Malocclusion to be corrected by an orthodontic appliance

Malocclusion is a problem faced by a large part of society. Malocclusion often manifests itself in childhood and it is worth starting the treatment process at this stage. A malocclusion is not only an aesthetic problem, as it often distorts speech, difficulty biting or even breathing. What malocclusion can be corrected with an orthodontic appliance?

Malocclusion and orthodontics – basic information

Orthodontics is one of the specializations of dentistry, which involves the treatment of malocclusion with the use of fixed or removable appliances. The name orthodontics comes from the Greek language and is a combination of two words “orthos” – simple and “odous” – tooth. The aim of modern orthodontics is not only tooth straightening procedures, but also examining the child’s masticatory organ during growth and development, preventing disorders of the masticatory organ and treating all disorders of the masticatory organ in children and adults. Orthodontic treatment in Poland is unfortunately not covered by a full refund. Children up to 12 years of age are covered by the partial reimbursement program, while older children and adults pay the full amount for correcting malocclusion with braces. This is not the best information for parents, as more than half of children aged 7-18 are diagnosed with malocclusion. Many of these children do not wear an orthodontic appliance during adolescence, which is why the malocclusion often worsens and becomes a much more serious problem for the child. If untreated with an orthodontic appliance, malocclusion is not only an aesthetic problem. Malocclusion causes a number of negative consequences for the patient’s health, including:

1. damage to permanent teeth due to caries, which occurs in hard-to-reach places during oral hygiene;
2. the development of diseases of the gums and temporomandibular joints;
3. worsening speech impediments;
4. retained teeth or crowding effect in the absence of space for growing permanent teeth;
5. excessively tilted teeth, which are exposed to injuries and fractures;
6. faster abrasion of the teeth and possible more frequent dents;
7. problems with biting and chewing, resulting in diseases of the digestive system;
8. malaise, low self-esteem, lack of self-esteem.

Do you want to learn about orthodontics? Check: Orthodontics heals complexes

What are the causes of malocclusion?

Occlusal defects that can be corrected with braces have many different causes. Malocclusions may be the result of abnormalities in the structure of the mandible and maxilla, but they may also result from genetic causes or bad habits from childhood. Orthodontists who treat malocclusion with fixed and removable braces most often indicate the following causes of malocclusion:

1. forceps or facial delivery, which caused abnormalities in the structure of the mandible and maxilla;
2. incorrect positioning of the baby to sleep – when sleeping on its side, the baby’s head and neck should be slightly elevated;
3. incorrect breastfeeding or bottlefeeding;
4. sucking a thumb in childhood or a pacifier with an incorrect design for the future dentition;
5. constantly biting on various everyday objects, i.e. pencils, pens or crayons;
6. permanent mouth breathing;
7. bruxism, i.e. teeth grinding or trismus, which is very often the result of severe stress;
8. internal causes, i.e. the most common hereditary malocclusions, diseases experienced by the mother during pregnancy, rickets, infectious ailments and endocrine abnormalities.

More information about malocclusion can be found here: Malocclusion and orthodontic prophylaxis

When should you think about an orthodontic appliance?

Do all malocclusion qualify for correction with an orthodontic appliance? When should you enroll yourself or your child for an orthodontist appointment? These questions appear in the minds of people who have probably noticed irregularities in their dentition. Orthodontists point out certain symptoms that should be the impetus for the patient to show up at an orthodontic office. It is worth noting that the symptoms in adults are different, albeit slightly, from those seen in children.

Malocclusion in children, which can be corrected with an orthodontic appliance, is manifested by:

1. visible asymmetry in facial features;
2. worsening speech impediment, which cannot be eliminated by speech therapy exercises;
3. constant breathing through the mouth with a constantly open mouth;
4. premature loss of milk teeth or their rapid deterioration, which is caused by accelerated tooth decay;
5. excessively protruding or retracted chin;
6. and the most visible symptom, i.e. incorrect location of the teeth in the gums, i.e. gaps between the teeth, excessive crowding of teeth, overlapping of one tooth on the other.

Malocclusion in adults, which can be corrected with braces, are manifested by:

1. visible asymmetry of the smile;
2. teeth grinding;
3. clenching and rapid abrasion of teeth;
4. exposing the necks of the teeth;
5. visible crowding and overlapping of teeth;
6. excessive scale build-up in places difficult to clean with a brush;
7. an aesthetic symptom, i.e. gaps, turned teeth or crowding.

What are the types of braces?

Orthodontic appliances are the most effective method of malocclusion treatment so far. Orthodontic appliances that doctors recommend to their patients differ in terms of types, technology and duration of treatment. The basic division of orthodontic appliances is as follows:

1. permanent braces – braces that are attached to the teeth for a specified period of time with orthodontic brackets. Orthodontic arches are attached to the brackets to act on crooked teeth. Fixed braces are also divided into metal, aesthetic and lingual appliances. The latter are attached to the teeth from the side of the tongue so that they are invisible at first glance;
2. removable appliances – appliances that can be removed for a specified period of time, and are not permanently attached to the teeth. Movable braces are most often put on children. This category includes mechanical, mechanical-functional or functional devices. Transparent attachment devices are dedicated for adults.

Find out more about braces: Teeth braces. Types of orthodontic appliances, price

For the care and hygiene of teeth in an orthodontic appliance, use the Vitamma SMILS sonic toothbrush with 5 brushing programs.

Types of malocclusion corrected by an orthodontic appliance

Malocclusion is not a homogeneous unit of orthodontic disorders. There are many types of malocclusion that can be corrected by an orthodontic appliance.

1. Overshot bite – this is one of the most common malocclusions that can be treated with an orthodontic appliance. It accounts for about 70% of all defects. In this defect, the lower bite is set back in relation to the upper bite, with the front teeth not touching each other. With an orthodontic appliance, you can shift the lower row of teeth and align it with the upper one. The effect of overshot bite is the distortion of the face by the retraction of the mandible and a speech defect manifested in the pronunciation of such sounds as s, z or dz;
2. Undershot bite – this defect is analogous to undershot bite. In the mesiocclusion, the lower dental arch overlaps the upper one. A brace helps to align one or both lines of teeth so that they touch each other when the mouth is closed. The effect of this malocclusion is the visible protrusion of the chin and lower lip forward;
3. deep bite – in this defect the upper tooth line extends very deeply over the lower teeth. In this case, the face loses symmetry by shortening it by the depth of the overlap of the teeth. This arrangement of the teeth causes their excessive abrasion, which in turn leads to serious dental problems. With this malocclusion, correcting with an orthodontic appliance is especially recommended;
4. cross bite – in this defect some teeth are deeper in the gums than others. In this case, the lower teeth overlap the upper teeth, but only in some sections. The result of this malocclusion is cracking of the enamel, greater abrasion of the teeth, and a recession of the gums. Correcting with an orthodontic appliance can save the patient from future problems related to dental treatment;
5. open bite – this is a type of defect in which the teeth do not touch each other at all. The clearance that forms between them is called a non-bite gap. Placing an orthodontic appliance will be perfect for straightening the teeth so that they touch each other when the mouth is closed. This defect should be corrected with orthodontic braces without any doubts, as the lack of treatment may have serious consequences. The open bite makes it difficult to bite and chew food, and it significantly impairs the correct contract. People with an open bite cannot correctly pronounce such consonants as t, d, s, dz, c or even ł. In addition, open bite causes face elongation, jaw underdevelopment, high palate and reduced muscle tone of the lips and tongue;
6. crowding – this is a very common malocclusion, which consists in the fact that the patient has too many teeth in relation to the space in the sockets. If there is no room for all of the teeth in the jaw, they will grow rotated, at the wrong angle, or in the wrong place. Often, apart from the application of an orthodontic appliance, it is also necessary to remove an extra number of teeth. The process of treating such a defect depends on how complicated the situation in the sockets is and to what extent the teeth have grown incorrectly;
7. diastema – is a malocclusion that can be seen at first glance and manifests itself in gaps between the teeth. With this defect, very often food residues remain in the gaps between the teeth, which leads to caries or gingivitis. The diastema can be corrected with orthodontic braces, thanks to which the teeth close together in the sockets, significantly reducing or even eliminating unsightly gaps.

What is orthodontic treatment of malocclusion?

Orthodontic treatment of malocclusion is based on two methods. The first is a method that uses exercises performed by a patient with a malocclusion, i.e. myotherapy. The second and most frequently chosen method of malocclusion treatment is the application of an orthodontic appliance. Correcting a malocclusion with an orthodontic appliance is not a short and easy procedure. This process is divided into several stages:

1. diagnosis of a malocclusion, which includes X-rays of the teeth, plaster models of the patient’s teeth, as well as traditional photographic images. Diagnostics is usually performed in an orthodontic office;
2. establishing a treatment plan for a malocclusion – selection of an orthodontic appliance and discussion of further treatment costs;
3. putting on an orthodontic appliance suitable for a specific malocclusion – each patient should receive detailed instructions, i.e. the rules of oral hygiene, possible failures or interactions of the appliance with food;
4. systematic check-ups at the orthodontist in order to activate the appliance;
5. after correcting the malocclusion, the orthodontist removes the appliance and may recommend an X-ray,
6. the orthodontist imposes a retention apparatus, i.e. a retainer or retention plate;
7. care for the effects of treatment – unfortunately, in many cases, after the malocclusion has been cured with an orthodontic appliance, the lack of attention to the effects may end in a return to the irregularities in the dentition. Therefore, periodic visits to the orthodontist combined with retention are very important.

How much does it cost to correct malocclusion with an orthodontic appliance?

Correcting malocclusion with an orthodontic appliance is the most effective method of eliminating irregularities in the dentition. Unfortunately, orthodontic treatment in Poland is only partially reimbursed and only for children up to 12 years of age. Older children and adults are not covered by the reimbursement program and must pay the full amount for correcting a malocclusion. The costs associated with correcting malocclusion with orthodontic braces are quite high and do not end with paying for the braces. Based on the above stages of the orthodontic treatment process, the approximate price list for the complete correction of the malocclusion is as follows:

1. diagnostics and orthodontic consultation cost about PLN 100-200. If the orthodontist decides to have other examinations, you will have to pay for each of them separately. The orthodontist may refer the patient to a pantomogram, cephalogram or impression of a plaster model of the dentition;
2. establishing an orthodontic treatment plan for the cost of approximately PLN 180-250;
3. the installation of an orthodontic appliance is one of the highest costs incurred during the treatment of a malocclusion. Prices for orthodontic appliances vary depending on the type of brackets selected. The cost of a fixed appliance varies from PLN 1800 to PLN 3000 for one dental arch;
4. control visits cost about PLN 180-250. These visits are every 4, 6 or 8 weeks depending on the stage of treatment.
5. a photo of a fixed camera costs about PLN 180
6. retention costs about PLN 450 – this stage cannot be neglected, as many orthodontists claim that retention is as important as the initial diagnosis and the period of wearing an orthodontic appliance.

Summarizing all costs related to orthodontic treatment, correcting a malocclusion with an orthodontic appliance may cost from PLN 6500 to PLN 16300.

Do you want to know more about the costs of orthodontic treatment? Check: The cost of installing an orthodontic appliance – how much does a beautiful smile cost?