Who can benefit from Orthodontics?

Orthodontics is a special branch of dental therapy associated with diagnosis and treatment of deformities related to the teeth, face and jaws. Individuals trained to correct these problems are called orthodontists. Orthodontists help in improving the function of teeth, maintaining good dental health and providing aesthetic appeal to your smile. Orthodontic therapy can be successfully provided to individuals of any age.

A variety of dental problems can be resolved with orthodontic treatment. They include :

Overcrowding of teeth
Misalignment of the dental arches
Bite correction (overbite; protruding upper jaw and underbite; protruding lower jaw)
Cosmetic related dental issues
Dental therapies such as application of crowns, bridges or implants
Problems with tooth eruption and displacement
Teeth spacing or gaps between teeth

To decide if you need orthodontic treatment, your orthodontist will enquire about your complete dental medical history, conduct a clinical examination and order X-rays or photographs of your oral cavity. Based on the need, your dentist will then recommend a suitable treatment plan.

Orthodontic treatment

Orthodontic treatment includes different types of appliances which can be fixed for a certain period or removed on a daily basis. Your orthodontic specialist will suggest specific treatment based on the severity of your situation.

Treatments with fixed appliances include :

Braces for teeth positioning
Special fixed appliances to control thumb sucking
Space maintainers to keeps the space of a missing tooth open until the permanent tooth erupts

Treatments with removable appliances include :

Aligners, an alternative for braces
Removable space maintainers
Jaw repositioning to the jaws to close in proper position
Lip and cheek bumpers to keeps lips and cheeks away from the teeth
Palatal expander widens the arch of the upper jaw
Retainers prevent teeth returning to previous position
Headgear prevents growth of upper jaw and pulls back the front teeth