Dental Braces

The benefits of orthodontic treatment are way beyond the obvious physical changes of an improved bite and straighter teeth; it’s also a great way to improve a person’s overall self-image. Orthodontic problems if left untreated can lead to chewing and digestion difficulties, speech impairments, and abnormal wear of tooth surfaces. Over time, excessive strain on gum tissue and the bone that supports the teeth can affect the jaw joints leading to problems such as headaches or face and neck pain.

The American Association of Orthodontics recommends that children get an orthodontic evaluation no later than age 7. Though orthodontic treatment can be done at any age, timely treatment ensures maximum dental health.

With all of the recent advancements in orthodontics, wearing braces has never been easier.Nowadays wide choices are available from traditional metal braces, to clear and tooth colored brackets, to NASA type wires that are heat activated and require fewer adjustments! Some patients may even be candidates for treatment with Invisalign, a revolutionary way to straighten teeth using clear, retainer type aligners that require no braces or wires!

At Monarch Dental Care, we thoroughly discuss which treatment option is best suited for you!

What is Orthodontics?

The science of “straightening your teeth” is called “Orthodontics”and the doctor who corrects it is called an “Orthodontist”

Why do we need braces or orthodontic appliances?

Orthodontic treatments works by using appliances, braces and aligners to move teeth that are crooked or that do not fit together right. By fixing these problems, orthodontics can also help keep your mouth healthy. It addresses the following conditions:

• Breathing or swallowing problems – Mouth breathing can lead to snoring and sleep apnea.
• Crossbite – One or more upper teeth bite inside the lower teeth (towards the tongue).
• Crowding – Involving extra teeth or malpositioned teeth.
• Deep Overbite – The lower front teeth bite into the upper tissue of the upper teeth.
• Disfiguring of the face & mouth – Affects the development of the jaw and position of the teeth.
• Jaw & jaw joint pain
• Missing or extra teeth – Due to tooth decay, injuries, or inherited problems.
• Overjet (protruding upper teeth) – Upper teeth that protrude beyond normal and are usually associated with a short lower jaw.
• Self-image – An attractive smile can boost a person’s self-image and confidence.
• Spacing between teeth – Teeth are missing or may be too small or too large.
• Speech, chewing or biting problems
• Underbite (lower jaw protrusion) – Lower jaw is longer than the upper jaw.

Specific to Children

• Finger or thumb sucking – These habits can cause protrusion of the upper incisor teeth, and mouth breathing.
• Teeth erupting out of position – Can be guided to proper alignment.

When should treatment begin?

Normally the orthodontic treatment is begun between the ages 10 and 14. Treatment duration will be 8 months to 16 months based upon the severity of the condition. Certain jaw growth problems can be handled simply in mixed dentition period, before the permanent teeth erupt, so the treatment can begin at eth age of 6. But it’s can be done at any age depending on periodontal status of the teeth. In some children with mouthbreathing habits, thumb sucking,etc..the habits can be broken with orthodontic appliances.

What are the different Types of Braces ?

There are different types of braces. The most common are metal or ceramic braces attached to the front surface of the teeth. "Lingual" braces attach to the back of teeth which are hidden from view.

What are Metal braces?

Metal braces are the traditional and most economical braces.

The metal braces used at Monarch Dental Care are of the highest quality, usually 3M , American orthodontics or Damon or their equivalent. We use a technique called straight arch-wire technique which is scientifically proven with long term success rates.The braces are made of stainless steel and are strong. The wires are made of Nickel titanium.The braces are fixed to the teeth using a colourless or tooth coloured resin paste. The wire is then placed in the groove of the metal brackets and then fixed by tying (ligating) them . Small silicon bands are used for ligating the wire to the brackets. Sometimes thin stainless steel wires are also used. Advantages of Metal braces are they are economical, strong, adaptable for any type of corrections and can be used with other appliances. Disadvantages of Metal Brackets are they are visible, require maintenance, can cause teeth demineralization in long run, eating habits need to be modified and require regular check ups. The less visible alternative is ceramic braces, lingual braces, invisible & removable alternative aligners.

What Are Ceramic Braces?

Less Visible -Tooth Coloured Braces

While the function and the method of action are the same, they are less visible and are easier to clean. Advantages of ceramic braces are that they are tooth coloured, less visible and require less maintenance than traditional metal braces. Disadvantages of ceramic Brackets are similar to traditional braces except that they are not completely invisible and May not be suitable in patients with deep bite and with heavy bite force.

What Are Lingual Braces?

Braces have conventionally been fitted to the front of the teeth, making them visible during the entire course of the treatment. Since this may be awkward and not suitable for some, the braces that can be fitted to the inside of the tooth called the lingual surface, was developed. These lingual braces are custom made at the lab. This prepositioned set is then placed over the teeth and just light cured. As these are custom made, these braces are slightly more pricier than conventional braces. Advantages of these braces are less visible, custom made, short term success rate, can be used in all types of incorrect tooth positions in all age groups. Disadvantages are time needed to adapt to these braces and need rigorous maintenance.

INVISALIGN & CLEAR ALIGNER THERAPY

What is Invisalign & Clear Aligner Therapy?

Clear aligner therapy is a system of virtually invisible aligners used to move the teeth, rather than fixed braces. At Monarch Dental Care we use InvisalignTM and WhitesmileClear.

In consultation with our dentist, you can determine which system is the better alternative for your treatment, depending on the complexity of your needs.

With clear aligner therapy, there are 4 primary benefits:

• You can straighten your teeth without anyone knowing due to the nearly invisible aligners
• Aligners are removable, therefore you can eat normally and at the same time, brush and floss your teeth to maintain oral hygiene
• With no metal brackets / wires in your mouth, there will be less irritation and lesser visits to the dentist to get adjustments
• Clear aligners allow you to preview how your straight teeth will look even before you start treatment

What do aligners look like?

Aligners are clear and look similar to tooth-whitening trays, which are custom made for a better fit to move teeth. Some orthodontists and dentists have referred to them as “contact lenses for teeth”.

How long will treatment take?

Depending on the severity of individual cases, treatment may vary from 6 months to 2 years with an average treatment that lasts around 12 - 14 months.

How does Invisalign effectively move teeth?

With controlled force on the teeth, Invisalign aligners are able to move teeth through the appropriate placement. The main difference is that Invisalign also controls the timing of the force application. At a certain stage, only specific teeth are allowed to move, and these application are determined by the treatment plan for that particular stage. This results in an efficient force delivery system.

How do I know if I am a candidate for Invisalign or Whitesmileclear?

Your Invisalign-accredited dentist will determine if Invisalign is a suitable treatment for you. Three types of tooth movements have been found to be less predictably achieved with clear aligner therapy alone complex extrusions, severe derotations of cylindrical teeth, closure of large spaces usually associated with extraction of teeth other than lower incisors.

What is the minimum age for clear aligner therapy?

Almost everyone over the age of 14 is eligible for the treatment as long as their second (12 year old) molars are fully erupted.

Will the treatment be painful?

In the early stages of treatment, most people experience temporary, minor discomfort. This is normal and is typically described as a feeling of pressure when the aligners are sequentially moving your teeth. This discomfort normally goes away a couple of days after you insert the new aligner in the series.

Invisalign at Monarch Dental Care

We do Invisalign and clear aligners at Monarch Dental Care. We have Invisalign Express which is an orthodontic treatment designed to correct mild orthodontic problems such as minor crowding and spacing. As it is designed for minor problems only, treatment time is generally less than six months. Ask our Invisalign certified doctor for more information on this at 8137999943 / 9446239984 or email us your query on info@monarchdentalcare.in to ask one of our experts.