A Complete Guide to the Best Modern Orthodontic Treatments for Patients
Today’s society is all about technology, and the oral health industry is actively helping to lead the way. We’ve seen machines scan and treat heart disease and process DNA. But how can organs as small as the teeth use computers to their advantage?
Advanced orthodontics mixes traditional diagnostic techniques and state-of-the-art devices to customize your experience.
We’re talking beyond the x-rays. With the assistance of innovative technology, orthodontic specialists can now create more comfortable, corrective plans for patients. You won’t have to worry about wires protruding and pricking your gums or having metal brackets stuck over your smile.
You can also forget about the one-size-fits-all braces and loose retainers. We all know that not everyone fits the fold. 3D imaging makes it possible to create more efficient, made-to-order orthodontic appliances for any individual.
Besides, most people aren’t too enthusiastic about showing up for dental appointments. But as telehealth becomes increasingly in demand for our post-pandemic environment, advanced orthodontics make dental treatment more bearable for patients. That’s right - eConsults are a real thing.
Few matters are less annoying than spending hours at the dentist’s office, only to have a twenty-minute consultation. Fortunately, last year, a study held by the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry proved that tech is changing the game for orthodontics. And it’s for your good!
Here’s how.
The Difference Between Orthodontics and Advanced Orthodontics
Have you ever wondered why teeth are so crucial for forensics? It’s because your tooth prints - the patterns on the enamel - are specific for every individual. When damaged fingerprints fail, your teeth hold the key to your identity.
Your orthodontics treatment is just as unique. No two mouths are the same, so orthodontic specialists can’t assume that their braces or aligners will be identical either.
That concept is what draws the line between conventional orthodontics and a tech-based plan.
But before we talk about their differences, there are 3 basic facts that you need to know:
“Orthodontics” comes from the word orthos - meaning straight.
Orthodontists are dentists who specialize in correcting crowded, crooked, or misaligned teeth. They straighten them.
Lingual braces, retainers, clear aligners, and elastics are all procedures we consider to be solely orthodontic.
Do all these terms matter? Absolutely!
They matter because one consult with an expert could save you from developing;
Bad Breath
Tight spaces between molars make them hard to clean after eating. It’s easy for bacteria and food to get trapped in the nooks of crooked teeth. If you ever left food on the counter overnight, you’ll know what comes next.
As your meals decompose, they start smelling funky and spread their odor through your breath. We call this “halitosis.” The American Dental Association (ADA) reported that plaque, tooth decay, and gum disease are its primary triggers - all of which could stem from having misaligned teeth.
Broken Teeth
Here’s a rule of thumb: “If it’s not natural, it’s going to feel forced.”
Crooked teeth place extra pressure on your jaw and each other. Over time, that buildup is likely to cause weak points in the enamel, making it easier for your teeth to crack.
Jaw Pain and Headaches
All the stress on your jaw is likely to result in a temporal mandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. Head, shoulder, and neck pain are common symptoms. Luckily, 3D imaging and advanced orthodontics can help cure TMJ and other effects.
Difficulty Chewing
Misaligned teeth in your upper and lower jaw won’t sit over each other as they should. Poor contact between your grinders makes chewing difficult. The result? Slower digestion and, in some instances, choking.
Low Self-Esteem
We’re stating the obvious here. There’s nothing that signals confidence more than a nice rack of well-aligned teeth.
It’s not that treatment wasn’t possible for these issues before computers showed up. But advanced technology makes orthodontics more precise and yields much faster results.
How Does Orthodontic Treatment Work?
Having your teeth move into their prescribed positions will take more than a single consult - it’s a process. By applying small bouts of pull or pressure (or both), they’ll slowly fall in line with your jaw. Still, we must give your bone time to break down and rearrange its structure.
That’s how great smiles get made (and how optimum oral health gets promoted).
But first, your orthodontist will need to examine your teeth and determine your best course of action. Most people assume that traditional braces are the only option. And for some time, they were; but no one wants to be a “metal mouth.”
Eventually, experts created clear braces to eliminate the visibility of the brackets, but the truth is, braces aren’t ideal for everyone.
You can imagine the craze we experienced when removable orthodontic appliances - like invisible teeth aligners - hit the market in the 1990s.
Where Does Technology Come In?
Invisible teeth aligners don’t operate the way metal braces do. Because they’re plastic (medical grade and totally safe), a one-size-fits-all model can’t work.
And in steps Advanced Orthodontic Technology.
Now, 3D imaging and screening allow specialists to get a full view of your tooth arrangement before, during, and after clear aligner treatment. We use your personal pictures and scans to program lasers and other computerized equipment that produce your custom-made mold.
A patient-centered plan also equates to fewer visits with your specialist; you won’t need as many adjustments.
Top 5 Oral Health Conditions that Orthodontics Can Fix
As your teeth change location, you’ll start to notice improvements in your bite, appearance, and even your speech.
Since most alignment conditions originate from jaw problems, it’s safe to say that the ideal orthodontic treatment can fix any one of the following:
1. Underbite
The teeth in your lower jaw are ahead of your upper rack whenever you close your mouth.
2. Overbite
Your upper front teeth sit ahead of your lower jaw when you bite down. Most people have minor overbites, but more pronounced cases can have serious health effects.
3. Crooked Teeth
Overlapping, twisted, or rotated teeth also cause neighboring ones to become misaligned in the jaw.
4. Overcrowded Teeth
Insufficient space for individual gnashers causes them to creep up against each other, similar to what people do in a crowd. As a result, some teeth end up looking higher than those beside them.
The Benefits of Digital Orthodontic Treatment
Advanced orthodontic methods bring forth multiple patient benefits. Modern technology allows treatment to become:
Personalized
Experts can now use special imaging to decide if you’re the best candidate for braces, aligners, or some alternative.
Plus, a 3-D dental scanner lets specialists create custom-designed molds for clients using invisible aligners. It also enables the lab technicians to produce removable orthodontic appliances that offer a tight fit for every mouth they meet.
Cheaper
Clear aligners cost at least half of the price of traditional metal braces and retainers.
Convenient
Computerized molds help accelerate the orthodontic treatment process. Invisible aligners can successfully realign teeth within a matter of nine months.
Encouraging
Today, braces also come in ceramic materials that match your tooth shade or as clear, plastic brackets that are less noticeable.
Clear aligners are even less obvious than brackets or any fixed orthodontic appliance. You’ll get to enjoy your privacy while we tailor your new, million-dollar smile!
Is Advanced Orthodontics Right for You?
Treatment plans vary from case to case, depending on
● Your age,
● What caused your cooked teeth, and
● The extent of your misalignment.
You may be wondering, “what’s the best age for orthodontic treatment?”
Generally, we advise parents to wait until their children drop their baby teeth and have a better-developed jaw bone structure to proceed. Kids tend to have soft gums, and their tooth alignment as an infant may be far different from when their permanent molars kick in.
Ergo, just because you had straight teeth growing up doesn’t mean you’ll have them when you’re older.
It’s best to have an ortho consult when your adolescent turns 12 to 14 years old.
However, you should seek treatment immediately as an adult. After your teenage years, teeth alignment gets complex and more difficult to rectify. If your condition worsens, you could lose your eligibility for invisible tooth aligners and end up with more severe health conditions.
As the patient, you should always come prepared to ask your orthodontist questions before starting any treatment. Ignorance is not bliss, and the more informed you are, the better you can handle your oral homecare.
You can check out our online invisible aligners treatment with Straight Teeth Invisible.
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