Orthodontics
Orthodontic treatment is a treatment method applied to eliminate the disorders in the upper and lower jaws. Orthodontics; Diagnosis of ill-positioned teeth and jaws, prevention and treatment of malocclusions, and modification of facial growth known as dentofacial orthopedics.
Anomaly of teeth and jaws According to the American Orthodontic Society, about half of the world’s population has malocclusions severe enough to require orthodontic treatment. However, despite the lack of conclusive scientific evidence that orthodontic treatment is beneficial for health, patients undergoing orthodontic treatment have a higher quality of life than others. Orthodontic treatment can take several years. Maxillofacial surgery can be included in the treatment plan in cases where malocclusion, that is, crowding, and the mismatch between the jaws are severe. Orthodontic treatment usually begins in adolescence, before the person reaches adulthood. Especially in cases where the lower jaw, which is described as class II malocclusion, is behind and the upper jaw, which is described as class III malocclusion, is behind, the skeletal structure of the patients can be treated by applying mild forces without resorting to maxillofacial surgery. Pre-puberty period should not be missed in this type of orthopedic treatments. Otherwise, the treatment becomes difficult and long. In other words, there is a lot of work for parents who can influence their adolescent children here.
Disorders of the teeth can occur due to various reasons, either congenitally or later. It is possible to treat these disorders with methods such as braces. Orthodontic treatment, which was previously applied only for aesthetic purposes, is of great importance for oral and jaw health today.
What are the benefits of orthodontic treatment?
Crooked or improperly positioned teeth can put you at risk of rapid tooth decay and gingivitis. Thus, a lack of oral hygiene is observed. Straightened teeth with orthodontic treatment are cleaned more easily, and the risk of caries and tartar formation is reduced.
Gaps between teeth are closed. The risk of food accumulation between the teeth is reduced.
Crooked teeth are corrected. A good aesthetic is provided.
Especially arising from the incompatibility between the front teeth; It fixes functional disorders such as inability to pronounce some letters properly.
With the treatment of closing disorders such as gaping between teeth and jaws, foods can be better grinded.
How Is Orthodontic Treatment Done?
Listening to the patient’s wishes and expectations, the doctor prepares a treatment plan. The treatment method is decided by considering whether the lower jaw is anterior or posterior and the age of the patient.
When starting orthodontic treatment, the first step is to clean the calculus and fill the cavities in the teeth. The teeth that need to be extracted are extracted, root canal treatment and filling procedures are performed. If there is a problem in the gums, the problems in the gums are eliminated. After these stages, the degree of orthodontic disorders is determined and a wire selection is made accordingly. A choice is made between a variety of treatment tools such as clear aligners, metal, porcelain braces, chin expanders, lingual braces, placeholders, face masks, and braces are attached.
What Should Be Considered During Orthodontic Treatment?
On the first day, soft foods should be preferred as much as possible (for example, soup and bread crumbs). As long as your braces are in your mouth, you should be careful with your food. You should avoid hard foods as much as possible.
They Will Stay Away
- Popcorn
- Sticky foods: marshmallows, candies
- Hard foods: nuts, hard candies, uncooked vegetables, ready-to-eat chips
- Hard bakery products: ring, stick, pizza edge
- Foods bitten with front teeth: Corn, apple, cutlet
- nail biting, pen biting
- Acidic beverages that cause enamel discoloration and cavities, such as soda, cola, fanta. It should not be forgotten that acidic beverages cause caries very quickly in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment.
Eating this type of food will dislodge the brackets and bend the wires. It should be noted that each falling bracket will prolong the treatment period.
What can be renewed
- Foods such as apples and carrots can be cut into small pieces and eaten.
- The seeds of foods containing seeds such as Çağla, olive and plum must be removed outside the mouth.
- Soft dragee chewing gum, which increases saliva flow and helps keep the teeth clean, can be chewed provided that it is not excessive.
- There is no harm in consuming chocolate wafer type foods that have softened at room temperature.
- Use common sense about what food you can and cannot eat.
Brushing teeth
It is more important than ever to brush teeth and use an interface brush while braces are present. Patients who cannot keep their teeth clean enough encounter gingival problems and caries during their treatment. Plaque buildup around the brackets causes tooth enamel to weaken, resulting in unaesthetic white spot lesions. You should brush your teeth at least 3 times a day and not less than 5 minutes each. In general, teeth should be brushed and interface brushes should be used for at least 5 minutes without wasting time, regardless of what comes into the mouth in terms of food or snacks. A normal toothbrush should be used horizontally. While brushing the teeth, the toothbrush should be dry and it is sufficient to put a paste as much as a lentil grain on it. In the process, which is commonly done by wetting the brush, the cleaning is not complete because the bristles of the brush soften. In addition, brushing can be done with horizontal movements with orthodontic brushes sold in pharmacies, whose bristles are designed with inverted bristles.
General Discomfort
When your braces are put on, you may experience general discomfort in your teeth after 4 hours. Your teeth may become sensitive to chewing forces within 3 days. This can be relieved by chewing gum or rinsing with cold water. If the sensitivity is severe, you can use any pain reliever whose active ingredient is paracetamol. There may be discomfort for a week or two until the lips get used to the new bracket surfaces on the cheeks and tongue. There may be wounds on the lips and cheeks until they get used to the wires and brackets. To reduce this, you can obtain patient wax used in orthodontic treatment from us. Also, try not to sleep on your face at night to prevent injuries. You can use mouthwash for possible wounds. Appointments are usually once a month and after each appointment,
Mobility in Teeth
This is an expected event during treatment. It is absolutely normal. This mobility is normal due to the displacement of the teeth. The teeth will become stable again in their new position.
