The benefits of a bright smile and beautiful straight teeth often go beyond improvement in appearance and social life, aligned teeth is also crucial to one’s health. Malocclusion can affect gum health and lead to serious oral health problems like periodontal disease. Teeth misalignment also builds up pressure in teeth and jawbones, resulting in easily worn teeth or even teeth lost. Chewing difficulty would create long term damage to one’s health.
Orthodontic treatment (dental braces) correct misaligned teeth for a bright and healthy smile.
Orthodontics is a specialty of dentistry performed by professional Orthodontists.
When a patient appears to have irregularity in teeth, bone or face, the dentist may arrange referral to Orthodontist. An orthodontic treatment will be able to achieve the following purposes:
1. Improve the Balance of The Face and Teeth:
Some people with protruding upper or lower jaws are born with them or caused by other factors, such as teeth problems. Thus, face shape could be improved by fixing teeth problem through orthodontic treatment.
2. Improve Malocclusion:
Malocclusion means misalignment between the position of the upper and lower jaws, which will affect eating and oral hygiene. Occlusion problem can be corrected by orthodontic treatment.
3. Improve Uneven Teeth:
Irregular arrangement of teeth, such as overlapping and uneven height can cause protruded teeth, under bite and open bite, which can affect eating, pronunciation and cleaning. Uneven teeth can be straightened by orthodontic treatment.
Orthodontic treatment can be classified into three main types: Metal Braces, Lingual Braces and Invisalign. Treatment time varies, it usually takes between 12 to 18 months, or 24 months for complicated cases.
|
|
Metal Braces |
Lingual Braces |
Invisalign |
|
How does it work? |
An arch wire is attached to brackets on the teeth, to move teeth in the correct direction |
An arch wire is attached to brackets on the teeth, to move teeth in the correct direction |
Tailor-made braces are replaced regularly according to teeth movement, to correct the teeth gradually |
|
Material |
Metal/ Enamel / Resin |
Metal/ Enamel / Resin |
Medical-grade plastic |
|
Removable? |
No, they are fixed on teeth |
No, they are fixed on teeth |
Removable, can be removed and worn anytime |
|
Noticeable? |
Attached to the outside of teeth, easily notice |
Attached to the inside of teeth, hard to notice |
Invisible aligners, virtually invisible |
Traditional Metal Braces
Lingual Braces
Invisalign
Orthodontic treatment procedure:
1. Orthodontist will check and evaluate patient’s condition and determine whether the patient is suitable for treatment.
2. Once confirmed patient is ready for treatment, teeth photos, panoramic and bite-wing X-rays will be taken. and a plaster model will be made.
3. Orthodontist will explain the patient’s detailed condition and feasible treatment plan using the plaster model. The orthodontist will set up a tailored treatment plan, then patient just need to put on the braces and make regular follow-up visits.
4. The treatment takes around 12 to 18 months, or 24 months for complicated cases. Retainers are required after treatment to help teeth stay in place. The patient also needs to visit the orthodontist once every 6 months.
