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Everything you need to know about braces: the dentist says
Here’s everything you need to know for people with a malocclusion.
A very small percentage of people can boast of straight teeth. Most often, the bite is wrong. But this aesthetic problem can be solved by timely installation of braces – orthodontic devices for correcting curvature of teeth. They come in different types: common metal, ceramic, sapphire and lingual.
When to get braces, who should wear them?
Contrary to popular belief, braces are not limited to teenagers. These devices will also help improve the bite in adults. An experienced orthodontist will help you choose and install a system that will correct the dentition at any age.
And yet, the earlier treatment is started, the more effective it will be.… So, fragile children’s teeth can be corrected even with removable devices. For adult patients, doctors offer completely different braces, and they will have to be worn for a long time, depending on the severity of the disorders.
If the braces are set correctly, and the doctor regularly adjusts the treatment by changing the system pressure, the result will last forever.
Gone are the days when braces were associated with ugly metal braces on your teeth. Today there are options that are not visible, and even those that can serve as decoration. Like, for example, the sapphire version of this device.
An orthodontist can offer patients the following options for braces:
metal (this is a traditional old version);
ceramic (they are more expensive, but not so noticeable, since they are matched to the color of the teeth);
sapphire (almost transparent, made of artificial crystals);
lingual (completely invisible, as they stand on the inside of the teeth).
Naturally, these devices differ significantly in cost.
The price depends on:
type of corrective system;
material;
the condition of the patient’s teeth.
How long will you have to wear braces?
There is no single answer to this question. In each specific case, the specialist will determine the term, starting from the clinical picture first of all. However, in any case, it is worth preparing for a long period of bite correction.
Braces are not put on for less than a year, more often for a longer period, even for several years.
Important: these devices are installed only on healthy teeth. Therefore, they are preliminarily treated: they remove caries, plaque, fill if necessary, relieve inflammation of the gums.
How to wear braces and care for your teeth?
Dental care while wearing braces should be different from usual.
The first step is to brush your teeth after every meal or light snack. After all, food residues will get stuck in the locks of the device, and will contribute to the development of bacteria.
It is worth brushing your teeth thoroughly, but carefully, best of all – with a special brush that resembles a tick, these are sold in pharmacies.
It is also recommended to use dental floss, braces brushes, special paste and rinse aid.
Carrying out this kind of treatment, you need to limit solid foods in your diet, minimize the use of sweets, exclude food that is too cold or too hot.
Expert Tips
– A very correct health trend has emerged in the modern world. People began to be more attentive to themselves and their physical and psychological state, to eat right, to check their health status, and to periodically take tests. Our dental-jaw system works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, which means that it undergoes very heavy loads. The correct distribution of the chewing load is important for the health of the dental-jaw system.
Correct orthodontic treatment is not only about the aesthetics of a smile, but above all, it is important to achieve proper closure between the upper and lower teeth. Therefore, great attention should be paid to diagnostic phase… Before starting a total restructuring of the dento-jaw system, the doctor must clearly understand how the muscles work, whether there is a forced position of the lower jaw, whether there are overload areas of the teeth and periodontium, how the paired temporomandibular joint works.
Equipment selection is carried out by an orthodontist based on the diagnostic data and wishes of the patient. At the moment, there are several options for bracket systems. It can be external braces… Fixation of external vestibular braces is carried out from the outside of the teeth, from the vestibule of the oral cavity. In difficult clinical situations, we can often use only external braces. They can be classic metal or ceramic (a more aesthetic option) .Also in the arsenal of an orthodontist there is lingual (internal braces). There are also options for correcting bite without braces – these are aligners(thin transparent aligners) that align the teeth.
In modern orthodontics, there are a lot of different options for equipment. But remember: wear braces for 1,5-2 years, and enjoy your smile all your life. Therefore, as a specialist in this field, I recommend listening to the recommendations of the attending physician, – notes Elena Kotunova.