Orthodontics
Orthodontics is the specialty of dentistry in charge of preventing, diagnosing, intercepting and treating alterations in the position and relationship of the teeth and jaws. In addition to improving dental and facial aesthetics, orthodontics aims to correct malocclusions and improve chewing function.
Who are the candidates for this treatment? What benefits does it bring?
Orthodontic treatment is associated with patients in the growth stage. It has always been considered a very opportune treatment in children and adolescents. However, it is increasingly demanded or indicated in adults due to the benefits it can offer in terms of aesthetics, rehabilitation and maintenance of oral health.
What practical advice should be followed before, during and after orthodontics to optimize its results?
Before starting orthodontic treatment, it is important to put yourself in the hands of a professional who, after a comprehensive diagnosis and evaluation of your oral health, will indicate the type of treatment that suits your needs. It is advisable that you understand what the treatment consists of, what the advantages and possible disadvantages are, the frequency of scheduled visits and answer any questions you may have.
During treatment, it is essential that the patient stick to the scheduled visits and follow the recommendations on oral hygiene, diet and use of devices related to the treatment they are receiving. It is essential to maintain strict plaque control and attend follow-up visits and evaluation of the condition of your gums if necessary.
After orthodontic treatment, it is important to maintain the achieved occlusal stability and maintain the position of the teeth. For this reason, it always ends with the placement of a fixed and/or removable retention that must be periodically reviewed by the professional in the “retention appointments”. The loosening, breakage or non-use of the retainers could cause tooth movement to occur again and the teeth to return to an unwanted position, hence the importance of detecting it in time.
Why is it so important in orthodontic treatment that not only the teeth remain aligned, but also that a good occlusion is produced?
Malocclusions often cause contacts or interference at rest or during chewing. This situation can increase the probability that the tissues surrounding the teeth receive trauma, causing mobility and migration; on the other hand, it can predispose to alterations in the temporomandibular joint and increase the chances of suffering from headaches, migraines or ear pain.
Tooth movement is the result of an interaction between an orthodontic force applied to a tooth and the tissues surrounding the tooth. For the result to be satisfactory, the tissues must be healthy. In the presence of inflammation, orthodontic movement can act by initiating or accelerating a destructive process that becomes irreversible if it affects the bone surrounding the tooth.
Therefore, before starting orthodontic treatment, it is crucial to assess the condition of the gums and diagnose any periodontal pathology.
In case of presenting gingivitis or periodontitis, they must be treated by the periodontist before starting orthodontic treatment.
Is a moment of splendor in orthodontics taking place? Why? Especially for aesthetic reasons?
The demand for orthodontic treatment by adult patients has increased significantly in recent years. This is due, on the one hand, to aesthetic and restorative reasons; In the anterior areas, certain movements will be able to relocate the teeth in a more harmonic position, redistribute the necessary spaces to be able to place implants or carry out the necessary restorative treatment to achieve aesthetics. On the other hand, much of the current ‘boom’ in orthodontics is due to the appearance of a range of options from brackets to invisible aligners.
What are transparent or invisible aligners?
Aligners or “invisible orthodontics”, lingual orthodontics and porcelain braces make the option of orthodontic treatment in adults much more attractive and bearable.
In this area, some inadvisable practices have recently been denounced, such as the online sale of aligners. What dangers do these trends pose?
Behind the online sales aligners hide companies that offer these products without any scientific rigor or quality guarantee. The lack of control of an orthodontic treatment that involves the use of these aligners could irreversibly alter oral health, causing alterations in occlusion, aesthetics, joints and periodontal.
In addition, any orthodontic treatment requires follow-up and monitoring by the orthodontist, who must supervise the evolution of the treatment, and by the periodontist, in the case of a patient with a history or periodontal problems.
What advantages do they offer compared to other classic orthodontic devices?
The main advantages they provide is that they are ‘removable’, which allows you to sanitize and eat more comfortably, and they are more discreet or practically invisible.
