Metal and Ceramic Braces and Invisible Aligners
Metallic and Ceramic Braces
Braces are made of Metal or Ceramic, wires, and bonding material that attaches them to your teeth. An archwire puts pressure on your teeth and Jawline, and elastic rings connect the archwire to the brackets. These require monthly visits to change the elastics that hold the wire. Dental Braces are devices used to correct crowded or crooked teeth, or a misaligned jaw, known as malocclusion. Braces are most often used during adolescence, but more and more adults are getting corrective dental braces later in life.
Invisible Aligners
Invisalign clear aligners offer us the ability to straighten your teeth without braces. Using advanced 3D computer imaging technology, Invisalign aligners are designed to move your teeth in small steps to the desired final position with each aligner precisely manufactured to fit your mouth at each stage of the treatment plan. As you replace each aligner with the next, your teeth will begin to move until the final alignment prescribed is achieved.
Because the aligners are virtually invisible, patients can take advantage of the fact that most people won’t even know you are going through treatment. The aligners are removable and give you the freedom to brush and floss normally, eat whatever you want, and typically require fewer in-office visits than braces.
Below are five benefits that Invisalign provides their patients:
❖ No food restrictions.
❖ Improved cleanliness.
❖ Entirely removable.
❖ More comfortable.
❖ Faster treatment.
FAQ'S
An Orthodontist is a doctor who specializes in treatment for malaligned teeth. Paediatric dentists with advanced training can also treat simple malocclusions. However, it is important to stay away from D-I-Y orthodontic procedures that are not supervised by an orthodontist at regular intervals.
General dentists can diagnose and refer you to an orthodontist but cannot treat Malaligned teeth.
You shouldn’t feel pain when you’re having braces installed. Some parts of the process could involve a sense of pressure. Overall, getting braces put on doesn’t hurt. But in the days following initial placement and during and after adjustments, they can feel uncomfortable.
Not all patients require teeth to be extracted. Your dentist will evaluate your bite, smile and facial proportions to develop a personalized plan for your braces. Retained roots/milk teeth/severely decayed teeth will need extraction before braces. It is important to have the foundation right before embarking on the journey of braces.
Getting teeth extracted can make people nervous. With careful supervision from an experienced orthodontist your extraction experience will be comfortable and effective and allow you to achieve the healthy smile you deserve.
❖ If the tooth is healthy and has fully emerged from the gum line, it can usually be removed with a simple extraction. The recovery is quick since there are no stitches needed.
❖ For a tooth that is broken, damaged, or impacted (partially erupted or trapped beneath the gum line), a surgical extraction will be necessary.
Self-ligating braces use a built-in system to secure the archwire to the brackets. This ligation method is different from traditional braces. Like with traditional braces, self-ligating braces still require periodic adjustments.
It’s important to be extra mindful about your oral care when you have braces. Brushing after meals will keep food from becoming lodged in between your braces and your teeth. A special device called an interdental toothbrush can be used to clean underneath and around archwires and brackets.
❖ Tooth discoloration to tooth decay to gum disease.
❖ Brackets on the teeth can trap plaque and food against the tooth. ❖ Plaque on unbrushed teeth or dirty braces can accumulate around the brackets.
Mouthwash alone cannot substitute for good brushing and flossing. Essentially, cosmetic mouthwash only freshen your breath. If you’re going to use mouthwash regularly, use it at least once a day.
Usually, patients don’t see the damage to their teeth until their braces are removed. Decalcification is when plaque, bacteria, and food acids draw minerals from the enamel, weakening it. White spots are an indication of early tooth decay. Damage to the enamel won’t go away, and neither will the white spots on their own. It will take support from your dentist or orthodontist to bring a more natural look back to your teeth.
There are several ways to fix decalcification on teeth after not brushing with braces — some easier and more affordable than others. The complexity of the repair depends on how severely depleted your enamel has become.