What Is Orthodontic Treatment?
Orthodontic treatment is the use of dental tools to straighten or move teeth to improve dental health and appearance. It helps in maintaining your child’s oral health in the long term by fixing misaligned bite patterns and reducing the strain on the jaw muscles.
Orthodontic issues like crooked teeth, protruding, crowding, spacing, and bite irregularities can occur because of many reasons like losing milk teeth very young or bad habits like thumb sucking. At Pandit Clinic, we believe that prevention is always better than cure and so we recommend you regularly bring your child for dental check-ups at our pediatric dentistry practice, where these orthodontic issues can be caught early and corrected easily.
We offer a wide range of solutions for orthodontic issues, including braces, headgear, and Invisalign. You can find more details about our Orthodontic Treatments. The most common way of correcting severe orthodontic issues is through the use of braces. Keep reading to learn more about what exactly are braces, the different types, and how they work.
What Are Braces?
Braces are dental tools that correct problems like crooked teeth, overcrowding, and misalignment. Braces slowly align the patient’s teeth and jaw to produce an even bite and a beautiful smile.
Most people think braces are uncomfortable, painful, and difficult to maintain. But that is not the case. Orthodontics has come a long way, we believe in correcting orthodontic issues with as little discomfort as possible. Our expert Pediatric Dentist, Dr. Shilpi Dadarya makes sure to help you make an informed decision about the best treatment for your child.
Check-Up: Everyone has a unique set of teeth, and so the method of treatment will vary from person to person. Before the treatment begins, your child will have to undergo the following procedures:
- A full and thorough examination of his/her teeth and jaws
- A series of X-rays to better understand the position of the teeth
- A dental cast of the teeth will be taken to evaluate his/her bite
- In case of overcrowding, one or two permanent teeth may have to be extracted, to make space for the teeth to fit perfectly
After a careful examination of your child’s teeth, a treatment plan specific to his/her needs will be customized. We will guide you and help you choose the most suitable type of braces for your child.
Types Of Braces: These days, braces are more than just metal bands. There are many different options available to make sure that everyone has the best possible treatment.
These are some of the possible options if your child needs braces:
Conventional Braces: Conventional or traditional braces are metal brackets that are cemented to the front of the teeth with a bonding agent. They also include flexible wires or arch wires that hold the brackets together. The brackets and wires are made of high-quality stainless steel and they apply pressure to the teeth, aligning them slowly. Sometimes, the brackets are linked with delicate rubber bands or metal ties that increase the pressure on the teeth and straighten them.
Ceramic Braces: Ceramic braces are similar to conventional braces, but the brackets are made of tooth-colored ceramic instead of stainless steel. They can also be made with clear ceramic. This makes them less noticeable than conventional braces. The ceramic brackets are held together by stainless steel wires. They work in the same way as conventional braces.
Lingual Braces: Lingual braces are also called “inside braces” as they consist of custom-made metal brackets that are attached to the back of the tooth. These brackets are joined by a metal wire. They are virtually invisible and they straighten the teeth by slowly pulling them inside. Sometimes, elastic bands may be required. Lingual braces are just as effective as conventional or ceramic braces. They can also be harder to clean and your child may need a bit more time to adjust to them.
Invisalign: Invisalign is one of the newest options available. They are very different from the other types of braces, mostly because they are not cemented to the teeth. Invisalign consists of a series of custom-made clear trays (also called aligners) that fit over the teeth. These trays are made with Invisalign’s own blend of plastic and are almost unnoticeable. They can be removed for eating, drinking, and cleaning, but they need to be kept in the mouth for at least 20-22 hours. Invisalign uses gentle pressure to slowly align the teeth. They need to be replaced every two weeks with a new set of aligners to adjust for the slow movement of the teeth.
Dr. Shilppi Dadarya will decide which type of braces would suit your child the best based on her examination, and also the preferences of you and your child. While conventional braces are the most well-known, ceramic braces, lingual braces or Invisalign can be used for the more image-conscious or shy children to reduce any embarrassment. The more adventurous kids can even select the color of the elastic bands for a bright, colorful smile!