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Orthodontics
(Braces):
More and more adults are
focusing on improving their personal dental health. They are
taking vitamins, exercising, and even straightening their teeth!
Orthodontics not only make your teeth and smile look better but often
improve chewing function
which promotes better
digestion and
better health.
The Adult Orthodontic
Diagnosis:
Before orthodontic treatment can begin a
patient must first have a written
orthodontic
treatment plan constructed specially to meet their
particular problems.
It is done using orthodontic
records taken from the patient during a special
diagnostic appointment. We take impressions to make orthodontic
models of the patient's teeth, photographs to document the
relationships of the teeth, and several types of x-rays to
geometrically analyze the patient's skull and its relationship to their
teeth.
The doctor then studies this information and approximately two weeks
later the patient is invited back for a "treatment plan presentation." At
this time the needed care is carefully reviewed, a final cost for the
care is determined and the plan is established.
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Brushing
Your
Teeth
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Care
of Removable Appliances
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Eating
Habits
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- Clean the teeth after
each meal or snack. Keep a brush at school if noon meals are eaten
there.
- Look in the mirror
after brushing your teeth and check for retained food particles.
- Use the top bristles
to clean more difficult areas.
- Use the method of
cleaning as demonstrated by the Doctor.
- Use the recommended
toothbrush.
- Removable appliances
must be removed and cleaned each time before the teeth are cleaned.
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- Brush the appliances
or retainers with water or toothpaste after each meal or snack.
- Do not play with the
bands, wires or springs with your tongue, lips, fingers or other
objects.
- Appliances are to be
worn 24 hours a day unless directed otherwise.
- Do not discard any
parts which might become separated or loosened from the rest of the
appliance. Place any pieces in an envelope and return them at the
next appointment.
- If the appliance
cannot be worn, call the office immediately 679-DOVE.
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- Cut up all food to be
eaten. This includes toast, crusts, corn on the cob, meat, apples
and carrots, etc.
- Do not chew or suck
anything sticky, gummy or hard. This includes gum, licorice, gum
drops, taffy apples, bubble gum, chiclets, candy bars, popcorn, nuts,
ice cubes, etc.
- Desserts, including
sugar sweetened preserved fruits, jam and peanut butter cannot be used
every day. Reserve these "treats" for special occasions such as
holiday time or birthdays.
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How Adult
Orthodontic Treatment Works:
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The development of both tooth bonding
and modern miniature brackets
has revolutionized orthodontics. Many old concepts and myths
about treating adults have been disproved so that many adults are now
enjoying the benefits that braces can provide them. Once
orthodontic brackets are bonded to a patient's teeth an orthodontic wire is then
attached to the brackets. The wire forms a beautiful rounded arch
but this ideal arch form is deformed by twisting it into the
brackets. The wire then wants to return to its original beautiful
shape and so it pushes or pulls the attached teeth on its way
back. Each month a stronger wire is placed into the brackets so
that the attached teeth will continue to move. Finally, the
attached teeth form a beautiful rounded arch themselves.
After the upper and lower
arches are rounded they must next be made to fit together using elastics which are
attached to both the upper and lower arches at the same time.
These elastics slide the teeth along the arch wires until they fit
better.
This explanation is a very simple way of viewing orthodontic mechanics
but is just intended to give you an idea of how braces work.
There are many, many modifications to correct different situations and
each case is treated for that patient's unique situation. After treatment is
completed retainers
are constructed which the patient must wear full time, except for
eating, for a year and after - then only at night. Almost always,
adults must wear their retainers for their lifetime.
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