Orthodontics & Dentofacial

Several people have crooked teeth, which affects the overall aesthetics of their faces. Orthodontic Dentofacial doctors can help to fix crooked teeth and give patients a stellar smile. These corrective treatments are usually performed with the help of braces or aligners. Their services are mostly opted for by those who are trying to ramp up their physical appearance. Usually, sometimes, the teeth are placed so inappropriately that they cannot chew properly. In such cases, a visit to an orthodontic & dentofacial doctor becomes necessary. Childhood is the best time to get such treatments done. However, several adults opt for such procedures too.

Types

Several orthodontic treatments are available to help you enhance your smile. Some of them are:

• Invisalign: It is an invisible aligner that has the same effect as braces on teeth. It's user-friendly and can be worn easily by anybody. It's invisible and not as noticeable as braces.
• Retainers: Retainers are used by orthodontics during the final step of the alignment treatment. They are usually removable; however, some can be non-removal.
• Headgear: Headgear is mostly used to align teeth present at the back. It can only be worn during the night as it can limit one's ability to perform certain tasks. It may cause the front teeth to grow outwards if it isn't worn properly.
• Dental braces: It is used for aligning and straightening the teeth. Braces move the teeth in the right direction by putting pressure on them. Usually, children wear braces, although adults can opt for braces too. There are three types of braces: metal, clear, self-litigated, and lingual.
• Teeth extraction: Orthopedics may suggest getting teeth extraction before beginning your alignment treatment. Usually, the milk teeth of children are extracted in order to make room for permanent teeth.
• Orthognathic treatment: Few patients have abnormally positioned jaws that make their teeth look ill-positioned. In such cases, Your dentist may suggest an orthognathic surgery. It is a surgical treatment where either one or both jaws are repositioned.

Your orthodontic will suggest the best treatment for you, depending on the complexity of your condition and your budget.

When do you need to see an orthodontic & dentofacial doctor?

You may need to see an orthodontic if:

• You have jaw pain: In case you frequently suffer from jaw pain, you must visit an orthodontic immediately to figure out the cause of your discomfort.
• Bad breath: If you are someone who follows a very hygienic and extensive oral hygiene and is still suffering from bad breath, it could mean that there are bacteria trapped between crowded teeth. Meet an orthodontist to clear out the bacteria as soon as possible.
• You have an overbite or underbite: When the upper front teeth overlap with the lower front teeth, it is called an overbite. When the lower teeth stick beyond the upper front teeth, it is called an underbite. Orthodontics can fix these issues by aligning your teeth and jaw.
• You have crowded teeth: If you have crowded teeth, you must see an orthodontic as soon as possible. They are tough to clean and can result in bad oral hygiene if they aren't fixed soon.
• Food always gets stuck between your teeth: Orthodontics can treat gaps between your teeth with the help of a few treatments. These treatments will allow you to clean your teeth thoroughly.

Usually, your dentist would notice any misalignment during a regular dental check-up. If they feel like your teeth are completely misaligned and need treatment, they will refer you to an orthodontic immediately. In case of minor misalignments, they will inform you, and you may voluntarily opt for an alignment treatment if you feel like you need one. Usually, if missing teeth aren't causing any pain or interfering with one's daily activities, people may not require teeth alignment or straightening treatment. However, you may opt for teeth alignment treatment if you aren't happy with the aesthetics of your teeth.

Conditions treated by orthodontics and dentofacial doctors

Orthodontics treats several conditions. Some of them are:

• Protruding teeth: Here, the upper front teeth stick out in front of the lower teeth. This condition is commonly known as buck teeth or overbite. It can be caused by tongue thrusting, finger sucking, lip wedging or any other such habit. Usually, a brace or Invisalign is used by orthodontics to treat protruding teeth.
• Temporomandibular joint syndrome: Here, the patient suffers from restricted jaw movements and severe pain. This condition causes a lot of discomfort. Difficulty chewing and severe jaw pain are a few symptoms of the temporomandibular joint syndrome. It can be treated with the help of bite guards, medications and physiotherapy.
• Full mouth reconstruction: Full mouth reconstruction refers to replacing all the teeth of a patient. People may require full mouth reconstruction for several reasons. Few may need it if they have tooth decay or broken teeth, while the others may need a full mouth reconstruction if they are missing several teeth or have large filings.
• Facial imbalance or asymmetry: It is quite common to have an asymmetrical face. However, few may choose to correct it with the help of surgery. Often, during corrective jaw surgery, teeth are misplaced and require an orthodontist's expertise.
• Difficulty chewing or biting: People may face difficulties in biting or chewing properly if they are suffering from underbite or overbite. Your orthodontist can treat both of these conditions with the help of braces.
• Crooked teeth: Several people suffer from crooked teeth. Most of the time, they don't cause much discomfort and don't require any kind of treatment. However, one may opt for teeth alignment and straightening treatments to treat crooked teeth.

Diagnostic tests

Your orthodontist may order several diagnostic tests to help them understand the structure of your teeth and jaw. Some of them are:

• Digital X-ray: Your doctor may order a digital X-ray of your jaw to determine the positioning of your teeth and jaw.
• Digital photographs of the teeth and face: A photograph of your teeth and face will be taken by your doctor to help him study the progress of your ongoing treatment.
• Digital study casts: This helps the doctor determine the exact tooth size. It also helps them to analyse the relationship between the teeth. These casts are also used to prepare retainers.

The results of the above-mentioned tests will be available almost immediately. Your teeth alignment treatment will be planned according to the results of these tests. In case you opt for metal braces, you might be asked to come in every one to two months to evaluate the progress and for a change in the metal strips.

Review

Reviewed by Dr. Nidhi Kohli Suri, Senior Consultant, Dental Care.