Orthodontic treatments are a specialty that aims to prevent the formation of disorders involving the tooth-jaw-facial region; to stop and treat the progression of existing disorders; as well as to provide a good aesthetic and function (biting, chewing, speaking, laughing).
The cause of crowding is space constraints; to make room, the jaw can be widened, teeth can be opened outwards or teeth can be removed. Your doctor will decide which is appropriate. For treatment, brackets are attached to the teeth and memory wires are passed through them. Depending on the necessity of the treatment, screws, jaw expansion apparatus, springs, tires, etc. can be used. Sometimes it may be necessary to use extraoral devices that need to be inserted and removed by the patient or intraoral elastics that connect the upper and lower jaws. Following the instructions for their use is very important for the success of the treatment.
There is no pain during the application, but there is discomfort due to both irritation of the inner mucosa of the cheek of the teeth and the movement of the teeth. This discomfort decreases gradually after the first day and may continue for a week. If orthodontic treatment is only applied by placing brackets on the front side of the teeth, it does not affect speech at all. However, if an appliance is applied to the palate, such as jaw expansion, speech may be affected for the first few days.
The best age for orthodontic treatment varies from person to person. If there is no problem with the development of the jaws and the teeth are not exposed to trauma due to malocclusion, the most appropriate age is adolescence when the permanent teeth erupt. During this period, tooth movement will be faster and it will be easier for the child to accept the braces. However, dental problems can be corrected at any age. However, treatment planning may change according to age. If the patient has skeletal jaw disorders (the jaw may be too far forward or backward), in some cases, growth can be directed during adolescence. However, if it is at an advanced level, if it is thought to progress with age or if the patient is an adult, it is corrected with a surgical application to be applied under general anesthesia under hospital conditions after the age of 18.
There are many factors for the duration of orthodontic treatments. Although there are factors that cannot be changed such as the type and severity of the orthodontic problem, the age of the patient, the length of the tooth roots, the hardness of the bone, the patient’s timely attendance to appointments, attention to nutrition and oral hygiene, and the appropriate use of the appliance and elastics given are among the important factors affecting the duration.
Patients may experience some inconveniences during orthodontic treatment. Metal and rubber devices in the teeth may cause temporary eating-speaking-swallowing difficulties. Sores may occur on the lips, cheeks and tongue. Oral care may become difficult. Sometimes undesirable situations such as broken brackets and wires may develop. In order to overcome these problems easily, the doctor’s instructions must be followed.
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Before starting treatment, all teeth should be examined and any decayed teeth should be treated. Orthodontic treatment does not cause stains or decay as long as oral hygiene is maintained. However, since braces increase food retention, brushing should be more careful. Because food residues accumulate between the brackets and in the area between the gums and the bracket, and teeth that are not brushed adequately may develop caries, permanent white spots, inflammation of the gums and bad breath. Therefore, during treatment, teeth should be brushed regularly after main and intermediate meals until you are sure that all food residues are removed from the top/bottom/between the braces. As a toothbrush, it is recommended to use orthodontic toothbrushes with shorter bristles in the middle row and interdental brushes to remove debris between the brackets after cleaning. Orthodontic brushes and interdental brushes are sold in pharmacies (orthodontic and interdental heads that attach to motorized toothbrushes are also available). Mouthwash can also be used after brushing.
The brackets are adhered to the surface of the teeth in such a way that they do not damage the teeth when they are removed after treatment. However, hard foods cause the brackets to break. Therefore, food should be eaten in small bites during treatment. You should take care not to make tearing movements with your teeth, and you should consume foods with seeds after removing the seeds. Acidic substances such as cola and soda both cause tooth decay and cause the brackets to break by dissolving the adhesive material. Therefore, it is strongly recommended not to consume them. Tea, coffee and cigarettes do not harm the braces, but they cause yellowing of the teeth and the tires holding the braces and spoil the appearance.
Wisdom teeth are not an obstacle to treatment, but if there is no space for these teeth to erupt, it is preferred to remove them surgically before, during or after treatment.
Orthodontic treatment does not harm the teeth as long as oral hygiene is maintained, but some patients may experience a shortening of the length of the tooth roots (root erosion). If there is a serious shortening, the treatment can be terminated by the physician.
At the end of each orthodontic treatment, there is a tendency for the teeth to move and return to their initial position at the beginning of the treatment. Therefore, as soon as the active orthodontic treatment is finished, the passive orthodontic treatment “reinforcement treatment” should be started. In this treatment, either a fixed wire is attached to the inner side of the teeth or a reinforcement device that the patient can wear and remove is used. Your doctor will decide which is right for you. Reinforcement therapy is as important as active treatment.
