
Maintain Your Straight Smile After Orthodontics
If your dentist notices you don’t have properly aligned teeth, he or she may refer to an orthodontist. Smilebar are experts at fixing overbites, underbites, cross bites and open bites and adjusting teeth crowding.
Identifying issues with your teeth and mouth
Your smile is probably the first thing that people notice. It is also important for your oral health. Misaligned teeth and jaws can lead you to more serious problems in the future. Orthodontists can help. Orthodontics, a dental specialty, focuses on straightening out teeth and correcting jaw irregularities. It is a very common procedure and orthodontists can treat patients of any age, from children to adults.
Orthodontists’ most important task is to identify problems with your teeth and mouth. They are looking for signs of crooked or crowded teeth, as well as other problems that could affect your bite and alignment. The orthodontist will then use various tools and techniques to fix these problems.
These tools include clear aligners, braces, and headgear. They may also prescribe jaw repositioning appliances, which are called splints. These devices are used to reposition the jaw muscles and bring the teeth into a more normal alignment.
Diaastemas (gaps between teeth) are another problem that can be corrected by an orthodontist. If left untreated, these gaps can grow larger over time and affect the structure of the teeth and mouth. Orthodontists will try to close these spaces with braces or appliances such as a palatal extender, which expands the upper jaw in order to create more room for the teeth.
Orthodontists will also inspect your teeth and gingiva to determine if you have any problems. These problems include tooth decay and gingivitis. If they are not treated promptly, they can spread, leading to more serious problems, such as the loss of teeth, or even the loss of an entire jaw.
Many people think that the only way to get a straighter smile is with braces. Orthodontists are able to use other devices in order to fix a bad smile and straighten your teeth. They can use a variety of methods, such as ceramic or metal braces, clear aligners, lingual braces, and splints.
Installing braces
You’ll need to meet with your orthodontist before you get braces. This will help you create a treatment plan. This will tell you how long the braces will be needed to correct your problems and when you can see results. You can also discuss any concerns that you may have regarding the procedure.
During your initial appointment, your orthodontist takes a mold of both your teeth and mouth. He will then design a plan for treatment. The plan will be based on your specific issues, such as overcrowding, gaps in your teeth or an overbite. The orthodontist also designs a schedule for how long your braces will be worn, and when you can expect to see your teeth straightened.
Your orthodontist will install brackets onto your teeth after the consultation. To prepare your teeth for the adhesive, he will first thoroughly clean and dry them. He will then apply a small amount of glue to the center of each tooth. This glue is distasteful but harmless, and it will help secure the bracket to the tooth. The archwire will then be placed, which will apply the pressure to move your teeth into the new position. The wire is held in position with rubber bands or ligatures that can be colored to match the braces.
When the wire has been placed, the orthodontist snips the ends to prevent irritation of your gums and cheeks. The orthodontist may also attach elastic bands to brackets to keep the wire in place. These can have a different colour to the ligatures, to make them easier to identify.
Once the brackets are in place, your orthodontist will use a blue light to set the glue. The metal bands will then be placed around your back teeth to anchor the archwire. The bands are a bit more uncomfortable than the brackets, and they might make you twitch for a day or two afterward. The twitch will go away as your mouth becomes accustomed to the pressure of the archwire.
After braces, how to keep your teeth aligned
Orthodontists have a difficult time helping their patients keep their straight smiles after their treatment. This is because teeth have a tendency to return to their old positions. This phenomenon is called relapse and can ruin the results from your orthodontic treatment. You can do a few things to keep your teeth in line after braces.
The first step in keeping your teeth aligned after braces is to make sure that you wear your retainer. Retainers help to keep your teeth straight in their new positions. If you don’t wear your retainer, your teeth will slowly shift back to their original, crooked positions.
Another thing you can do to prevent this from happening is to make sure that you brush and floss regularly. Food can build up between teeth and cause permanent damage if you don’t brush and floss regularly. This is why you should brush and floss your teeth at least two times a day. You should also schedule regular dental and orthodontic appointments for cleanings, checkups, and cleanings.
It’s important to stop bad habits, such as biting your nails or chewing on fingernails. These habits can put pressure on your teeth and cause them to shift. You can also use mouthguards to protect teeth from external forces.
If you experience any toothaches, or other problems during your treatment, make sure you visit your orthodontist. This will allow the orthodontist to assess the problem and fix it prior to the problem getting worse. Orthodontists are trained to treat a wide range of alignment problems, including overbites, underbites, cross bites, and open bites. These conditions may be treated using traditional braces or clear aligners. It is best to start orthodontic treatment during childhood or adolescence when your teeth are still softer. The treatment will be quicker and more affordable if you seek help before adulthood. In addition, the earlier you start treating your alignment problems, the easier it will be for them to resolve.
Creating retainers
After your braces are removed, a retention device is essential to preserving the progress you made during treatment. It takes time for the underlying bone to reform and ligaments to tighten, which is why a retainer helps maintain ideal teeth alignment until this happens.
Retainers are custom-made for each patient to ensure that they fit comfortably in their mouth, helping them stay put even after the underlying structure has fully reformed. There are two primary types of retainers: removable and permanent.
A removable retainer is composed of a piece or wire attached to plastic or acrylic. It is designed to fit over the roof of your mouth, or on the inside of lower teeth.
Another kind of retainer is a permanent retainer, which consists of a solid or braided wire that is fixed to the inside of your upper and lower teeth with dental cement. Also known as a bonded or lingual retainer, this retainer is not removable by the patient. These are not removable, and can only by removed by an orthodontic specialist or dentist.
The process varies according to the type of retainer you choose. Most orthodontists take impressions using a substance similar to dental paste. The orthodontist will put the compound in a tray that is placed into your mouth and then press against your teeth to leave an impression of your unique teeth and bite layout. This will be used to make your retainer.
Many orthodontists use 3D technology to create retainers in their office. This is more cost-effective, and can be quicker, than having them crafted at an outside lab. Once your new retainer has been created, the orthodontist will likely want to see you again to ensure that it fits properly and that no adjustments need to be made.