In cases in which the orthodontic specialist has detected that the teeth are not aligned correctly or that they are, as patients who go to the orthodontist commonly say, “crowded”, generally the use of braces.
Wearing braces for misaligned or crowded teeth
It is one of the most common treatments used to correct “crooked and / or crowded” teeth, which in addition to dental alignment, will allow a correct position of the jaw with respect to the upper jaw to be achieved.
When the general dentist detects this type of anomaly, he usually refers the patient to an orthodontist, in order for him to determine if braces are the ideal option for the case.
Overview of braces
Brackets are devices that are cemented on the teeth, to hold the wires that will exert the necessary pressure to perform dental alignment movements.
In an orthodontic treatment, in addition to the brackets and wires themselves, it is necessary to add bands, ligatures and / or braces (supports), which are used to keep all the elements in the correct place.
Braces generally need to be adjusted monthly by an orthodontist.
Currently, adult patients prefer to avoid the use of braces, due to the aesthetic limitations that these can represent. However, different types of braces have been developed, whose appearance can go completely unnoticed.
Types of brackets
- Metal braces
- Porcelain Brackets
- Sapphire braces
- Lingual braces
The classic metal bracket is very obvious to the eye, but both porcelain brackets and sapphire brackets are very aesthetic because they blend in with the tooth, being sapphire brackets, due to their transparent appearance, even more aesthetic than porcelain brackets.
In the case of lingual braces or the so-called lingual orthodontics, have the advantage that they are totally hidden, but at the same time they have the disadvantage that they are usually very uncomfortable to close the mouth correctly and for the league, which will constantly rub them.
Duration of treatment through the use of braces
The time during which it will be necessary to wear the braces is quite relative and depends on the degree of malocclusion of each patient. Initially, an approximate duration of the treatment is determined, but it will be the specialist, after assessing the evolution of the case, who will determine when is the appropriate time to remove them.
Some cases evolve in such a way that they require only a few months for the teeth to be correctly aligned. At other times, it will take years to get the ideal result. In long-term cases, the collaboration of the patient is key to the success of the treatment.
Symptoms of brace treatment
After the installation of the braces, the patient’s mouth will be sore for two or three days, this being the period of greatest pain of the entire treatment.
Chewing hard food in these initial days can be painful. Therefore, the consumption of soft foods is recommended, during this short period of time. In certain extreme cases, even, only fluid intake is recommended during these first two or three days.
When the monthly adjustment is made, in some cases, a similar situation occurs, so the patient must be aware that he may feel a certain degree of pain and may have the need to adjust his usual diet, 2 or 3 days a month.
To control pain, you can resort to the use of analgesic medication, always supervised by the treating specialist.
Another pain that can be generated is produced by the friction of the wires or brackets with the adjacent soft tissues. Such is the case of the lips, the tongue, the gums and the inner part of the cheeks, whose irritation can reach the extreme of making it difficult just to speak. To control these frictions, there are waxes that will be applied on the element that causes the irritation, generating a protective barrier between the device and the affected tissue.
Necessary care during treatment with dental braces
Good dental hygiene is essential.
Brackets are retentive elements for food and for bacterial plaque. If the patient does not take great care of hygiene after each meal, the treatment should be suspended, since poor hygiene will bring irreversible consequences to the teeth, which are much worse than poor dental alignment.
The patient must be aware that dental hygiene during treatment must be greater than dental hygiene for a person who does not have braces on their teeth.
Dental alignment after orthodontic treatment
Postorthodontic retention is as important as the treatment itself. The use of retention devices after removing the braces will ensure that the result obtained is perpetuated over time. Otherwise, the dental misalignment will return.
