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Braces |
Those who wore braces as a teenager understand what it's like to be taunted. Now however, because of advances in orthodontics, braces are less visible,
you'll be teased less, and even adults are becoming willing to wear braces. In fact, up to 25% of all orthodontic patients are adults, and over 50% of those adults are
women. Sometimes adults will delay on orthodontic treatment for a reasons
such as cost, or even just embarrassment about having to wear braces as an adult.
When these adult patients find out just how affordable orthodontic treatment can be however, they're usually quite happy. Also, braces nowadays are simply more comfortable, they're smaller and even less visible than they previously, so therefore adults don't need to be all that concerned about how the braces will look. And sometimes braces aren't even required, as some orthodontic problems can now be treated with the use of implants instead. If the patient cultivates healthy teeth and gums, and of course strong supporting structures, they it's rare that the patient are too old to receive orthodontic
treatment. A number of adults are also worried that because they postponed the
orthodontic treatment, that their teeth will be more difficult to correct than a
child's would be, which means that it'll take longer and cause more pain. But this isn't
always the case. Regardless of age, adjusting teeth uses the same process. How long it takes to successfully complete treatment really just depends on how severe the problem is, and on patient cooperation and jaw growth, than on age.
Due to the fact that adults' facial bones no longer grow, orthodontic treatment may
take a little longer than for a child. However, adults are usually more cooperative
with their physician, and follow the orthodontist's instructions in wearing some
treatment aids such as elastics, and this can speed up the treatment time. There's no
age limit for braces, which is an important thing to realize as people take better
care of their teeth and wish to keep them! There are many types of Braces, if the
patient’s parents had braces, the patient may have seen pictures of them with
their mouths full of metal. Today, braces are much less noticeable. Metal braces
are still utilized, but a patient may even be able to obtain clear braces or braces that
are the same color as the patient’s teeth. Some braces are even administered behind
the patient’s teeth, so no one can see them! The wires that braces are made with
in present age are smaller and stronger than in the past, and they're composed of a
space-age material that straightens each patient’s teeth faster and more easily. The
rubber bands that go along with braces can be funky colors, too. So the
patient could have black and orange elastics for Halloween if the patient desires. And
to know how braces work, you must know that braces straighten teeth by putting
steady pressure on the patient’s teeth and by staying in place for a certain
amount of time. Most kids just need regular braces with wires and rubber bands
doing their jobs to keep pressure on the teeth. The wires on the patient’s
braces help to move the patient’s teeth, and the rubber bands help to correct
the alignment, the way the patient’s teeth line up. If the patient’s teeth need
a little extra help, the patient may have to wear head or neck gear with wires
attached to the patient’s teeth. If the patient does have to wear headgear,
don't panic! The patient probably will only have to wear it at night or when the
patient is at home in the evening. Everyone has to wear braces for different
lengths of time, but most people usually wear braces for about 2 years. The
patient will want to take special care of the patient’s teeth after the braces
come off. The patient may need to wear a retainer, which is a small, hard piece
of plastic with metal wires or a thin piece of plastic shaped like a mouth
guard. Retainers make sure the patient’s teeth don't go wandering back to their
original places.
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The patient’s retainer will be specially molded to fit the patient’s newly
straightened teeth. After the patient get the his/her retainer, the patient’s
orthodontist will tell the patient when the patient have to wear it and how long
- the patient might have to wear the patient’s retainer all day and all night
for 2 years, the patient might have to wear it at night for 6 months, or the
patient might have to wear it every other night for many years. It just depends
on the patient’s teeth. Braces act like magnets for food, so the patient need to
keep the patient’s teeth especially clean while the patient have them on. The
patient will want to brush after meals and be extra careful to get out any food
that gets stuck in the patient’s braces. The patient’s orthodontist also may
give the patient a special flosser the patient can use to floss in and around
the patient’s braces. When the patient’s orthodontist changes the patient’s
wires, ask if the patient can do a quick floss (it'll be easier without the
wires). The patient won't have to go on any special diet when the patient have
braces, but the patient will want to avoid some foods that are problems for
braces. Stay away from popcorn, hard and sticky candy, and especially gum.
Sugary sodas and juices can cause a problem, too, because the sugar stays on the
patient’s teeth and may cause tooth decay. The patient can have these drinks,
but be sure to brush afterward. Because braces put pressure on the patient’s
teeth, the patient might feel uncomfortable once in a while, especially after
the orthodontist makes adjustments. If the patient has pain, ask the patient’s
mom or dad to give the patient a pain reliever. If the patient ever have a loose
wire or bracket, or a wire that is poking the patient, the patient should see
the orthodontist right away to get it taken care of. If the patient’s
orthodontist can't find a problem, he or she may give the patient some soft wax
that the patient can stick on the bracket that's bothering the patient. Then it
won't rub against the patient’s mouth. So braces can be inconvenient, but lots
of kids have them and they are definitely worth the trouble. When will the
patient know for sure? On the day the patient’s braces are removed and the
patient can see the patient’s new and improved smile! Heavy metal bands" may
conjure up images of rock music today, but many baby boomers remember them as
the clunky and conspicuous devices they wore in their mouths as children to
straighten their teeth. Today's braces are a lot different from the metal-mouth
look of a generation ago. They're more aesthetic and more efficient. Braces used
to be put on only after all the permanent teeth came in. Today, a multitude of
dental devices, or orthodontic appliances, are being used at an early age to
simplify later treatment, provide a better outcome, and, in some cases, avoid
braces altogether. Adults, who make up one-fifth of orthodontic patients, also
are opting for straighter teeth as more choices in orthodontic appliances become
available. Braces work by putting pressure against the teeth, moving them
gradually over time. Most of the pressure is applied by a metal wire, called an
archwire that runs on the outside of the teeth. "Rubber" bands, actually made
from surgical latex, put additional pressure on the teeth that the archwire
alone cannot do. Earlier types of braces had an archwire connected to large
metal bands that were individually wrapped and cemented around each tooth,
adding that it used to hurt to have braces put on and adjusted. Today, the
archwire is attached to tiny brackets made of metal or ceramic. The brackets are
bonded with a glue-type agent to the front of the teeth. Some of the bonding
agents continuously release fluoride to help protect the enamel of the teeth
underneath the brackets. Metal bands may still be used on the back teeth, but
they are smaller and lighter than bands used previously. The archwire requires
periodic adjustment or replacement by the orthodontist to apply continuous
pressure. Today's archwires are active over longer periods of time, meaning
patients don't have to visit the orthodontist as often to get their braces
adjusted. Archwires now are made from a heat-activated, nickel-titanium mixture
originally developed by NASA to activate solar panels of spacecraft in orbit. At
room temperature, the wires are very flexible, allowing them to be attached to
the teeth more easily. When they warm to mouth temperature, they apply gradual
and constant pressure on the teeth. Today's braces come with more options to
make them less obvious--or, if a person chooses--more obvious, with an element
of fun and fashion. Most of Pracht's adult patients opt for clear or
tooth-colored brackets. Some people choose gold braces. Colors are especially
popular with children and teens, who will often choose the colors of their
school, a favorite sports team, or holiday colors, such as pink and red for
Valentine's Day and orange and black for Halloween. The colors are mainly on the
elastic ties that attach the archwire to the brackets, and they can be changed
when the archwire is adjusted. Archwires and rubber bands also come in a variety
of hues. For complete invisibility, braces can be fitted onto the inside of the
teeth. They affect speech more and may irritate the tongue adding that patients
should talk with their orthodontists to find out if lingual braces or other
options are appropriate for them. Innovations in materials and designs have
brought braces a long way since the "tin-grin" look of the past, but one thing
that hasn't changed significantly is the length of time they are worn. Braces,
on average, are left on between 20 and 24 months. To keep teeth straight after
braces are removed, people must wear retainers. These appliances hold the teeth
in their corrected position until the bones grow around the teeth to stabilize
them. Since teeth tend to shift as a person ages, wearing retainers periodically
may be a life-long requirement. Retainers can be all plastic, or plastic with
some metal wire. They are either fixed permanently in the mouth or are
removable. Like braces, retainers come in different colors and designs. They can
be roof-of-the-mouth pink or personalized with such items as sports team logos,
pictures of pets, or a person's or orthodontist's phone number in case of loss. | |
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