Orthodontics

What is orthodontic treatment?

Orthodontics encompass treatment of tooth disorders which are formed in early ages, left untreated and therefore occur in the following years.

Orthodontic treatment generally begins at 9-14 years age. However, American Association of Orthodontics recommends that all children should visit an orthodontist before age of 7 in order to control development of deciduous teeth and their replacement with the permanent teeth. Thus, possible orthodontic problems can be diagnosed earlier and treated accurately.

Benefits of orthodontic treatment in the long-term

Orthodontic treatment has been observed to increase self-reliance because of the fact that it improves appearance of people. Orthodontic treatment, at the same time, upgrades oral hygiene by positioning the teeth in their ideal places. Thus, potential tooth decays, gingival diseases, and tooth losses can be prevented. Providing a better chewing and less dental abrasion and correction of some maxillofacial pains can be mentioned among other benefits of orthodontic treatment.


Conditions requiring orthodontic treatment
 
Diastema, crowding, protrusion of some teeth outwards are conditions that call for necessity of orthodontic treatment. Moreover, chewing difficulty, prominence of lower or upper jaw, mouth breathing, pressing tongue onto the anterior teeth, finger sucking habit, and unusual sounds emitted from temporomandibular junction are signs that indicate requirement of an orthodontic treatment.

Importance of rapid development during puberty in orthodontics

Puberty is a period when face undergoes the heaviest alterations. Orthodontic treatment performed at this period, may affect the facial development of the patient positively. After the completion of the development of facial bones, bone disorders can generally be treated only with surgery.



Lingual orthodontics

Lingual orthodontics is an orthodontic treatment method that is carried out by placement of brackets onto the lingual aspect of the teeth. As a result of the rapid technological advances, it has become a more common treatment. Lingual orthodontic treatment is the most esthetic approach particularly for adult patients because brackets and wires are completely invisible.

Treatment length

Length of the orthodontic treatment varies from person to person. Some cases can be corrected easily (mild rotations in the teeth). Treatment takes a longer time in cases where prominence of chin is corrected or large gaps are restored. Generally, treatment lengths of young patients can be shortened by using special dental appliances without waiting for the eruption of permanent teeth.


Age limit in orthodontic treatment

Everyone with healthy teeth and dental bones can undergo orthodontic treatment. Currently, many adults with no history of orthodontic treatment can benefit from these services. Thanks to the advanced technology; tiny, transparent, and almost invisible brackets can be used. Moreover, brackets can be bonded to the posterior surfaces of the teeth, as well. Currently, by the help of advanced surgical methods, even maxillofacial problems of adults can be corrected.

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