Modern man strives not only to maintain dental health, but also to make his smile truly beautiful. An orthodontist is exactly the specialist who will help to correct any malocclusion. Uneven, closely adjacent teeth are more often prone to caries and provoke gum disease. Therefore, the correct structure of the dentition is important not only from an aesthetic point of view, but also for oral health.
Orthodontist - who is it?
The only way to correct occlusion is using braces. Their installation and maintenance at all stages of treatment is done by an orthodontist. At the first consultation in the dental clinic, the doctor examines and interviews the patient.
The purpose of the orthodontist is to identify possible contraindications, choose an individual treatment. All cases are peculiar; those methods that helped one person may be ineffective for another. Therefore, the correction of the bite of each passes differently, and the experience and experience of the orthodontist are extremely important.
How to treat the wrong bite?
Bracket systems are effective installations for aligning the dentition. They consist of an orthodontic arch and small locks made of metal or ceramic. These miniature details - braces - are glued to each tooth. The steel arc has the shape of a normal bite and connects all the elements into a system. Immediately after installation, the structure begins to gradually displace the teeth in a given direction. This process takes from six months to three years, because it requires significant changes in the bone tissue of the jaw.
To preserve the result after removing the braces, the doctor installs retainers that hold the teeth in the correct position. These devices are invisible, more convenient for the patient, but they need to be worn twice as long as the bracket system.
Preparation for orthodontic treatment
It is possible to install braces only after the oral cavity has been rehabilitated, which the orthodontist also does (whoever does not know this, is to his attention). It is necessary to eliminate any inflammatory processes and sources of infection. Usually, a panoramic picture of the jaws is prescribed before orthodontic treatment. It is done using an orthopantomograph. The dose of x-ray radiation is minimal, therefore, such a study is used even for children. However, the information content of the panoramic image is very high. It shows all the roots and rudiments of teeth, fillings, as well as cysts and other problems in the early stages.
When treating with braces, casts from the jaws cannot be dispensed with. For example, lingual bracket systems are completely assembled on the model and only installed in the finished form on the teeth.
When should I contact an orthodontist?
Bite problems may appear in early childhood. Bad habits badly affect the formation of the dentition. For example, sucking a dummy up to three years or constantly biting the lip leads to an open bite. The front teeth do not close at the same time. The opposite situation is when the lower incisors are closed by the upper ones by more than half. This is a “deep bite”, which also needs correction.
The first signs of deformation can be noticed by parents, but it happens that only a specialist in time discovers a problem. Ideally, a child’s orthodontist should examine the child twice a year. Treatment can be started when the baby himself realizes its need and can calmly sit in the dental chair.
But not only children help the orthodontist. Who said that only teenagers go with braces? Adults often have a need and desire to improve their smile. The public profession, for example, makes you especially care about your appearance. Modern methods help correct bite to people of any age.
How to choose an orthodontist?
Alignment of the dentition is a long, difficult and expensive business. Only qualified, licensed orthodontist can cope with complex pathologies. Dentistry should have all the documents giving the right to provide medical services. A good specialist will tell you not only about the advantages of the bracket system, but also about the difficulties of treatment. He will not impose any one option, but will discuss with the patient all the possibilities and different types of orthodontic appliances. If the doctor suggests installing braces at the first appointment, you should think about his professionalism. You need to choose an orthodontist carefully, because the patient will have to communicate with him for several years. During the treatment period it will be difficult to change the doctor. Few people want to finish or remake someone else's work. Even if the orthodontist decides to move to another clinic, it is better to agree in advance with him about the possibility of observation, regardless of the place of work.
Ask the doctor to show the results of his work. Often, even on the walls of the office, photographs of patients “before” treatment and “after” are hung. Ask if there were failures and what caused them. The doctor’s response to such questions will help to understand whether he should be trusted. It is better to visit several clinics in order to more fully examine the complexity of the situation and treatment options. The first consultation of the orthodontist is usually free.
Orthodontist Tips
The oral cavity has a pleasant environment for bacteria with an abundance of nutrients. There is no other place on the human body where so many diverse microorganisms are found. Therefore, doctors unanimously advise using brushes, pastes, dental floss and other devices to restore order. If the features of the bite promise a person caries and gum disease, an orthodontist will help prevent these and other misfortunes. Whoever understands this on time and takes care of correcting the bite will keep his teeth to old age without extra fillings.