Previously orthodontic treatment was carried out on children in their teenage years. Today, however, many children start orthodontic treatment at a much younger age. There are also large numbers of adults receiving orthodontic treatment.
Traditional “train-track” braces are fitted to a child’s adult teeth and are used to move, realign and/or rotate a tooth or teeth into the correct position. This is why you’ll usually see children 10 years and older wearing these types of braces.
However, crowded/crooked/skew adult teeth usually manifest because of a space shortage and/or a problem with jaw growth and/or jaw relationships. This can usually be identified in young children, even before many of their adult teeth start coming through.
The big shift in orthodontics has been to check children at a much younger age, identify these issues earlier and intervene before the arrival of the adult teeth.
In many cases, early intervention can provide future adult teeth with all the space they need and the child may not have to wear conventional braces at all.
Sometimes using adjustable, removable plates can be successful, especially in young children where they can help the jaw grow to the right size and shape, which creates the space required for the new adult teeth before they come through.
Other times plates may be used first, followed by braces.
In adults, there are many situations where more simple alignment issues can be corrected using a series of custom-made clear aligners (as can be seen in the image below).
The fundamental thing in orthodontics is that each case is unique. Each child’s case needs to be assessed properly and a tailor-made treatment plan created for the individual to ensure the best results.
One of the disadvantages of using removable plates for children is that they are removable.
Children often don’t wear their plates as directed, the plates get lost and/or broken and many months of treatment (and a lot of money) can be wasted when a child does not follow instructions.
We have two jaws, the upper jaw (maxilla), which is part of our skull and cannot move and the movable lower jaw (mandible), which is a long, curved bone with joints on each end.
The lower jaw moves when we speak, chew and swallow. The joints on each end pivot and slide in special sockets at the base of our skull, just in front of our ear openings.
In an ideal orthodontic situation, all our teeth should line up in each jaw – the teeth of the lower jaw should fit nicely inside those of the upper jaw when we bite together.
If we have what is called an overbite (Bugs Bunny), it could be because the upper jaw is too far forward and/or too big, or because the lower jaw is too far back and/or too small. Or both.
Similarly, an underbite (bulldog) occurs when the upper jaw is too far back and/or too small or the lower jaw is too far forward and/or too big, or both.
If the teeth are crowded in the lower jaw, it could either be because the lower jaw is too small for all those teeth or because the upper jaw is too small and the lower teeth cannot fit inside the upper jaw arch, as they are supposed to.
In many such cases, the teeth in the upper jaw are forced forward by the trapped lower jaw, which can cause the front teeth to protrude outwards.
In teenagers and adults, tooth clenching and/or grinding, migraine headaches, chronic earache, and chronic neck, back, and shoulder pain can also be associated with a lower jaw which is trapped inside the upper jaw.
Each child is unique. And so will their orthodontic development and possible treatment.
In many dentists’ and orthodontists’ opinion, the most important development in orthodontics has been the advent of early-intervention orthodontics, where jaw growth and facial development form the new basis of orthodontic planning, instead of trying to straighten crooked adult teeth with braces.
We love our patients and love to help them form healthy dental life that will last them a lifetime. For more information call us today to answer all of your questions so get an appointment.
As the proud new owner of braces, your children may be excited yet leery about caring for them while at school. However, with a little dedication and forethought, your kids will thrive while at school and wearing braces. Check out these five tips for caring for braces while away from home.
Make sure they pack anything else they will need to round out the day, such as a mouth guard if they will be participating in any sports. Following these tips for braces care at school will go a long way toward maintaining a healthy smile. Get in touch with your trusted orthodontist-sin Growing Smiles for more information about proper braces care.
We love our patients and love to help them form healthy dental life that will last them a lifetime. For more information call us today to answer all of your questions so get an appointment.
Orthodontic treatment is a way of straightening or moving teeth, to improve the appearance of the teeth and how they work. It can also help to look after the long-term health of your teeth, gums and jaw joints, by spreading the biting pressure over all your teeth.
Many people have crowded or crooked teeth. Orthodontic treatment will straighten the teeth or move them into a better position. This can improve their appearance and the way the teeth bite together, while also making them easier to clean.
Some people have upper front teeth that stick out and look unsightly. These ‘prominent’ teeth are more likely to be damaged, but orthodontic treatment can move them back into line. Or the way the upper and lower jaws meet can cause teeth to look unsightly and lead to an incorrect bite. Orthodontic treatment may be able to correct both of these problems.
When the teeth don’t meet correctly, this can put strain on the muscles of the jaw, causing jaw and joint problems and sometimes headaches. Orthodontic treatment can help you to bite more evenly and reduce the strain.
The best time is generally during childhood, but adults can have orthodontic treatment too – and more and more are doing so. Age is less important than having the right number of teeth. In children, it may be necessary to wait for enough teeth to come through before starting treatment.
Your dentist may carry out orthodontic treatment. Or they may send you to a specialist who has extra qualifications. The specialist may be in a practice or a hospital department and is called an orthodontist.
The most important thing is to have a full examination. This will usually involve looking at your teeth, taking dental x-rays and making plaster models of your teeth.
Your dental team or orthodontist will then discuss what treatment is possible. Once you are sure you want to go ahead, the treatment can start as soon as you have enough permanent teeth.
You may not have enough room for all your permanent teeth. If so, you may need to have some permanent teeth taken out to make space. Your dental team will tell you whether this is the case. Sometimes space can be made using other forms of treatment.
Orthodontic treatment can be done by many sorts of appliances, which most people call a ‘brace’.
Simple treatment may be carried out with a removable brace (a plate that can be taken out to be cleaned). It has delicate wires and springs attached, which move the teeth using gentle pressure.
Often, teeth need to be guided more accurately than they can be using a removable brace. So a fixed brace is used. This has brackets and bands which are temporarily stuck to the teeth. A flexible wire joins all the brackets and allows the teeth to be moved. You can’t take the appliance out yourself, so it is called a fixed appliance.
It is sometimes possible to change the way the jaws grow, using a functional brace. This works by using the power of your jaw muscles and can help with certain types of problems.
Fixed braces are not always made of metal. Plastic and ceramic can be used, especially for adults.
As well as a brace some people need to wear headgear. You usually only need to wear it in the evening or at night. If you do not wear it in the way you have been told, your front teeth may stick out at the end of treatment.
They are tough, clear plastic ‘aligners’ (molds) that are used to straighten teeth. Several sets of specially molded, slightly different aligners are made for each patient. Each set is worn for two weeks before being replaced with the next one. They are made from clear plastic, so they are nearly invisible. This means that no one need know you are straightening your teeth.
The aligners should be worn for 22 to 23 hours a day for the best results. They can be easily removed for eating, drinking, brushing, and cleaning in between your teeth. You need to have all your adult teeth before you can have this treatment.
Sometimes delicate elastic bands are attached to a fixed brace to help move the teeth. Your orthodontist will tell you if you need elastics.
The length of treatment depends on how severe the problem is, and it may take anything from a few months to two-and-a-half years. Most people can be treated in one to two years.
When treatment is finished the teeth need to be held in position for a time. This is called the ‘retention’ period, and the appliances that hold the teeth in place are called retainers.
The retainers hold newly straightened teeth in position while the surrounding gum and bone settles. The retainers can be removable or fixed, depending on the original problem.
All appliances may feel strange at first, and can cause discomfort. If the problem doesn’t go away, the orthodontist may be able to carry out adjustments to help. Teeth are usually uncomfortable immediately after a brace has been adjusted, but this will settle.
Orthodontic braces usually need adjusting every 4 to 6 weeks. Your orthodontist will tell you how often your brace will need adjusting.
Success depends on both the skills of the orthodontist and the enthusiasm and helpfulness of the patient (and parents, if the patient is a child). It is important to follow any instructions given by the orthodontist and to go to any appointments you have with them.
The success of the treatment also depends on the commitment of the patient. For children’s orthodontic treatment the patient must be as keen as the parent.
Your teeth can be damaged if you don’t look after them properly during treatment. The braces themselves will not cause damage, but poor cleaning and too many sugary foods and drinks can cause permanent damage to your teeth. Brackets, wires, and braces can trap food and cause more plaque than usual to build up. So you need to clean your teeth and appliance very thoroughly.
Even after retention, it is normal for minor tooth movements to happen throughout life. So no permanent guarantee can be given. However, it is unusual for teeth to alter enough to need more treatment.
The first thing to do is to visit your dental team and get their advice. Your dental team will know whether you need treatment and will make the necessary arrangements.
It is important to keep having your teeth checked by your dental team while you are having orthodontic treatment. You also need to take extra care of your teeth and mouth:
We love our patients and love to help them form healthy dental life that will last them a lifetime. For more information call us today to answer all of your questions so get an appointment.