Orthodontics

What are orthodontics?

Orthodontics are a branch of cosmetic dentistry that deal with aligning or realigning teeth. The term cosmetic dentistry is a little bit misleading. No doubt orthodontry can and does have aesthetic benefits, but sometimes orthodontry is absolutely necessary and must be considered as a health issue. If your teeth are way too crooked, than food can get caught within cracks that you may not be able to see or reach, and those teeth will, in time, decay. Not to mention that the jaw can be negatively affected from a bite that does not close well. Usually, orthodontics come in the form of braces or retainers, but they can come in the form of aligners and even headgear as well.

Dental Treatment - Orthodontics

What kinds of orthodontry are there?

Let me go into detail about the different kinds of orthodontic appliances that are available through our polish dentistry. First, there is the standard metal brace, which is your run of the mill orthodontic brace. It can be self aligning, like the famous Damon brace, or it can be aligned with rubber bands attached to the sides. It is usually on both arches, but some lucky individuals only need one arch fitted properly. There are also aesthetic braces available, which can be just like the metal braces, but attached to the inside of the teeth, facing the tongue, therefore not being visible in everyday life. A front facing brace that is made of see through plastic or clear or tooth colored ceramic is also considered aesthetic, and is also much more visually appealing than a metal brace. There are also retainers that can be worn at night during sleep, or in certain cases, all the time. These retainers are mandatory, and if you do not use them, your teeth may shift back into their original position. Aligners are like braces, but they are made of see through plastic, and are basically like a tooth guard used in sports. The exception is that they are shifted slightly to push your teeth into position, and you need to come back and get a new one every month. These aligners need to be worn 22 hours a day, so you can take them out for eating and for brushing your teeth, but at no other times. Since all of these procedures are incredibly complicated and take time, if you would like to get more information, just call our customer care staff, and they will book you to an orthodontist, who will explain the procedures and your options in depth during a consultation session.

Dental Treatment - Orthodontics

What is the process for getting orthodontics?

During your initial consultation, you will have a chat with a polish dentist. S/he will make a study model of your teeth, and will also need to make a panoramic x-ray of your teeth in order to determine the best way to align them. Than you will come back for the initial treatment, where the braces will be placed onto your teeth. After that, it is just a question of coming back every month to your polish dentist, who will activate the braces and tighten them so they actually align your teeth. Taking part in these activation sessions is vital, because if you do not, than you are just wearing the braces for no good reason at all, and your treatment will be prolonged. Usually a treatment takes between 6 and 13 months, with only extreme cases needing more time than that.