Orthodontist

In recent years, orthodontists have been very popular: narrow profile doctors allow an ordinary person to acquire a charming, snow-white smile. A specialist who corrects the bite and transforms the dentition will help children and adults say goodbye to dental problems once and for all.

What a specialist does: diagnosis and treatment

An orthodontist is a specialist who corrects bite. A narrow-profile specialist is not engaged in dental treatment, filling of diseased canals and other dental procedures. Correction of the bite occurs in several successive stages: the final result depends on the competent approach of the doctor.

At the initial appointment with a specialist, diagnostics are carried out: an examination by a doctor, drawing up a general picture of the disease (if a person has applied with a specific problem, a consequence of dental diseases) and drawing up a treatment plan. The work of an orthodontist, unlike a dentist, takes several weeks, and sometimes the patient undergoes a year-long treatment to completely correct the bite.

Both adults and children undergo primary diagnostics. In adolescence, changes in the skeletal system occur much more easily, so treatment by an orthodontist takes less time. For adult patients, the doctor develops an individual treatment program. To correct the bite, special orthodontic structures of varying complexity are used.

It is advisable to undergo orthodontic treatment for patients who have undergone surgery. Correction of the bite and the shape of the dentition after surgery is a complex process that requires a good qualification of the doctor.

What organs does it treat?

What does an orthodontist do? A dentist who corrects an overbite carries out a number of therapeutic measures. The primary task of a specialist is to correct anomalies in the dentition of an adult and a small patient. The work of an orthodontist is to correct congenital, hereditary disorders or injuries that the patient has been suffering from since childhood. Acquired adult defects are corrected gradually, if possible – without surgical intervention. The main problems with which people turn to the orthodontist are crooked teeth: they spoil the appearance and create complexes.

The doctor is engaged in the correction of the bite of any form of complexity: a slight curvature of the dentition and severe jaw anomalies. Crowding of teeth or expansion of the dentition is the main profile of the work of an experienced orthodontist. Such anomalies are formed in childhood, when the child’s main teeth erupt incorrectly. Uncut fangs or incisors can create a problem for the entire jaw of the patient, so the specialist takes measures to align the entire dentition, and not just the visible parts of the teeth.

Patients with breathing problems also seek help from an orthodontist. A person who has an irregular jaw shape may suffer from shortness of breath, asthma attacks. Violation of chewing function is the first indication for contacting a specialist. Speech problems arise due to malocclusion even in adults, so the orthodontist prescribes a comprehensive treatment, including a visit to a speech therapist or other specialists.

In most cases, the appeal to the orthodontist is the shape of the jaw or the curvature of individual teeth. Recent studies have shown that the jaw of modern man has become significantly narrower than that of his ancestors. As a result, crowding of teeth, incorrectly cut incisors and wisdom teeth: frequent defects need to be corrected, not only in terms of aesthetics, but also the health of an adult or small patient.

What diseases are diagnosed

During the initial consultation, the orthodontist determines the entire scope of work. There are only three types of diseases that require special treatment. For ease of treatment and diagnosis, experts identify the nature of the problem:

• congenital anomaly;
• hereditary problems;
• acquired defect.

The speed and complexity of treatment depends on the classification of the problem. Malocclusion can develop gradually, especially in young children. The initial examination of a small patient by an orthodontist will help determine the development of the problem and its further elimination.

What are the names of diseases and injuries that a doctor treats

Congenital pathologies are expressed in the shape and number of teeth. Pathology can occur at the stage of formation of milk teeth and affect the state of the dentition of an adult. Partial and complete absence of individual teeth affects further treatment. Congenital pathologies appear in the womb due to improper formation of the fetus. It is more difficult to treat this type of disease, but an integrated approach will provide a good result.

Hereditary problems are passed on to children from parents or immediate family. These pathologies include malocclusion, detection of supernumerary teeth, trema and diastema. To diagnose hereditary pathologies, the orthodontist conducts additional studies.

Acquired defects can appear at any age: a person gets injured, suffers complex diseases, or treats his own body negligently. The first acquired defects appear 2-3 years after the birth of a child. Over the years, the problem worsens and causes a number of complications.

The task of the orthodontist is to identify the problem, prepare the patient for the main treatment and install special structures. Aesthetic changes are the goal of the patient, but the doctor’s priority is the health of a person with a congenital or acquired defect.

What are the symptoms to see a doctor

A narrow profile dentist does not treat caries, periodontitis or stomatitis. The orthodontist deals only with problems of the dentition that cause specific symptoms. In young patients, the chewing function is disturbed, because of the crowding of the milk teeth, the incisors can fall out and crumble. Often, misaligned teeth lead to childhood caries and stomatitis, causing bleeding gums and severe pain.

For adult patients, crowded teeth or a stretched dentition entails problems of a completely different nature: malocclusion leads to severe pain in the joints. Due to crowding, a person hardly manages to carry out oral hygiene, as a result, caries of varying degrees appears. Incorrectly distributed load on the teeth leads to cracks and chipped teeth. The main symptom with which an adult or a worried parent turns to a specialist is the ugly shape of the teeth and the curvature of the front incisors. Aesthetics plays an important role in orthodontics.

Stages of treatment

The initial examination is an acquaintance of a specialist and a concerned patient. Long-term treatment should be stress-free. An orthodontist is a doctor who periodically examines the installed structure and listens to the wishes of the patient. Each person who crosses the threshold of the office has his own preferences and wishes: the doctor takes into account the recommendations of the patient, listens to his complaints. A trusting relationship between a doctor and a patient is the key to fruitful collaboration on an impeccable healthy smile.

Treatment of a patient by an orthodontist takes place in several stages. At the first stage, the specialist deals with the elimination of pathology. For these purposes, orthodontic appliances are used: plates, braces and caps. The second stage consists in correcting the installed system: individual structural elements are changed for the patient, additional parts are installed to fix the teeth. The final stage of complex treatment is retention correction. To fix the result, the patient is given retainers. The choice of apparatus for treatment depends on the complexity of the pathology and the planned plan. The time of wearing the structure is determined individually.

Therapies

Abnormal development of the dentition requires complex treatment. The correction method additionally includes myotherapy, hardware method and surgical intervention. Children with contraindications to the installation of a bracket system are prescribed gymnastics. This method is suitable for correcting an overbite that is not fully formed. Myotherapy for adults is used as a prophylaxis to prevent relapses.

The hardware method is the most common and effective. Bracket systems, caps and aligners are installed for a certain period of time. Fixed structures need home care and periodic correction. Installation of one device takes from 30 minutes to an hour and is almost painless.

Orthodontists resort to the surgical method only in the most severe cases. This method is used to remove unnecessary teeth or to free up space in the oral cavity. The choice of effective treatment is based on the diagnosis and taking into account the wishes of the patient. Modern braces are made of stainless steel and can be of different types, sizes and shapes. Every person who dreams of a healthy smile can seek help from an experienced orthodontist: the specialist will offer all possible options for solving the existing problem.