For numerous youths with badly aligned teeth, putting on braces is just
another adolescent rite of passage. Yet much more grownups are also recognizing
the perks of deciding to "smile and bear it.".
The lot of people previous age 21 who've chosen orthodontic therapy has
actually increased in the last many years. Today, of the more than 4 million
Americans that are receiving orthodontic treatment, one in five is grownup.
Treatment for malaligned teeth is possible even if you are age 50, 60 or
beyond. But it's important that you discuss your expectations with an
orthodontist (a dentist who specializes in the diagnosis, prevention and
treatment of dental and facial irregularities) before undergoing treatment.
Although there are several types of braces, they all work on the same
principle. Teeth are "harnessed" together, usually with wires that
are adjusted periodically to exert the proper amount of corrective tension on
your teeth. This front-to-back, side-to-side and rotary pressure moves each
tooth within the bone that surrounds it. Ultimately, the tooth socket is
repositioned.
Regardless of your age, this corrective progress can make your teeth sore as
they respond to the shifting forces of braces. If you are older, however, there
may be more discomfort because adult teeth usually do not move as easily as
those of a younger person. Among adults, root cavities or gum disease also can
complicate treatment.
On the positive side, adults usually are highly motivated and willing to
take the necessary steps to ensure a successful outcome. Treatment sometimes
can take up to three years. Many insurance programs now cover at least part of
the cost.
Among reasons for considering braces: To improve your appearance. Braces can
help align your teeth if they protrude, recede or crowd one another.
Orthodontic treatment often results in a more pleasing smile, which can boost
your self-esteem.
Proper realignment of your teeth through orthodontic treatment also can help
prevent gum disease - a possibility because crowded or badly aligned teeth are
more difficult to keep clean. To correct an improper bite. An improper bite
(which dental professionals call a malocclusion) can put pressure on your teeth
in the wrong places. As a result, the enamel that covers your teeth can wear
away prematurely when you bite down. In more extreme cases, the tissue and bone
that hold the root of the tooth in place may loosen to the point that your
tooth falls out. Left untreated, the problem rarely gets better and often
becomes worse.
Types of orthodontic devices: Here are the orthodontic devices most commonly
used today to straighten malaligned teeth: Traditional metal braces. The
conventional form of orthodontic treatment, metal braces, gave rise to all
those schoolyard nicknames: "metal mouth," "tin grin" and
the like. Jokes aside, they remain a highly effective treatment.
Several years ago, the first step of this treatment was for an orthodontist
to cement a stainless steel band with an attachment bracket on the front of it
around each tooth. Today, only a small stainless steel attachment bracket is
mechanically bonded to the front of each tooth.
Once all the brackets are bonded in place, a U-shaped guide wire is threaded
through them. This guide wire, which runs across the front from molar to molar,
is connected to brackets on each individual tooth by thinner wires. Newer guide
wires, made of nickel and titanium, are lighter and more resilient, allowing
more gentle pressure and requiring fewer adjustments. Ceramic or plastic
braces. Orthodontists now offer a newer style of braces made of a clear ceramic
or plastic. The major advantage of these models is that, from a few feet away,
they are virtually invisible. This, of course, can reduce your self-consciousness
from wearing braces.
Despite their aesthetic advantages, ceramic and plastic models have
drawbacks. Ceramics are more expensive than traditional metal braces, and
plastic braces are more likely to show stains from tobacco or caffeine. There
have also been reports that the enamel of the wearer's teeth can be damaged
during removal of the ceramic braces, although this complication is rare.
Lingual braces. Sometimes referred to as "inside" or
"invisible" braces, lingual braces are metal brackets affixed to the
back of your teeth.
Although less noticeable than traditional braces, they are difficult for an
orthodontist to fit. Other disadvantages: They cost more, may need to be worn
longer, sometimes need more frequent adjustments and may irritate your tongue or
interfere with your speech. Also, these braces generally can't be used when
your orthodontic treatment includes jaw surgery. Retainers. After your
orthodontist removes your braces, the final stage of your treatment involves
wearing a device called a retainer. These devices help "retain" your
teeth in their corrected position.
A retainer typically is made of a combination of two materials: an acrylic
piece that is custom-molded to the roof of your mouth, and a strong, smooth
guide wire that runs lengthwise across the front of your teeth. Gentle pressure
from the retainer keeps your teeth in proper alignment.
In some cases, a retainer wire can be mechanically bonded to the back of
your teeth to hold them in place. Removable appliances. These devices, popular
in Europe, are less commonly recommended in this country but may be suitable
for minor orthodontic problems. Removable appliances primarily move teeth only
forward or backward to correct under- or overbites. But they also can
straighten a single tooth or an entire row of teeth.
These devices have several advantages: They are less expensive than
traditional braces, and you can easily slip them out of your mouth. You may be
able to wear them only at night or when you are alone.
Future shock: Some researchers are considering sending a low-voltage
electrical current through metal braces into the bone that surrounds the teeth.
In theory, the electrical stimulation may speed up the realignment process, but
there is no evidence to date that this approach works.
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