Orthodontics is a dentistry domain that deals with malocclusion, a condition wherein an individual’s teeth are in an incorrect position when they close the mouth, resulting in an improper bite. Thus, in simple words, an orthodontist specializes in straightening the teeth. At times, orthodontic treatment may be cosmetic and help improve a person’s appearance; other times, it helps improve oral function. If you want to know about the A to Z of orthodontic treatment and how an orthodontist in Garland can help, read ahead!
Types of Orthodontic Treatment
Orthodontic treatment may include the following –
- Removal of significant gaps between teeth
- Tips for the teeth alignment
- Crooked teeth straightening
- Speech and biting abilities improvement
- Preventing long-term trauma or excessive wear of the teeth
- Managing a bad bite
- Improving the long-term health and well-being of gums, teeth, or tongue
Thus, orthodontic treatment may help for aesthetic purposes or improve the overall dental condition of a person. In addition, orthodontist specialists in Garland Dentistry can help manage your teeth’s problems.
Types of Orthodontic Devices
Within orthodontics, devices play a pertinent role in managing patients’ problems. Some of the most common orthodontic devices include –
1. Fixed Orthodontic Appliances
They are the most common orthodontic devices specialists utilize when precision is the priority. A person can typically with fixed appliances, but they might have to dodge certain foods and drinks, such as soda, hard candy, gum, and so forth. The types of fixed orthodontic appliances are –
- Braces – They comprise brackets, wires, and bands. The expert will fix bands encircling the teeth firmly and act as the appliance’s anchors, while brackets are usually linked to the teeth’s front.
They will pass wires in an arch’s shape through the brackets and will fix the bands. Braces can be ideal to straighten teeth.
- Fixed-space maintainers – They are a type of orthodontic device for children. When a child loses a baby tooth, a space maintainer will stop the teeth at either side of the spaces from moving until the adult teeth come through.
- Special Fixed Appliances – They can help curb tongue thrusting or thumb-sucking.
2. Removable Orthodontic Appliances
As the name suggests, they are ‘removable’ orthodontic apparatuses that may help treat minor issues, such as correcting slightly crooked teeth or preventing thumb sucking. You can take out such devices while eating, flossing, and cleaning.
At times, the best orthodontist in Garland may also suggest taking off removal orthodontic appliances while indulging in certain activities, such as playing a wind instrument or cycling. The different variants include –
- Aligners – They are a substitute for braces and can be helpful for adults. Aligners are inconspicuous devices; you can remove them while brushing, flossing, or eating. An aligner is usually ideal for two to three weeks, then needs changing for a tighter one.
- Lip and Cheek Bumpers – These are specific orthodontic devices to relieve pressure from cheeks or lips on the teeth.
- Headgear – Eponymous to the name, it is a device that you need to strap around the back of the head and attach to a metal wire in the front or face bow.
The objective of headgear is slowing down upper jaw growth and keeping back teeth in place while the front ones are pulling back.
- Retainers – They are removable orthodontic devices that are ideal after treatment to prohibit the teeth from reclining back to their original position.
- Palatial Expander – It is an appliance ideal to widen the upper jaw’s arch. A palatial expander consists of a plastic plate with screws on the mouth’s roof.
The screws put pressure on the bone joints, compelling them to protrude outwards. Thus, the culmination is an expansion in the size of the area in the mouth’s roof.
Signs that You Should See an Orthodontist
People of all ages can benefit from orthodontic treatment. In fact, studies show that the demographic composition of orthodontic patients in America is changing, and the number of adults undergoing treatment is increasing.
For example, there was the treatment of 1.6 million adults for orthodontics in the USA in 2018, up from 1.55 in 2016. You can consider visiting the best orthodontist in Garland if you have one of the following conditions –
- Protruding Teeth
- Crowding
- Impacted Teeth
- Overbite or deep bite
- Asymmetrical teeth
- Open bite
- Reverse bite
- Crossbite
- Underbite
- Spacing and more
Concluding Thoughts
Orthodontic treatment can help solve many problems, be it cosmetic or practical. If you feel that your dental aesthetics need improvement or your teeth’s structure is hampering the daily activities of life, be it chewing or speaking, then make sure to consult a trustworthy and reliable orthodontist in Garland at the earliest.