignment of teeth without braces.

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Orthodontic Treatment

Orthodontic treatment includes the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of discrepancies in the teeth and jaws like crowded teeth, forward placement of the teeth, and malpositioning of teeth and jaws. There are various types of appliances (fixed and removable) used to move the teeth in the desired positions, re-train the muscles to affect jaw growth. They work by applying gentle pressure on the teeth and jaws. The type of orthodontic approach you require would be decided according to the severity of the existing problem.

Braces

Braces consist of brackets and wires. Brackets are fixed on the teeth in which wires are engaged. They cause an extremely smooth and slow movement of the malaligned teeth into proper position.

Braces are usually adjusted every month to bring about the desired results. The entire treatment can span a period of a few months to a couple of years. The different materials of braces available are stainless steel, ceramic (tooth-coloured), a combination of materials.

Ceramic Braces

These are the most commonly sought-after braces. The brackets are made from tooth-coloured material and are hardly visible when smiling. The self-ligating type of ceramic braces holds many advantages over conventional ones and also puts rubber bands at bay, hence making it even more esthetic.

Metal Braces

They are composed of metal and appear silver when shown while talking or smiling. These have been used traditionally to treat malalignment of teeth. Self-ligating variety avoids rubber band usage and offers many more advantages.

Lingual Braces

A highly cosmetic alternative to conventional braces. They are placed behind the teeth in contrast to braces which are applied to the front of your teeth.

Aligners

It is one of the treatment modalities which has revolutionized the field of orthodontics. It has become a miraculous modality for the alignment of teeth for all the people who are reluctant to wear braces because of one or the other reason. Aligners are transparent, removable trays and are used as an alternative to braces for adults. They are gaining popularity as they are virtually invisible. They can be removed for eating, brushing, and flossing, hence making patients much more comfortable throughout the treatment.

Many companies manufacture custom-made aligners; for example K-Line (Germany), Invisalign (USA), etc.

Retainers

These are worn after orthodontic treatment to prevent shifting of the teeth to their previous position. They can also be modified and used to prevent thumb sucking in kids.

Other Appliances

Space Maintainers

Space maintainers are essential to preserve the space created by the early loss of milk teeth and to avoid the malalignment of the teeth in the future. Faulty alignment could lead to speech discrepancy, malocclusion, and poor oral hygiene. Different types of space maintainers are fabricated depending upon the tooth loss and the remaining dentition.

Special Fixed/Habit-Breaking Appliances

They are special appliances used to control habits like thumb sucking or tongue thrusting in kids.

Myofunctional Appliances

Jaw growth discrepancies are often corrected using functional appliances. These appliances are extremely helpful in bringing down the severity of the problem and work best in the growth phase of the child.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the duration of orthodontic treatment?

Orthodontic treatment usually takes 18 – 24 months. Some patients may finish treatment earlier and others may take longer to complete. Factors determining the duration of treatment include the severity of the problem, the type of treatment rendered, and the patient’s cooperation.

What is the use of retainers in orthodontic treatment?

Wearing braces is called the active part of orthodontic treatment. Once that phase is over, the braces are removed, and retaining appliances are fitted to hold the teeth steady in their new position. These appliances may be removable (plates) or fixed (wires) fitted behind the teeth.

Retainers play an important role in the treatment. If they are not worn according to instructions, the teeth may move back towards their original position. They are usually worn for a year or more as determined by the orthodontist. The corrected teeth are then observed periodically for about five years after the retainers have been phased out.

What are the benefits of orthodontic treatment?

A beautiful and healthy smile is more attractive and boosts your confidence
It is much easier to brush, clean, and floss well-aligned teeth. Hence, there is a reduced risk of tooth decay
Protruded/prominent teeth are more prone to injury. So orthodontic treatment helps prevent trauma to the teeth
There is reduced grinding and chipping of teeth as they are in proper alignment

What should I do if the edges of the aligners are scratching me?

Take a nail file/emery board and use it to smooth the edge that is scratching your gums. If that does not work, please make an appointment to see our orthodontist to adjust your clear aligner.

What should I do if I lose or break my aligners?

In the event that a clear aligner is lost or broken, please schedule an appointment with our office as soon as possible, and we will evaluate whether we need to order a replacement clear aligner.

While waiting for your next appointment with us, try the next aligner. If you can get it to fully seat, continue wearing the next aligner. If the next aligner does not fully seat, go back to your previous aligner, and we will order you a replacement clear aligner.

Make sure to keep all your clear aligners for this reason. Sometimes, if teeth are not moving as they should, our orthodontists may request for you to move back to a previous clear aligner.

What should I do if I lose or break an attachment?

In the event that an attachment is lost or broken, please schedule an appointment with our office as soon as possible. Attachments are vital for the tooth movement to occur predictably, so we will need to replace it as soon as possible.

Will the treatment be painful?

Most patients feel some tooth soreness for the first few days when starting clear aligner treatment. This is normal. The soreness should gradually go away after a few days. Over-the-counter pain medication can be used as needed following the medication’s instructions.