If you are resigned to the fact that you have to wear a brace, chances are you’re thinking of the more traditional methods where you are subjected to up to 3 years of hell. Well you should think again, says a dentist from the city of Leeds. The field of orthodontics deals with maintaining the correct alignment to occlusion or the bite of the jaw. To do this can involve the fitting of braces. But with the advances in technology and modern dentist procedures, this doesn’t have to be a long drawn out process anymore, thanks to three revolutionary techniques. The Inman aligner is aimed primarily at the front teeth of adults. A coil spring exerts pressure on the teeth, whilst a bar behind reverses that pressure. The result is that the teeth are gently pushed and pulled into position and the process can be over in as little as 6 weeks. This is also a lot cheaper than other techniques. The Damon brace uses a self-ligating wire to allow the brace to move with the teeth. It appears discreet in the mouth and is easy to clean and quicker than conventional braces. The most expensive option is the Invasalign. An ‘invisible’ retainer is fitted to the teeth and can carry out full adjustment of the teeth in a minimum of 12 months. It has to be changed every month, but its main advantage is that it can be removed during eating and when cleaning the teeth.
Angle orthodontics is a specialised study of dentistry that is based on the theories of the founder of orthodontics, Edward Angle. Much of his work is centred on the maintenance of the occlusion, or the ‘bite’. If the bite is misaligned, this can give rise to all manner of complications in the head and upper body- tooth decay, gum disease, wear on the jaw, leading to head, eyes and earache, neck and upper back problems. As a dentist in the city of Leeds points out, orthodontics focuses on rectifying these problems from childhood, by using braces to straighten teeth and bringing the occlusion into line, hence correcting over, upper and cross biting. Braces have come a long way since Angles’ day, though the principles remain. Traditional braces never had the luxury of the use of computers. Modern methods like Invasalign and Inman braces are starting to revolutionise teeth straightening, making the treatment quicker. As we get older, our teeth start to move, wear, crack, even fall out and this affects the alignment of the occlusion. The use of implants, bridges, dentures and crowns can ensure that no extra pressure is put on the bite. Bruxism or teeth grinding is another offender and needs to be addressed immediately as does gum disease, to avoid tooth decay.
According to a city of Leeds dentist, orthodontics covers one of the most important in dentistry. It centres on the mouth’s occlusion (the bite) and how to remedy any problems in the jaw’s position. This is achieved by correcting the growth of misaligned teeth, the coming together of the teeth, treating bruxism (teeth grinding) and teeth loss. This starts at a young age. Children are susceptible to teeth problems, especially as new teeth form in the mouth, and it is important to tackle any problems early on to protect the occlusion. Crooked teeth need to be addressed by the use of braces. This can take up to 5 years and can be very traumatic for the wearer who will often be subject to playground ridicule. Braces can also be fitted in later life as teeth are lost and subject to movement. But aside from the aesthetic advantages after the brace is removed, the importance of monitoring the occlusion are paramount to the health of the patient. Many of the body’s problems can stem from an unhealthy mouth. A bad occlusion can lead to wear on the jaw, gum disease, headaches, earaches, sinus and eye problems, and pain in the upper back. Before any treatments can be undertaken, any problems of teeth grinding must be addressed before an orthodontist can treat missing teeth with implants or bridges. Chipped teeth will be repaired with crowns, and bite positions (over, under and crooked), corrected with the fitting of a brace.
Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry that is specifically focused on correcting problems that arise due to malocculsion, more commonly known as bite. Efforts to correct these problems go back to 1000 years BC and orthodontic materials have been found of both ancient Egyptian and Etruscan origin. Historically, orthodontics was primarily concerned with restorative or medical conditions associated with the jaw and bite but more recently it has increasingly been used for more aesthetic or cosmetic reasons.
