What is orthodontic treatment?

 

Orthodontic treatment straightens teeth by moving them and improves the appearance and functionality by aligning them and distributing balanced forces through out the jaw bone and muscles.

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When should one have orthodontic treatment?

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Everyone doesn’t have the perfect smile. Orthodontic treatment helps in straightening the crowded or crooked teeth by moving them into a better position. This improves the appearance and functioning of teeth. Malposition teeth also put strain in jaw muscles and can cause joint problems and headache. Orthodontic treatment corrects this and helps you to chew properly and reduce the strain on surrounding oral structures.

 

What is the ideal age for orthodontic treatment?

 

Prevention is better than cure and thus the earlier the better. The best time is during childhood or early adolescent, but adults can also go through orthodontic corrections.

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Will braces give me poor look?

 

Now tooth coloured brackets and wires are available which are not visible like metal braces. Ceramic braces are similar to traditional metal braces, except that they have tooth coloured brackets and wires which blend in with your natural tooth color.

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How long does it take to complete the treatment?

 

The duration of treatment depends on the severity of the problem and it may vary from a few months to over two years to complete an orthodontic treatment.

 

What happens after teeth are aligned correctly?

 

After completion of orthodontic treatment, the teeth need to be held to the correct position for sometime. This is called the ‘retention' period, and appliances called ‘retainers’ hold the newly straightened teeth in position while the surrounding gum and bone settles to the new structure. The retainers are removable and are worn by the patients for a few hours.

 

Is orthodontic treatment painful?

 

The appliances may feel strange or uncomfortable at first, but this settles down soon. During the first week of treatment, patients may feel slight pain too which also goes off in a week.

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How many visits does it take?

 

Orthodontic braces need adjustment in every 15 days or a month. You’ll be given appointment accordingly.

 

Will it be successful in long run?

 

Success depends on both the treatment procedure and cooperation from the patient (or parents for children patients). Following instructions given by the dentist and visiting regularly according to the appointments; as well as commitment of the patient is mandatory for success of any treatment.

Does orthodontic treatment damage my teeth?

 

The braces themselves do not cause any damage, but poor cleaning and improper hygiene may damage your teeth because food lodgement increases after placement of braces and wires. They trap food and cause more building up of plaque than usual. So regular scaling and maintenance of proper oral hygiene is very important during the course of orthodontic treatment.