Teeth Straightening and Braces
CORRECTING CROWDED TEETH AND JAW RELATIONS
Orthodontics is a branch of science that deals with correcting crowded teeth and resolving misalignments of the teeth, jaw, and face.
Orthodontists ensure that your jawbone and teeth are properly placed and positioned. Straightening crowded teeth not only provides a significant aesthetic improvement but also contributes greatly to oral and dental health. Correcting crowding allows these areas to be cleaned more easily and effectively, thus preventing cavities and gum diseases.
Furthermore, as the occlusion (bite) of the teeth and jaws is corrected, a healthier chewing function is achieved. When your child reaches approximately 7 years of age, an orthodontic specialist should determine whether they need such treatment.
TREATMENT:
1- FIXED ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCES: This is a form of treatment using brackets that are bonded to the teeth. The brackets can be made of metal or porcelain. Porcelain brackets, being tooth-colored, are aesthetically pleasing and cause no discomfort.
2- REMOVABLE ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCES: These are appliances that the patient can insert and remove themselves. They are typically used for simpler cases.
3- DENTOFACIAL ORTHOPEDICS: This is a field of orthodontics that aims to correct misaligned relationships between the upper and lower jaws in young children using special appliances worn on the face. Orthopedic and orthodontic treatments are often carried out together.
4- ORTHOGNATHIC SURGERY: In cases that cannot be corrected with orthodontic or orthopedic treatment alone, orthognathic surgery is used. Deformities of the jaw and face can be congenital or may develop later due to accidents or diseases. The misalignment of the jaws relative to each other and to the face can cause both aesthetic and functional problems for patients.
5- INVISALIGN: In some simple cases, crowding can now be corrected without using brackets, through the use of clear aligners. These custom-made aligners, which are changed every two weeks, must be worn for approximately 20 hours a day. An average treatment requires about 60 pairs of aligners (for upper and lower jaws). The treatment duration is close to that of treatment with brackets, varying from 6 to 24 months depending on the case.
HOW DO TEETH MOVE DURING ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT? A force is applied to the tooth using brackets and wires. This creates movement in the direction of the force. In front of the moving tooth, a temporary resorption (breakdown) of bone tissue occurs, while on the opposite side of the movement, new bone tissue is formed. Thus, the teeth, having moved to their new positions, also settle into a new bony socket.
CAUSES OF ORTHODONTIC PROBLEMS:
1. Nutritional Deficiencies: In individuals with inadequate nutrition, the jaw and facial structures may experience a reduction in volume. As normal-sized teeth cannot find the necessary space in smaller jaws, issues like crowding, rotations, and even impactions can occur.
2. Mouth Breathing: If chronic inflammations and similar conditions persist for a long time, the tonsils can become excessively large. This narrows the airways and causes difficulty in breathing. To overcome this difficulty and widen the air passage, a child is forced to position their lower jaw and, consequently, their tongue forward. If this situation continues, the forward position of the lower jaw can become permanent. If the tongue rests between the front teeth and prevents them from erupting, an open bite can occur. If the patient cannot breathe through the nose, the growth potential of the upper jaw can be negatively affected.
3. Thumb Sucking: A newborn baby has a highly developed sucking mechanism. A baby whose sucking instinct is not satisfied may acquire certain habits to fulfill this need. This habit is generally not seen in children who are breastfed for 9-18 months. Research has shown that thumb sucking in the first few weeks of life develops due to hunger. Since pain from local irritations during tooth eruption can be relieved by thumb sucking, this habit can be considered helpful for teething. Thumb sucking decreases with age. Causes of thumb sucking:
Abrupt weaning from the breast or bottle.
Ending the baby’s feeding session too quickly.
Changing the baby’s feeding schedule to long intervals. There is no specific age for treating the thumb-sucking habit; a program should be considered individually for each child. The degree of the habit and the child’s history affect the timing. Generally, if thumb sucking continues after the age of 3.5, treatment should begin. In a child who continues this habit, displacement of the upper and lower teeth within the affected area and bite irregularities will be observed, depending on the finger(s) being sucked.
4. Pacifiers (Dummies): Sucking on a physiologically designed pacifier is not harmful up to the age of 1.5 years. In fact, it can be beneficial in preventing the child from acquiring a bad habit like thumb sucking. When pacifiers are used continuously, they exert a prolonged, abnormal effect on the tissues within their area of influence, causing irregularities and various bite problems in those regions.
5. Sleeping Position: The sleeping position often determines the position of the lower jaw during sleep. This gives us information about the position of the lower jaw for an average of 8 hours a day. For example, the position of the lower jaw is different in a child who sleeps on their stomach compared to a child who sleeps on their back. In individuals who have a habit of constantly sleeping on the same side and placing their hand or fist between their face and the pillow, orthodontic problems may arise because that side of the face is under continuous pressure.
6. Bad habits such as teeth clenching, nail-biting, pencil-biting, and lip-biting. 7. Premature loss of primary (milk) teeth. 8. Tooth irregularities due to gum problems. 9. Irregularities caused by tooth loss. 10. Irregularities due to wisdom teeth crowding the front teeth. 11. Genetic predisposition. 12. Hormonal imbalances and systemic diseases.
ORTHODONTICS IN ADULTS
There is no age limit for orthodontic treatment. Anyone with healthy bones surrounding their teeth can undergo orthodontic treatment. Furthermore, brackets are now made of tooth-colored porcelain, making them barely noticeable. Treatment duration ranges from 3 to 30 months, depending on the patient’s problem and age.
WHY ORTHODONTICS?
Maintaining oral hygiene is more difficult with crowded teeth, making gum disease and cavities more likely to occur.
When teeth are crowded and the joint relationship is poor, chewing cannot be done properly, leading to problems in the digestive system.
When the upper and lower teeth do not align properly, excessive force can be placed on the jaw joint or a single tooth, leading to painful and difficult-to-treat problems.
Aesthetically, incredible changes can be achieved, especially in certain cases.
Orthodontic brackets are one of the best options for correcting your smile and achieving good health.
WHAT YOU NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO DURING YOUR ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT
Brackets cause food and bacterial plaque to accumulate easily. Therefore, oral care is of great importance.
A medium-soft toothbrush should be used. Using special orthodontic brushes is also beneficial.
Using Superfloss dental floss is crucial for ensuring complete hygiene.
Another helpful tool for maintaining your oral hygiene is the interdental brush.
Mouthwashes can be used as an adjunct to brushing and flossing, but remember that they can never replace the function of a brush and floss.
Hard foods like apples and carrots should be cut with a knife before eating. Otherwise, they can cause brackets to break.
Hard and shelled nuts should be avoided as they can cause brackets to break.
Sticky foods like caramel can stick to the brackets, leading to both decay and bracket breakage.
Routine check-ups are very important for your gum health during this period.