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About Orthodontics
Your dentist may have discussed with you the benefits of having healthy teeth and proper jaw alignment. Crooked and crowded teeth are hard to clean and maintain. This can result in tooth decay, gum disease, and can ultimately lead to tooth loss. Other orthodontic problems can contribute to abnormal wear of tooth surfaces, inefficient chewing function, excessive stress on gum tissue and the bone that supports the teeth, or misalignment of the jaw joints. These problems may sometimes lead to frequent headaches and/or muscle pain. Orthodontic treatment can be less costly than the care that could be required to treat dental problems that arise as a result of orthodontic problems. For most people, a beautiful smile is the most obvious benefit of orthodontics. After your braces are removed, you'll feel more self-confident.
Orthodontic appliances can be made of metal, ceramic, or plastic. They may be removable or they may be attached to the teeth. By placing a constant, gentle force in a carefully controlled direction, braces slowly move teeth to more ideal positions. Many advancements in braces have been made. You may choose brackets that are clear or metallic. You may choose the colors of the O-rings that hold the archwire into the brackets. The archwires themselves are also less noticeable than they used to be, and are comprised of the latest materials, allowing faster movement of the teeth with less discomfort.
Treatment times may range from as little as a few months to over two years, depending on jaw growth, dental development, and the severity of the problem. Patients grow at different rates and respond variably to orthodontic treatment, so the time to treatment completion may differ from the original estimate. Diligent use of any prescribed rubber band, lip-bumper, retainer or headgear wear is an extremely important factor in achieving the most efficient treatment outcome.
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