Orthodontics is the area of dental medicine that detects, prevents and corrects dental position anomalies that prevent correct occlusion, alignment and aesthetic dentistry.
Its purpose is to correct the function of the stomatognathic system and the recovery of dental and facial esthetics. It can be applied in children, young people, adults and in elderly patients. Among the many benefits of orthodontic / facial orthopedic treatment we can expect, in addition to functional occlusion, an improvement in dentofacial aesthetics and an increase in patient self-esteem.
In the vast majority of cases, during treatment, we have seen improvement in complaints of headache, muscle pain in the neck or shoulders and torticollis. By correcting the dental and bone position we reestablish the function and balance the entire Stomatognathic System. In children of school age, when we diagnose and correct occlusion anomalies we see the improvement of headaches.
The use of removable or fixed appliances should only be advised by your Dentist / Stomatologist, varying the need from case to case. Dental treatments in the field of orthodontics are increasingly popular among young people, unlike in the past. Nowadays, there is an increase in the demand for adults, who are increasingly aware of the improvements that orthodontics places on the quality of life, both for aesthetic results and for functional results.
There are 2 types of aparatologia, the mobile (or removable) and the fixed.
Mobile device: made of acrylic resin and orthodontic steel wire. In general, the treatment time is 12 months, but will depend mainly on the patient’s collaboration (not to lose, not to depart and use it as prescribed). They should only be removed from the mouth to eat.
Fixed Apparatus: with bands, brackets, bows and ligatures. It is possible to move the teeth in the three dimensions of the space and the patient does not remove the device so the effectiveness is greater.
a) Metallic: with brackets (parts that are attached to the teeth) metallic, is the most used device.
b) Porcelain: porcelain brackets are more discreet confusing with the teeth. They are usually those chosen by adults.
On average, the duration of treatment is two years. However this time may decrease or increase depending on the type of case and the patient’s collaboration (good hygiene, assiduity in the consultations, care in the mastication not to take off brackets).
After using the fixed appliance it is necessary to use restraint to ensure the stabilization of the teeth in the new position and thus not to risk the change in the result achieved.
Some malocclusions that can be solved with Orthodontics:
Dental crowding (teeth that rub each other)
Misaligned teethDiastemas (spaces between teeth)
Open biteDeep bite (overbite)
Crossbite