Dental braces are part of treatment under Orthodontic Dentistry that addresses many dental issues including crowded or crooked teeth, gaps between teeth, rotated teeth, or other malocclusions. These orthodontic devices exert gentle and constant pressure to align the teeth and position them in their correct places to improve oral and overall health.
Right Age For Getting Dental Braces
Dental braces can be used at any age to correct dental issues that can impact oral health. However, it is recommended to get braces between the ages of 10 and 14, when the permanent teeth have set but the jaw bones are still flexible and the teeth can be repositioned within less time. If the child gets regular dental checkups twice a year from an early age, it becomes easier for the pediatric dentist to correctly assess the growth of the child’s tooth eruption patterns, jaw growth, and bite development, and the orthodontic intervention in the form of dental braces can be implemented early, which can help to prevent the development of more complex dental issues in the future.
What are Orthodontic Braces for?
Dental braces can:
- Straighten teeth that are out of place.
- Help close spaces between teeth
- Correct an improper alignment of teeth
- Improve eating and speaking functions
- Reduce the possibility of long-term wear and tear on the teeth
Wearing dental braces offers numerous benefits to children With early intervention, the orthodontist can shorten the time for overall treatment and the treatment is likely to involve simpler devices to guide the teeth into their correct positions. With the benefit of straighter teeth at a younger age, children can clean their teeth easily and reduce the risk of buildup of plaque or formation of cavities through good oral hygiene.
Types of Dental Braces
With a wide range of dental braces available in the market now, it is important to choose the right braces depending on the kind of dental issue to be addressed, the severity of the dental condition, and the personal preferences of the patient. The most common type of dental braces are
- Metal Braces – Consisting of stainless steel bands, wires, and brackets, metal braces are the traditional dental braces that are used to gently shift teeth into their correct positions. The braces are very visible and can make the patients, especially younger children, feel more self-conscious during the treatment period.
- Clear Aligners – Also known as invisible braces, aligners use custom-made trays to straighten the teeth instead of brackets attached to each tooth. They are removable but it is recommended to remove them only while eating or brushing the teeth for best results.
- Ceramic Braces – Ceramic braces are like metal braces and contain brackets, wires, and ligatures but they are less visible because they are tooth-colored and can blend in more easily with the teeth. They are recommended for older children and adults who are better able to care for the braces.
- Lingual Braces – Unlike traditional metal braces where brackets are attached to the front of each tooth, lingual braces are attached to the back of the teeth. These braces are not very noticeable and may be preferred over metal braces due to this reason.
- Self-ligating Braces – While traditional metal braces use ligatures or tiny elastic bands to guide the teeth into place, self-ligating braces have a built-in system that holds the dental archwires in place. This causes less friction or damage to the tooth enamel and allows the teeth to move freely.
How Long Should Dental Braces Be Worn?
On average, a patient needs to wear dental braces for around 2 years. However, the actual time for the treatment will depend on a variety of factors, including the age of the patient, his / her overall oral health, the severity of the condition, and how well the patient follows the instructions given as part of the orthodontic treatment. After the braces have been removed, the orthodontist will recommend wearing retainers to ensure that the teeth remain in their new positions. Retainers will also need to be worn for some time as prescribed by the orthodontist.
Care and Maintenance of Dental Braces
Keeping the teeth clean while wearing braces can prove to be difficult and plaque and tartar can quickly build up around the braces which could lead to tooth decay or gum disease. It is recommended to brush the teeth with a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste after every meal so that food debris that may be caught in the braces can be removed. It is also important to floss the teeth after brushing at night. The orthodontist will be able to advise on the right way to floss while wearing braces. The orthodontist may also recommend the use of a fluoride-based mouthwash to clean any spaces that cannot be reached by the toothbrush or floss.
Post-Treatment Care and Benefits
After the dental braces have been removed, the orthodontist will clean the teeth thoroughly to remove any adhesives or other debris that are stuck to the teeth. Teeth whitening may be recommended as there will be a visible difference in color between the areas where the brackets were attached and the rest of the enamel.
Retainers will need to be worn after the braces are removed so that the teeth that have shifted into the new positions have time to settle and adapt to the change. The duration for which the retainers will need to be worn will be decided by the orthodontists. After wearing the retainers continuously for six months or more, it may be necessary to wear them only at night.
Dental Braces At Dr. Kammath’s Dental Care
As the best pediatric orthodontics clinic in Trivandrum, we understand that the job of braces goes beyond just smile correction, it involves correction of the functioning of the jaw and that the smile is a byproduct of the entire process. The focus of this orthodontic treatment is to ensure that the upper and lower teeth fit together well and provide a normal bite. We provide a variety of dental brace options to our patients.
Metal and Ceramic Braces
Depending on the age of the patient and the extent of orthodontic intervention required, we offer both metal and ceramic braces to our patients. These are fixed dental braces and the same set of braces are used throughout the treatment period, which makes them more cost-efficient and helps to reduce the treatment time.
Clear Aligners and Invisible Braces
Traditional metal braces compromise aesthetics throughout the treatment life span. Clear aligners are used to correct malpositioned teeth without using braces. These dental braces are removable, which makes it easier to clean and maintain the teeth during the course of the treatment. They are more aesthetic and patient friendly. Invisalign is a popular brand of clear aligners made from a flexible thermoplastic material named SmartTrack that is used at our clinic.
Self-Ligating System Brackets
Self-ligating brackets are considered a better alternative to traditional braces with ligatures because they cause less discomfort and pain and are easier on the teeth. There is less friction with the self-ligating brackets and it requires fewer visits to the dentist for adjustments. The cost of self-ligating brackets is more than traditional braces but the shorter treatment time is seen as a great advantage over metal braces. At our clinic, we use Damon braces that work to improve the patient’s facial profile and reduce the dark triangles at the corners of the mouth to provide a more appealing smile.
Fixed Ortho Corrections
Fixed orthodontics treatment involves the correction of misaligned teeth which compromises aesthetics, chewing, speech and overall oral health. Fixed treatment involves the use of dental braces to slowly move the teeth. Treatment can take several months to a few years. The time duration varies from person to person, depending on the severity of the problem. After the treatment most patients will need to wear a retainer for the first 6 months for the successful outcome.
