Is All Orthodontic Treatment The Same?
Of course, not all orthodontic treatment options are the same for the simple reason that not all patients are the same. Indeed, the same patient might have different types of orthodontic treatments at different times in his or her life.
Orthodontics is the science of straightening a patient’s teeth and aligning his or her jaws properly. This not only improves a person’s smile but helps them to eat and speak correctly. Humans have been looking for ways to straighten their teeth since the days of ancient Egypt.
Braces
When most people think of orthodontics, they think of braces. Braces are worn by children and grown-ups and are a popular type of orthodontics for teens. There are several types of braces depending on both the needs and the desires of the patient. They are:
• Traditional Braces
These are made up of metal braces that are connected by wires, or ligatures and bonded to the teeth. The wires are themselves held in place by rubber bands. Sometimes the braces can be self-ligating, which means that the wires are secured not by rubber bands but by clips. Some orthodontists, like Dr. Don Demas, believe that this lessens the friction between the wires and the brackets and are gentler on the teeth. Patients also find self-ligating braces more comfortable. They also make oral care a bit easier as well.
• Ceramic Braces:
These braces are the same color as the patient’s teeth. They’re also translucent and so are hard to see. Ceramic braces are popular with celebrities who need to have their teeth straightened. Their drawbacks are they’re expensive, and they’re so hard that they might actually wear away the patient’s own enamel if they’re prone to teeth grinding. Ceramic braces can also be self-ligating, so they don’t need rubber bands.
• Lingual Braces:
These braces are placed on the back of the teeth and can’t be seen. This requires some skill on behalf of the orthodontist, and they’re not for every patient. Some patients may find it hard to speak properly when they wear lingual braces, and they can irritate the patient’s tongue. They’re also expensive.
Other Types of Orthodontics
• Invisalign:
Invisalign fits the patient with a series of removable trays or aligners to straighten their bite. They’re designed specifically for the patient and are updated every two or three weeks as the teeth slowly come into alignment. Invisalign is a good orthodontic treatment for teenagers and adults, but the amount of commitment required might contraindicate them for use by young children. Since they need to be worn for about as long as regular braces, the commitment can be considerable. Invisalign trays can be taken out so the patient can eat and brush his or her teeth.
• Others
Many orthodontic treatments are used to align the bite of children, whose jaws are still growing. Orthodontists use devices like palatal expander to repair cross bites or high arches in the mouth or headgear to fix an overbite.
For more information, contact us at Team Demas Orthodontics. We have office Southington, Connecticut.
Team Demas Orthodontics
27 Meriden Ave #2a, Southington, CT 06489, USA
Phone: 860-276-0333
