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The rate of toothless has declined over recent decades. A viable option for any adult is an orthodontic treatment. It is well recognized that orthodontic problems become worse when left untreated.
For the most part, our great grandparents lost their teeth around age of 40. Today the teenagers have the chance to keep their teeth for another 65 years. This is because a major change in dental healthcare has evolved.
Crowded teeth are hard to clean and may contribute to tooth decay, gum disease and even tooth loss. Bad bites can also result in abnormal wearing of tooth surfaces and difficulty in chewing which damages the supporting bone and gum tissue. Poorly aligned teeth can contribute to pain in the jaw joints. Make sure that your teeth are in good alignment and well maintained will increase the potential of keeping your teeth in your adult years.
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Another alternative to typical metal braces is what is now known as Invisalign. Both orthodontists and dentists around the world are now using and introducing this device to patients. Unlike the traditional type of braces, Invisalign are metal free and uses see through aligners which makes them almost invisible. Being difficult to notice, people also call them as the revolutionary invisible brace.
This type of treatment implements the latest computer technique in shaping the brace. It uses a three dimensional modeling system to make sure that the device is well fitted to the wearer. After some months, the result will be a better and more confident smile.
It takes some stages to create this device to a patient. First stage is the evaluation of your smile and teeth positioning with your dentist. A mould of your teeth will be taken as well as some photographs of your teeth and smile in several angles. Second stage is the creation of you the 3D digital display of your teeth. This takes place in a laboratory with the use of a CT scan. The next stage is by knowing the movement of your teeth. This is created using registered software allowing the dentist to see a simulation from the current placement of your teeth to the aspired position. This simulation will now serve as the foundation to design your Invisalign. The final product and the simulation are then sent to the dentist. The 3D simulation allows the patient to see the anticipated movement of the teeth during the procedure.
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by: Christine Zafra
If you are a kid, most probably, metal braces look cute on you. But what if you are already an adult yet, in need of braces? Would you want to have those metal brackets dangling over your teeth when you try to smile to your boss?
No! Of course not! That’s ridiculous. There is in fact a brace that will suit you. It doesn’t have metal brackets on it, no wires that show… in fact, it’s invisible. Yes, invisible braces. The good thing about this is that covers all your teeth (like a plastic vinyl) so the treatment is much faster and more effective.
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Also known as dentofacial orthopaedic appliances, these appliances utilize the muscle action of the patient to produce orthodontic or orthopaedic forces. Various functional appliances have been described.
a.) Removable functional appliances
* Andresen Appliance
* Bionator. Bionators initially look like a sort of combined upper and lower Hawley retainer, but do not fasten to the teeth and are not used for post-brace removal treatment. Bionators are held in the mouth within the space that the teeth surround when biting. They are used to expand the palate and create space for incoming teeth.
* Biobloc. Biobloc is an appliance used to posture forward the lower jaw.
* Clark Twin Block. This appliance incorporates the use of upper and lower bite blocks to position the mandible forward for skeletal Class II correction. The appliance was first developed by Scottish Orthodontist William Clark and Orthodontic Technician James Watt in 1977. The Twin Block has become the most popular functional appliance in use in the United Kingdom and is gaining popularity across Europe and the USA.
* Bass Dynamax. This appliance is similar in principle to the Twin Block. It is based around a prefabricated modular spring, built into a maxillary (upper)occlusal splint. Two integral vertical springs make contact with a fixed lingual arch or removable lower appliance to posture the mandible (lower jaw) forward for skeletal Class II correction. This appliance was developed by London Orthodontist Neville Bass in the early twenty-first century.
* Medium Opening Activator
* Orthodontic Headgear. This is a type of appliance attached to dental braces that aids in correcting more severe bite problems.
(Source:Wikipedia)
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One of the common situation for orthodontic treatment is due to the overcrowding of teeth.
ANTEROPROSTERIOR DISCREPANCIES
These are deviations between the teeth located in the upper jaw, with those of the lower jaw in the anteroprosterior direction. Example of this is when the upper teeth is far forward in relation to the lower teeth.
CROWDING OF TEETH
In this kind of situation, there is not enough room for the normal number of adult teeth to grow into. Sometimes, to solve this problem, extraction of teeth is needed in order to make room for the remaining teeth to grow into.
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Not everyone is gifted with a perfect smile and a perfect bite. Even way back in history, irregular position of the teeth has been a problem to some. That is why there is orthodontics.
Orthodontics deals with the treatment of improper bites, which are caused by irregularity of the tooth or disproportionate jaw relationships. Sometimes, it is caused by both.The treatment can be carried out for improvement of the patient’s teeth or even for cosmetic reasons.
In 1850, Dr. Norman Kingsley was the first dentist to use extraoral force to correct the teeth which are protruding. However, very few of the people who lived in this era had a complete set of teeth.
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The types of removable appliances are the following:
ALIGNERS: These are alternative to braces and most preferred by adults. They are almost invisible and are removed during meals and brushing.
REMOVABLE SPACE MAINATAINERS: They have the same function as fixed maintainers.
JAW REPOSITIONING APPLIANCE: They are also sometimes called splints and are worn on either the upper or lower jaw and helps the jaw close in a right way.
LIP AND CHEEK BUMPERS: These help the lips or cheeks to stay away from the teeth. These help relieve the pressure exerted by the lips or cheeks.
REMOVABLE RETAINERS: These are worn on the roof of the mouth and prevent the teeth to shifting to their original position.
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To bring the desired results, braces are adjusted on a monthly basis. The treatment can last for a few months to about a few years. Braces today are lighter and far more contains less metal than the braces in the past. They also come in clear or different colors depending on the patient’s preference.
SPECIAL FIXED APPLIANCE: This method is used to control thumb-sucking or thrusting of the tongue. They are attached to the teeth with the help of bands. They are very uncomfortable to wear during meals, that is why, most orthodontist only use these as a last resort.
FIXED SPACE MAINTAINERS: This is used when a baby tooth is lost to maintain the space until the permanent tooth grows.
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Different kinds of appliances are used to repair the displacement of the teeth. These appliances can be removed or fixed, and works by applying enough pressure on the teeth and jaws.
Kinds of fixed appliances:
BRACES: These are the most common type of appliance used. They usually consist of bands, wires and/or brackets. The bands are used as anchor and are fixed around the tooth/teeth. Brackets on the other hand, are placed in the front of the tooth. The archwires are attached to the bands. Tightening them will put tension in the teeth and will help them move in the right position.
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UNDERBITE: This condition gives the person a ‘bulldog’ appearance. The lower teeth stick out or the lower teeth are too far behind.
CROSSBITE: The upper teeth are not slightly in front of the lower teeth when normally biting together.
OPEN BITE: There is a space between the biting surfaces of the front teeth when the back teeth are biting together.
MISPLACED MIDLINE: This is a condition when the center of the upper teeth is not aligned with the center of the lower teeth.
SPACING: These are gaps or spaces in between teeth that are caused by a missing tooth.
CROWDING: this is a condition when there is not enough space to accommodate the teeth.