Do I Need Braces?

Malocclusion is the dental term for teeth that don't fit together properly. Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that corrects malocclusions.

The size of teeth and how they fit into a person's jaw are inherited traits. Some people are lucky and naturally have straight teeth. Others aren't so lucky. Also, habits like thumb-sucking can also put pressure on teeth and cause a malocclusion. Missing teeth can cause a bad bite to develop, as well; the teeth around a space will shift, throwing off the entire bite.

A malocclusion that isn't corrected can really affect a person's profile and appearance. It may also contribute to tooth decay, bone destruction, jaw-joint problems, and headaches.

Correcting your bite through orthodontic treatment can improve your dental health.

Placing Braces on Children

Until recently, orthodontics was used mainly to straighten crooked teeth. Now, when problems are caught early enough, it's possible to actually alter the facial development of a growing child by using functional appliances on his teeth.

Other orthodontic appliances don't work with facial development but do move teeth and correct malocclusions. One kind of appliance called a space maintainer is used after a baby tooth has been lost when the permanent tooth isn't due to come in soon.

Braces are used to correct a bad bite once most of the permanent teeth are in. Until the 1980s, a steel band was placed around each tooth like a ring. A wire pulled the teeth into line and was attached to a little bracket that was on the front of the steel bands. You may remember what this looked like: a mouth full of metal!

Fortunately, today these bands have been replaced with brackets that are bonded with an adhesive right to the front of the teeth. They're much more comfortable, smaller than an unpopped popcorn kernel, and much less noticeable than the steel bands.

Clear sapphire brackets are also available, but they're usually more expensive and tougher to keep clean. A stainless steel wire still connects the brackets, and different sizes of wire provide the proper pressure to move the teeth. Elastics that now come in many colors hold the wire in place. Special elastic bands may be added to speed up tooth movement. Other wires and attachments are used in more difficult cases.

It's pretty amazing how far teeth can move through bone. Your bone responds to the tension created by these brackets and wires by making special cells on each side of a tooth. These cells remove bone on one side of the tooth and make bone on the opposite side. That's what allows the tooth to move.

The time a child spends in braces depends on the severity of the malocclusion, but it's usually between one and three years. It's hard for children to clean their teeth once braces are on, so regular cleaning appointments are more important than ever. Permanent white stains may form on teeth if plaque isn't regularly removed.

After treatment, retainers are used to hold the teeth in their new alignment. Some retainers are designed to be removable, while others are cemented in place.

Successful orthodontic treatment is a partnership of effort between everyone involved. Through a cooperative effort, the final goal can be reached-a healthy mouth and a beautiful smile.

Placing Braces on Adults

Teeth can be straightened at any age. In fact, one out of four orthodontic patients in the United States today is an adult.

Until the 1980s, a steel band went around each individual tooth like a ring. The wire that pulled the teeth into line was attached to a little bracket on the front of the steel bands. This looked like a mouth full of metal!

Fortunately, today these bands have been replaced with brackets that are bonded with an adhesive right to the front of the teeth. They're much more comfortable, smaller than an unpopped popcorn kernel, and much less noticeable than the bands. Clear sapphire brackets are also available, but they're usually more expensive and tougher to keep clean.

A stainless steel wire still connects the brackets; different sizes of wire provide the pressure to move the teeth. Elastics that come in many different colors hold the wire in place. Special elastic bands may be added to speed up tooth movement. Other wires and attachments are used in more difficult cases.

It's pretty amazing how far teeth can move through bone. Your bone responds to the tension created by these brackets and wires by making special cells on each side of the tooth. These cells remove bone on one side of the tooth and make bone on the opposite side. That's what allows the tooth to move.

It's harder to clean your teeth once braces are on, so regular cleaning appointments will be more important than ever. Permanent white stains may form on teeth if plaque isn't removed regularly.

After treatment, retainers are used to hold the teeth in their new alignment. Some retainers are designed to be removable, while others are cemented in place.

It's nice to know that with orthodontic treatment you're never too old to improve your smile and the health of your mouth.

Before

After

Orthodontics	Ceramic Braces
Metallic Braces

Caring for Your Braces at Home

When you have braces, it's tougher to keep your teeth plaque-free and avoid cavities.

Use a soft toothbrush and a toothpaste with fluoride, and be sure to brush after every meal. Brush every surface of every tooth and pay extra attention to the areas where the brackets and bands meet the tooth and where the tooth meets the gum line.

Brush in small circular motions, brushing two to three teeth at a time.

You must also floss your teeth; toothbrush bristles can't remove the plaque between your teeth.

Thread floss into a floss threader and slide up under your archwire. Then pull the floss between your teeth, pull into a C shape, and move around your mouth flossing both sides of every tooth.

After you're done, check carefully to see if you've missed any areas and then rinse thoroughly with a lot of water.

Cutting down on sweets will help prevent cavities, so avoid sticky, sugary foods. Beware of hard foods such as Cornnuts and ice; they can damage your braces. Eating softer foods and cutting harder foods into smaller bites is your best bet.

Watching your eating habits and paying careful attention to your daily homecare will keep your mouth healthy and your teeth looking good!