Month: March 2019
You Have Options! Braces Now Come In Many Forms
Orthodontic technology has come very far over the years. Today, When patients come in for treatment, they usually come equipped with a few ideas in mind for what they want in terms of speed, aesthetics, and cost. The type of braces they choose can address all three of these concerns. With the many options in braces available today, we can customize the treatment to give patients what they need and want.
Braces are what allow the orthodontist and team to move teeth. Braces are a combination of several small components affixed to permanent teeth to move them as determined by a treatment plan. Combined, these components are known as a “fixed appliance,” which means that the braces are firmly attached to the teeth and cannot be removed by the patient. Today, we are given numerous options for braces such as standard metal braces, ceramic braces, lingual braces, self-ligating brackets, and clear aligners. What are the difference between these types of braces? When choosing the type of orthodontic treatment, we pick based on the needs and wants of our patients.
Standard Braces: Traditional braces made of metal usually used in Phase I cases. They tend to use simpler movements. Children and teens often prefer them as the colors of the bands can be customizable.
Ceramic Braces: These are the most common type of clear brackets that are requested when the patient wants their braces to blend in with their teeth. It is more common for teens and adults to choose these brackets over the metal ones because they would prefer that their braces are not as noticeable.
Lingual Braces: Braces that are glued to the back of your teeth so that they are entirely invisible. This type of braces has been around for several years and has been perfected in the last ten years. Lingual braces are often used by people that do not want it to be known that they are receiving orthodontic treatment.
Self-Ligating Brackets: This treatment is a type of fixed system of braces that doesn’t hold the wire in place with rubber bands or steel ligatures around the brackets. It is felt this can accelerate treatment so that moves the teeth faster and calls for shorter appointment times.
Clear Aligners: These plastic aligners are a technology that allows the patient’s teeth to be straightened without a fixed bracket-and-wire system. It is important to know that clear aligners are not braces, but an alternative to them.
With the advanced technology in this day and age, braces have been tailored to several needs and wants of patients. But regardless of the type of braces a patient chooses, they all require consistent good oral hygiene to keep your grin happy and healthy.
The Benefits of Orthognathic Treatment
Orthognathic treatment is a combination of orthodontics and jaw surgery. Orthognathic surgery is required more often with adults because we don’t have the option of moving the bone as it develops as we do with children. As an orthodontist, it is my job to line the teeth up straight, and then the surgeon will proceed to move the top and bottom jaws so the teeth match. Orthognathic treatment involves extensive planning, including measuring, evaluating x-rays, making models, and taking photographs. Once the plan is finalized, the treatment begins. From the data taken from the CBCT 3D scanner, we can actually do a virtual surgery to see how to move things and how everything will look after the procedure is done.
Though this treatment takes time, the benefits that you can gain from it are numerous. Orthognathic treatment will improve your bite, making it easier to chew and eat, correct swallowing and speech problems, relieve pain caused by TMJ, provide relief for deficient breathing and sleep conditions, and correct facial imbalances. In many cases there is an obvious change and improvement in facial appearance; in others it may not be as apparent. By aligning your jaw, you are not only caring for your oral health but giving yourself a better quality of life and protecting your overall health.
With all of that said, I like to let my patients know that when considering orthognathic treatment, it is essential to be aware that often the patient will look different to family and friends once the procedure is completed. For instance, if before surgery they had a protruding jaw, that will no longer be the case after surgery. Still, in the hundreds of orthognathic instances I’ve seen over the years, only one patient regretted doing it. Regrets are so few because even though the patient may look different, the results are always an improvement.
