Orthodontics
Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental and facial irregularities. The technical term for these problems is “malocclusion,” which means “bad bite.” Orthodontic care is a treatment which improves the position of irregular teeth using a fixed orthodontic tool, to achieve good facial aesthetics and healthy jaw joints. The practice of orthodontics requires professional skills in the design, application and control of corrective appliances, such as braces to bring teeth, lips and jaws into proper alignment and to achieve a facial balance.
At Smile Darmawangsa Dental Care, we offer orthodontic treatment for growing children and adults. And our experienced specialists will treat you with good care. Orthodontic treatment can improve your dental health and change your facial appearance for the better.
By having orthodontic care for children, they will be able to have the following benefits:
- Broad and Beautiful Smiles
Mouth breathing can cause narrow arches and unattractive smiles. By using functional appliances while children are actively growing, we can help them achieve a broad, beautiful smile.
- Healthy Jaw Joints
Many children with narrow jaws, deep overbites or receding lower jaws have unhealthy jaw joints which can cause:
-
- Headaches
- Neck Pain
- Dizziness
- Earaches or ringing in ears
- Fainting
- Clicking or locking jaws
- Difficulty opening jaws
- Ability To Breathe Freely
Mouth breathing can lead to orthodontic problems as well as other problems, such as lack of oxygen and poor sleeping habits. These leave children prone to daytime fatigue, and inability to concentrate in school and experiencing headaches. By having orthodontics treatment, children can breathe freely.
- Ends Ear Pain
Deep overbites and receding lower jaws may cause earaches, stuffiness or ringing in the ears. If infection has been ruled out, functional appliances can eliminate these symptoms effectively.
- Facilitates Speech Development
Narrow jaws can confine the tongue and interfere with normal speech. Orthodontics treatment can help ensure proper growth and greatly enhance a child’s ability to speak normally.
- Eliminate Crowding
Crowded teeth are caused by narrow arches. By developing the arches at an early age, we may prevent or eliminate the crowding of permanent teeth.
Why Functional Appliances are so important ?
Functional appliances can correct the following problems:
- Bite problems
- Underdeveloped jaws
- Narrow arches
- Crowded teeth
- Deep overbites
- Jaw joint problems
- Airway problems
- Thumb sucking problems
And also prevent the followings:
- Removal of adult teeth
- Fang-like tooth appearance
- Lengthy use of braces
- Speech difficulties
- Crowding
There are two phase treatments for children needing orthodontics care, as explained below:
Phase One
Functional appliances – for Children Aged 5 to 12.
Early treatment should be initiated for habits such as
- Tongue thrusting and thumb sucking
- A constricted airway due to swollen adenoids or tonsils
- Mouth breathing or snoring
- A bad bite
- Bone problems, such as narrow or underdeveloped jaws.
Advantages of Phase One Treatments
- Facial Development
About 75% of 12 year-olds need orthodontic treatment. Yet, 90% of a child’s face has already been developed by then. By guiding facial development early, through the use of functional appliances, 90% of those treated can be corrected before the adult teeth are present!
- Correcting Underdeveloped Jaws
It should be noted that almost 50% of children who need orthodontic treatment due to a bad bite have underdeveloped lower jaws. Functional appliances can reposition the lower jaw forward, improve the child’s profile and correct the bite problem – within 7 to 9 months!
- Better Cooperation
Younger children between the ages of 8 and 11 are often much more cooperative than children of 12 to 14 years of age.
- Shorter Treatment Time
Another advantage of an early Phase One treatment is that children can wear fixed braces on their adult teeth for shorter time.
Phase Two
Braces – for Children Aged 12 to 14
- Teeth are straightened with braces
- Braces usually take about 1.5 to 2 years
- Teeth are whitened
In general, parents want the best for their children, such as
- Straight teeth
- Properly sized jaws
- Straight profiles
- Beautiful smiles
By treating problems early, you save money and may prevent the need for more extensive future treatments.
Orthodontic treatment is not just for kids anymore. Adults have been asking for years whether they can wear braces too and whether adult orthodontic treatment is possible. The answer is ‘yes’. Most adults can wear braces. However, it is important to keep in mind that the dentist will need to assess your current oral health to determine whether or not a patient is an ideal candidate for braces.
Adult braces and orthodontic treatment is becoming a growing trend. Many adults feel that braces are only for children, and they will look out-of-place or foolish with braces on their teeth. Celebrities such as Gwen Stefani, Tom Cruise, Danny Glover, and Nicholas Cage, have publicly worn braces, proving that even the biggest names in Hollywood are willing to proudly show off their “tin grins.”
When you are ready to investigate orthodontic treatment further, you will first need to book an appointment with an orthodontist for a consultation.. A consultation is a great opportunity to ask questions about orthodontics and braces, voice any concerns or fears you may have about braces, and get a rough estimate of the cost associated with braces and orthodontic treatment.
During the consultation appointment, the dentist or orthodontist will give you a general assessment on whether or not wearing braces could be an option for you. If you decide to go ahead with the orthodontic records appointment, your dentist will be able to fully access your malocclusion by studying radiographs, photos and study models that were made from the dental impressions taken during the records appointment.
Your dentist will put together a treatment plan for you to consider, based on the findings. There are some cases where there may be more than one option for you to consider. Some examples would be:
- Treating the maxillary or mandibular teeth
- Using various appliances throughout your treatment
- Performing extractions, which might be necessary for your treatment to be successful
A final consultation will be scheduled between yourself and the dentist to determine the treatment plan that best suits your needs and to discuss and select the type of orthodontic brackets that you will be wearing. The final consultation appointment is also used to discuss the cost of your braces, payment arrangements and dental insurance matters. A contract is generally signed to complete the administrative process. Once all is said and done, your first treatment appointment will be scheduled, and your orthodontic journey will begin.
