Orthodontics

Not many of us are blessed with well arranged teeth or so called ideal occlusion. We very often come across many children and adults having teeth that are protruded teeth or crowded teeth or spaced teeth etc. These irregularities of teeth are called malocclusions and are an important factor in robbing one of a good smile. Our orthodontists can help you with special treatment, which deal with correcting the bite and arrangement of teeth, therefore

• improves your smile - A good smile adds up to the personality of an individual. A fabulous smile makes you attractive and also improves one's confidence levels.
• improves chewing - Teeth are an important part of the digestive system. Chewing of food by the teeth is the beginning of the digestive process before the food is passed on to the tummy. So having a good bite improves the function of the teeth.
• prevents other dental problems - Crooked teeth prevent maintenance of good oral hygiene. This can lead to other dental problems such as dental decay and gum diseases.
• psychological benefits - Not having a good smile can adversely affect the appearance and therefore the mental wellbeing of an individual. It tends to make one an introvert and highly self-conscious.
• risk of trauma - Teeth that are protruding out increase the risk of trauma to them. This is more so in children during play or due to an accidental fall.

Orthodontic treatment uses appliances, tooth removal, or surgery to fix the way teeth and jaws are aligned. There are many ways to treat poor bite (malocclusion).

Reasons for treatment

Crowding: upper and/or lower teeth are crowded

Overjet: upper front teeth protrude

Underbite: lower front teeth protrude

Deep Bite: upper front teeth cover lower front teeth too much

Narrow arches: upper and/or lower arches too narrow

Mid-line misalignment: mid-lines of upper and lower arches don’t line up

Excess spacing: there is excess space between teeth

The general categories of orthodontic devices (appliances) are removable and fixed.

Functional appliances are made of molded plastic and wire, and are used in the childhood. Most of them are functional appliances, which use the muscle action from speaking, eating, and swallowing to create forces that move teeth and align the jaws.

Fixed orthodontic appliances are sets of wires and brackets cemented to the teeth. These are commonly called braces Over a period of about 12 months, the wires are tightened and adjusted, gradually applying enough force to move the teeth (bone remodeling).

Retainers are removable appliances made of molded plastic and wire. They hold the teeth in place after braces are taken off. If the teeth start to move back out of position, the orthodontist may bond a short retaining wire to the back of some teeth. This wire will hold the teeth in place.