At 6 years of age the parents can take their child to the orthodontist for an evaluation. If the young patient does not need immediate intervention, the professional will ask the parents to return annually in order to assess the development of the face and teeth of their child.
With normal oral hygiene this condition does not happen. However, if there is poor brushing and the patient is also predisposed to decay, the orthodontist will guide you and make you aware of the difficulties perhaps recommending the removal of the orthodontic devices.
The teeth and temporomandibular joint keep an intimate relationship since the teeth work limiting the degree of joint rotation. A bad tooth position (malocclusion) can alter the proper function of this joint, and could be an additional factor in the cause of headaches. However, this cannot be considered a rule, since many people having malocclusion do not have headaches as a symptom of TMJ dysfunction. On the other hand, some people with perfect smiles and arches have symptoms of joint involvement. This leads us to believe that many factors can play a role when facing these problems. Individual tolerance plays a role in facing these particular challenges.
Any adult who has a malocclusion of dental origin can benefit from orthodontic treatment if his teeth, gums and bone are in good health. However if this malocclusion is associated with a skeletal component, (such as difference of size between the maxilla and mandible) the patient will require surgery, called orthognathic, in addition to the orthodontic treatment. This treatment will harmonize these bases and allow the teeth to be moved in a balanced and successful way.
Any functional malocclusion which poses a risk to the functioning of the masticatory system and its associated structures (muscles, bones and gums) should be treated as soon as possible. However, many people have a malocclusion characterized by a slight crowding as a result of natural balance between soft (gums, tongue and muscles) and hard (bone and teeth) tissues. In these cases, if a good hygiene maintenance program is carried out, this situation will not constitute as a risk to the patient’s health and an analysis of treatment’s cost vs. benefit ratio should be conducted concurrently with your Orthodontist.
The corrective orthodontics (braces) is not part of the curriculum of an undergraduate course in dentistry. So ask the professional if he is an expert in the area and has been trained by an accredited Dental School. If so, he will be accountable as an orthodontist by the Conselho Regional de Odontologia/SC and will be in position to offer you proper skillful treatment.
Since the beginning of orthodontics, many techniques have been developed by different schools worldwide. However, mechanical principles and the ultimate goals have remained very similar. This could be compared to different roads or paths that lead to the same destination. More important than the technique used is the professional's ability to perceive the problem and what current up to date procedures are necessary to use and treat the problems properly (diagnosis). This requires a good academic background and clinical experience.
The orthodontic industry has progressed greatly and today it is possible to treat our patients with aesthetic brackets (the same color of the teeth or even crystal ones). So, your orthodontist may use these types of devices, depending on your aesthetic needs as well as the complexity of your case.
Recidive after treatment is the tendency of the tooth to move back to the preceding position. This happens in most cases moderately, because the teeth suffer accommodations with time. This is caused by the action of the tongue, lips, cheeks, tissues that support the teeth (gums and bone), aging and the eruption of third molars. All these factors cause adjustments that should be monitored long term to ensure a beautiful permanent smile.
The orthodontist evaluates the removal of the braces only when the initial goals of his plan are achieved within a context of aesthetic and functional quality. This takes 2-3 years in most individuals. However, because your braces have been removed your treatment is not finished. You will have one more step: the Retention. The retainers are developed in order to keep your teeth in the positions achieved during treatment, until your bones, gums and muscles adapt to changes which have occurred in your mouth.
The third molars or "wisdom" teeth should be extracted when there is lack of space for their permanence in the arches. The orthodontist should be the one who evaluates their removal if necessary. Sometimes this procedure can be performed during teenage years even when the tooth has not erupted. This will prevent dental crowding and also minimizing postoperative discomfort because their roots are not yet fully formed.
In recent years, the development of national industry and the increasing number of experts in the field have provided a reduction in the cost of orthodontic treatments. However orthodontic treatment should not be understood as the purchase of a same product found at a different price in a given commercial area. The fees of an Orthodontic Clinic are not totally based on the type of material used, but have a direct relationship with the level of the professional, and the complexity of your case.
