ORTHODONTICS

What is Orthodontics?

Orthodontics is when the teeth are straightened or moved in order to improve the appearance of your smile by correcting the alignment of your teeth and the way you bite together.

Crooked and crowded teeth are hard to clean and maintain. This can result in tooth decay, worsen gum disease and lead to tooth loss. Other orthodontic problems can contribute to abnormal wear of tooth surfaces, inefficient chewing function, excessive stress on gum tissue and the bone that supports the teeth, or misalignment of the jaw joints. These can lead to chronic headaches and face or neck pain.

Fixed orthodontic braces, removable braces, clear aligners

• Fixed braces consist of brackets and bands which are cemented (glued) to your teeth which hold flexible wires in place. In turn, these wires exert pressure on your teeth gently moving them into their correct position over the course of your treatment.

• Removable braces can be taken in and out of the mouth. It has delicate wires and springs attached which move the teeth using gentle pressure. These are used for less complex cases or in conjunction with fixed Braces as part of a combined treatment

• Clear aligners are a series of invisible, removable, and comfortable acrylic trays that straighten your teeth like braces. Not only are the aligners invisible, they are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment, plus brushing and flossing are less of a hassle. The aligners are comfortable and have no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment.

How does the treatment start?

At DP Dental, our doctors are trained and certified in providing Invisalign (clear aligners). We also have our own visiting Orthodontist (braces specialist), this allows our patient to complete the entire treatment from consultation to removal at one convenient location.

During the first appointment, our doctors will discuss with you to determine your desired outcome from the orthodontic treatment, this can include adjusting your smile line, proportions of your jaw to face ratio, etc. You will have an oral assessment and x-rays taken of your teeth. Our doctors or orthodontist will then outline your treatment plan to discuss all the options available to you.

On your next appointment, impressions (moulds) will be taken of your teeth. If you are doing Invisalign, information will be sent to the Align Technology lab in United States to fabricate your customized aligners. If you are doingtraditional braces with bands, our orthodontist will bond the metal or ceramic brackets onto your teeth and begin the treatment.

How long does the treatment take?

Length of treatments vary with the complexity and cooperation of patients, they usually range between 18-24 months. Our doctors or orthodontist will provide you with a time frame during the initial consultation. Please keep in mind that failure to adhere to the doctor’s instructions will compromise the result of your treatment.