Dentures: Facts, Figures and Friendly Advice for Seniors

What Treatments Can You Expect from Orthodontic Dentistry

22 January 2021

Herman Kim

If you or your child exhibit signs of tooth misalignment or crookedness, visit an orthodontist for specialised treatment. An orthodontist is a type of dentist who specialises in treating overcrowded teeth, overlapping teeth, crossbites, overbites and underbites. Some people may also suffer from temporomandibular disorders, abbreviated as TMDs; this is when you experience extreme facial pain that emanates from the muscles, nerves and joints in your jaw. Here are some different treatments you may receive from orthodontic dentistry:

Braces

The most common braces you may come across are traditional metal braces; they are the most effective for the majority of misaligned and crooked teeth cases. You may also find that a certain type of metal braces use thermal wires, which facilitate quicker alignment because the wiring absorbs heat from the body, which helps in quicker alignment. It also helps that they are the cheapest types of braces.

You may also come across lingual braces, which have the same features and benefits as traditional metal braces, but instead of being attached on the front side of your teeth, they are attached to the surface behind. This is done for two reasons: if that is where alignment will work best and if you do not want people to see that you are wearing braces.

Some individuals dislike the taste of metal or want the braces to be stylish to improve their appearance. These needs are catered for by the existence of porcelain/ceramic braces, ClearCorrect and Invisalign. Porcelain/ceramic braces work like traditional metal braces, the only difference being that their brackets are made from ceramic. The metallic wire is also coated to camouflage and to reduce the taste of metal.

For those who may require something removable, but classy, ClearCorrect and Invisalign may be recommended. However, the orthodontist has to make sure that these treatments will be effective; they are only suitable for a few cases of tooth crookedness and misalignment.

Dental Headgear

These are mostly recommended for children whose jaws and teeth are still developing, and those who are suffering from teeth overlapping and overcrowding. Dental headgear works by creating pressure on either the upper or lower jaw to create space in your child's gums.

Physical Therapy and Splints

For patients suffering from TMDs, an orthodontist may recommend jaw exercises, icing techniques, drugs and splints. The latter are clear pieces of plastic placed between your teeth to help reduce clenching and grinding. The last resort is surgery, but it is rarely recommended; it is believed that there is a high chance that it might cause more harm than good.

To learn more, contact a local orthodontic office.

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