TYPES OF ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCES
TEETH STRAIGHTENING AND TYPES OF ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCES
Table Of Contents:
TEETH STRAIGHTENING INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE
Maintaining good dental and oral health is very important and many people take good care of their oral hygiene by regularly brushing and flossing their teeth. But many people suffer from more complicated dental problems which require full orthodontic treatment. These problems can’t be avoided or treated only by maintaining good oral health. Usually these problems are related to our teeth and bite alignment, such as crowded or crooked teeth, etc. Teeth and bite alignment problems can have a negative impact on our personalities and can hurt the self-confidence of many people. It can also lead to some severe health problems if left untreated. Hygienic and straighten teeth are important part of our personality and it is important to look for early orthodontic treatment to avoid any further deterioration of your dental health.
Dentist or orthodontist uses different appliances for teeth correction and teeth straightening, such as braces and retainers, etc. Braces are orthodontic appliances which are used for teeth and bite alignment treatment. We can wear braces at any age as long as we have strong teeth and jaws. Braces gently push our teeth to the desired position. There are different types of braces and the best teeth alignment or best teeth straightening braces can vary depending upon the case and requirements of each patient. Teeth and bite alignment treatment through braces can be a lengthy process and the amount of time you have to wear braces depends upon a lot of factors. But generally, treatment times can take up to 6 months to 2 years and can be less or more. But the treatment for teeth correction and teeth straightening does not end here. After your braces are removed your orthodontist might recommend the use of retainers. Braces helps to move our teeth and retainers are used to maintain that new position. Without retainers your teeth can slowly move back to its pre-treatment position. Retainers are usually worn for 22 hours each day for six months after your braces are removed. After that, you will have to wear retainers each night for the rest of your life.
Some people might get confused as to “which specialist should I choose to align my teeth”. Both dentist and orthodontist can help with teeth correction, teeth straightening and bite alignment treatment, etc. But the best option to go for is an orthodontist. Orthodontists are more specialized specifically in teeth straightening, as they go through an additional 2-3 years training in the field. This does not mean that a dentist can’t provide you with a good and effective treatment. But as orthodontist are more specialized, it is better to prefer an orthodontist over a dentist for orthodontic treatments.
For the best teeth straightening treatment, it is important to find a good orthodontist office, like IVANOV Orthodontics. IVANOV Orthodontic Experts is a Miami orthodontist, providing wide range of orthodontic treatment including teeth correction and teeth straightening treatments. They provide high quality treatment using modern orthodontic appliances. It is one of the best orthodontic clinics in the US and highly recommended for the people living in Miami area.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN YOUR FIRST CONSULTATION FOR TEETH CORRECTION
Your first step towards a healthier smile is obviously your first consultation with your orthodontist. Make sure to take any previous dental health or other health related documents with you. If you are under any insurance plans, call your insurance provider and check your insurance coverage. The initial consultation with the orthodontist office for teeth correction and teeth straightening may include:
- Straighter teeth and a prettier smile
- Healthier gums and teeth
- Aligned teeth and jaws
- Ability to maintain oral cleanliness on a daily basis
- Boost your self-esteem
A good orthodontist like IVANOV Orthodontics will make sure to discuss different teeth straightening options in detail and recommend the best course of action for you. It is also important to discuss any concerns or questions you have regarding the process of teeth correction or teeth straightening. Let your orthodontist know what type of result you are expecting after your treatment is completed. This will help your orthodontist to make a treatment plan accordingly.
HOW TO FIND THE BEST TEETH STRAIGHTENING ORTHODONTIST
There are many different ways to look for the best teeth straightening orthodontist office near you. The most convenient way is through internet. You can use powerful search engines like Google to look for the best teeth straightening orthodontist office. Use search queries like “best place to get braces near me”, “best-rated orthodontist near me,” or “best orthodontist near me”. You can use any other similar searches to look for the best teeth straightening orthodontist office near you.
While looking for an orthodontist it is important to find the right specialist for your treatment. For example if you are looking for the treatment of children or braces for children, make sure to look for a pediatric orthodontist. Pediatric orthodontists are specialized in dealing with children. You can also use specific keywords such as, “best orthodontist for metal braces near me” if you are looking for metal braces or “best orthodontist for Invisalign near me” if you are looking for Invisalign aligners. You can also visit the website of American Association of Orthodontists. Go to “find an orthodontist”, enter your street address or zip code to look for an orthodontist office near you.
If you are unable to find any orthodontist after searching “best place to get braces near me”, “best orthodontist near me” or any other similar searches, there are other ways to look for a good orthodontist office. If you have a family doctor or dentist, they can also help you find an orthodontist office for teeth correction and teeth straightening. You can also consult friend and family members who have gone through similar orthodontic treatment. If their orthodontist is located near you and they are satisfied with their treatment, you can consult the same orthodontist.
HOW TO CHOOSE FROM MULTIPLE ORTHODONTIST OFFICES NEAR ME
There is a high possibility of more than one orthodontist clinic near you. We will discuss some ways you can identify a good orthodontic clinic, like IVANOV Orthodontic Experts.
- Firstly you can check the online rating of the clinic if it is available.
- Go through reviews and testimonials of past patients. Satisfied past patients are a good sign and going through their reviews and testimonials might help you get some additional information on the orthodontist. Also look for any before and after treatment pictures if they are available on their website or clinic. They can help you evaluate the work of the orthodontist and at the same time, will also motivate you.
- Another good way to find the best orthodontist for your treatment is by having multiple consultations. Multiple consultations will open more options for you. You can compare the treatment and payment plans of multiple orthodontists. See which orthodontist provides you with more satisfactory answers and provides a better treatment plan. Many orthodontists provide free consultations so multiple consultations do not necessary means paying more money.
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ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL FACTORS TO KEEP IN MIND WHILE CHOOSING BEST PLACE TO GET BRACES NEAR ME
There are some additional factors that you should keep in mind while choosing the best orthodontist for teeth correction or bite alignment treatment etc. Some of the factors are as follows:
- The location of the clinic: Apart from effective and affordable treatment, make sure the clinic is located at a convenient location. The teeth correction, teeth straightening or bite alignment treatment, etc. can be lengthy treatments, and will require several visits to your orthodontist. So make sure the clinic is located at a convenient location so frequent visits to the clinic remains convenient for you throughout your treatment.
- Working days of the orthodontist: The working days of the clinic are also an important factor while choosing the right orthodontist. Many of us have a tight schedule on weekdays, so it could be a better choice to look for an orthodontic clinic which is also open on weekends. This can especially be important for children studying in schools. Weekends appointment will make sure their educational activities are not disturbed due to their teeth correction, teeth straightening or bite alignment treatment, etc.
- Orthodontic clinic’s staff and equipment: While selecting the right orthodontist, make sure the staff of the clinic is friendly and well-trained. They should provide good customer services and should be nice to their clients. The clinic should have modern orthodontic appliances. It should also have adequate arrangements for the clients who have to wait for their appointments.
TYPES OF ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCES (BRACES)
Orthodontists use different types of orthodontic appliances which may include braces, retainers, headgear, etc. We will keep this limited to the common dental braces types and cost:
- Traditional metal braces: Traditional metal braces consist of metal bracket and wire. They are the most noticeable type of braces but at the same time is usually the least expensive type of braces. Metal braces are also considered the most effective type of braces.
- Ceramic braces: Clear braces or ceramic braces also consist of brackets and wires, but these are made-up of ceramic material. They are less noticeable as the brackets are clear or tooth colored.
- Lingual braces: Lingual braces are also a type of metal braces. But these braces are placed at the back of the teeth, so they are not visible to others.
- Invisalign: Invisalign braces are clear plastic aligners. They are custom-made for each patient. They are removable and are considered very convenient.
Metal and ceramic braces can cost somewhere around $5000 to $6000, while invisalign can cost somewhere around $6000 to $7000. The cost of braces can vary and can go much higher or lower, depending upon different factors. These factors may include the severity of your case, the dentist or orthodontist personal fees, etc.
If you don’t have an insurance plans or dental savings, you can still find affordable treatment. Many good orthodontists provide flexible payments options, so it is easier for the client to afford and pay for the treatment. You can look for orthodontic schools in your area. They are much cheaper than going to a specialist because the treatment is provided by orthodontic students. This treatment is supervised by an orthodontic professional. You can also look for non-government or government organizations in your area that provides assistance to low-income families for their orthodontic treatments.
If you are thinking “what should be the best braces to align my teeth?” the answer to this question can be best answered by your orthodontist. All the braces have some pros and cons associated with them and the best braces for you will depend upon the severity of your case, your budget, etc. So it is important to find a good orthodontist like IVANOV Orthodontic Experts and follow the recommendations of your orthodontist for best teeth straightening or bite alignment treatment.
TEETH STRAIGHTENING AND TYPES OF ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCES
For healthier smiles, it is important to take care of your oral hygiene and treat any irregularities in your teeth alignment. Straighter and hygienic teeth can boost our self-confidence in our daily interactions with people. It also highlights our personalities in our professional and social lives. If you are suffering from any type of orthodontic problem, it is important to look for a good orthodontist and start your orthodontic treatment. Follow some of the helpful tips we have mentioned above to find a good orthodontist.
If you are looking for an orthodontist in Miami, it is highly recommended to book your appointment with IVANOV Orthodontic Experts. At IVANOV Orthodontic Experts, you will get high quality orthodontic treatment in affordable price. They are committed in improving the lives of the people of Miami by giving them attractive and healthier smiles. Apart from excellent treatment, they value every customer and are focused in providing excellent customer services to their clients.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What Do Orthodontic Services Help With?
Orthodontic is a specialization within dentistry. Orthodontists are specialized in dealing with issues related to our teeth alignment and jaws. This may include problems such as bite issues, teeth misalignment, teeth gaps, etc. Orthodontic treatments are not just focused on improving dental and oral health but also improve our lives through giving us a better and healthier smile.
Orthodontic problems can arise from a number of issues, such as genetics, environmental factors and injury, etc. An orthodontist creates the treatment plan by taking various x-rays, photographs and dental impressions. Different types of orthodontic appliances are used such as dental braces or retainers, to improve our teeth alignment. Both children and adults can use services of an orthodontist to improve their dental and oral health. Orthodontic treatment can involve some lengthy treatment process. These treatments can vary from 6 months to 30 months, depending upon the orthodontic problem and its severity.
What Are Metal Comfort Braces?
If you are looking to straighten your teeth you might have come across different types of braces and you would be wondering what should be your best option. In this topic we will discuss metal comfort braces and its pros and cons. Metal braces consist of metal brackets and wires. When discussing braces, it could be the first type of braces that can come in many people’s mind. This is because these braces are noticeable and gives the metal mouth type of impression. But the modern metal braces have improved a lot. Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of metal braces.
Pros:
- Are considered to be the most effective braces for severe cases.
- Can be less costly than some braces
- Are made out of metal, so you don’t have to worry about damage or cracks.
- Have been more appealing these days because of colored rubber bands.
Cons:
- They can give the impression of metal mouth.
- The most noticeable type of braces.
What Are Clear Ceramic Braces?
Clear ceramic braces are another type of braces which consists of brackets and wires. But these braces are made up of ceramic material. The brackets and wires used in ceramic braces are tooth colored or clear, which makes them easy to blend with our teeth. This is the reason they are less noticeable than the metal braces. Following are some of the pros and cons associated with clear ceramic braces.
Pros:
- Clear or tooth-colored brackets and wires make it less noticeable. Can be excellent choice for people who are conscious about their appearance.
- Can move the teeth much faster than clear aligners like invisalign.
Cons:
- As they are made of ceramic materials, requires a lot of care so that the braces don’t get stained.
- They are also expensive than the metal braces.
What Are Invisalign Removable Aligners?
Invisalign are clear aligners, made out of plastic. These are custom-made for each user and are also removable. They help in moving teeth just like normal braces. When you start your orthodontic treatment using invisalign removable aligners, your orthodontist or dentist will get your impression or a 3D scan of your teeth. Your orthodontist will than develop a treatment plan using software. Your aligners will be replaced during your treatment as your teeth starts to shift. Invisalign are good alternate for people who don’t want to wear traditional metal braces. They are also more convenient and can be removed whenever needed. Let’s get down to some of the pros and cons of invisalign.
Pros:
- They are more comfortable and convenient than most types of braces.
- They are clear aligners, making them less noticeable than metal braces.
- Invisalign aligners are removable.
Cons:
- Not that much effective for severe orthodontic problems.
- Requires additional attachments which are fixed to the teeth.
- Can be much more expensive than metal braces.
Why Are Braces for Children Important?
Children can be prone to orthodontic problems due to number of reasons. Whether it is due to injury, genetic problems or thumb-sucking habits, it is important to visit an orthodontist who can examine the teeth structure and recommend the treatment for your child. Problems such as crowded teeth, teeth gaps or problems related to bites, etc. are treated through the use of dental braces. Braces can be worn at any age but, 10 to 14 years is considered to be the most ideal age to wear braces as the head and the mouth are still growing. When looking for an orthodontist for braces for children, it is important to visit a pediatric orthodontist.
Pediatric orthodontists are specialized in dealing with children. They are trained and specialized in understanding the physical and psychological limitations of the children. So it is important to find a pediatric orthodontist or an orthodontist who can deal both children and adults.
Do I Need Orthodontic Bite Turbos?
Orthodontic Bite Turbos are orthodontic devices which are used in orthodontic treatment to prevent the full closure of the teeth. They are placed in the inside area of the upper front teeth and the biting area of the back molars. While wearing braces, our upper teeth can bite down and touch the braces on our lower teeth, making it very inconvenient and uncomfortable. There is also a high risk of this overbite to damage your lower braces or brackets, apart from causing problems in aligning your teeth. So, orthodontic Bite Turbos acts as barriers and stops our upper front teeth to touch down the braces of our lower teeth.
Orthodontic Bite Turbos are only worn for temporary period. It helps in correcting overbites and also makes sure there is no hindrance in your braces treatment. For most of the cases, they are placed for 6 to 9 months but this time period can be prolonged if your orthodontist feels necessary.
How A Tongue Crib Appliance Can Help?
Children are prone to develop habits such as thumb sucking and tongue thrusting. These problems can lead to some serious dental problems, including the misalignment of teeth. A Tongue crib appliance is used to combat these habits. An orthodontist or a dentist can recommend Tongue crib appliance if your child is diagnosed with problems related to thumb sucking and tongue thrusting.
The Tongue crib appliance is attached using two rings (bands) which are placed around the molars, at back of the mouth. These rings are connected to a small cage, which is commonly placed at the back of the front teeth. This helps to remind your child and prevent them from placing their thumb in their mouth. It prevents the tongue pushing against the teeth and also helps to keep the tongue back while swallowing. Tongue crib appliance can be placed for a few months or may be placed for the entire duration of the orthodontic treatment, depending upon the case.
What Is Trans-Palatal-Arch TPA Appliance?
Orthodontist use different tools for correcting our bites and teeth alignment. One of such tool is the Trans Palatal Arch TPA appliance. It is used to reposition the molars, and is very detail-oriented. It fixes issues which are generally not fixed by the braces. Trans Palatal Arch TPA appliance mainly focuses towards the upper jaws, acting as a palatal expander for the mouth’s roof.
Trans Palatal Arch TPA appliance is usually placed around the upper molars. It is connected from one side of the mouth to the other using stainless steel wire. The appliance is used for severe cases of teeth alignment. Your dentist or orthodontist will examine your case and recommend if you require the appliance or not. Some of the benefits of Trans Palatal Arch TPA appliance include fixing problems or irregularities related to your upper molars and expanding your top molars. It also helps to create space for teeth by expanding the upper arch.
What Are Space Maintaining Appliances For Kids?
Baby teeth help to leave the right spacing for the adult teeth. When your child loses a baby tooth or multiple baby teeth very early, it changes the position of the other teeth. This may lead to some serious problems for the adult teeth when they come out. It causes problems such as teeth misaligning, crowded or crooked teeth.
Using Space maintaining appliances for kids, these problems in adult teeth can be prevented. But space maintaining appliances for kids have its cons as well and are not the perfect solution. Although it is beneficial for the teeth it is placed on but at the same time it causes problems for other nearby teeth which are in their development stages and are about to come out. Space maintaining appliances for kids can either be fixed or removable. An orthodontist after examining the teeth can recommend the best type of Space maintaining appliances for kids.
What Is Nance Holding Appliance?
There are many orthodontic tools and devices which are used in correcting bites and aligning teeth. Among them is the Nance holding appliance. The basic function of the device is to hold the upper molars in their place or helps in expanding or rotating the upper molars. It helps to maintain the space in the mouth. There are a number of reasons due to which your child might require Nance holding appliance. Early baby tooth loss is one of the reasons which lead the orthodontists to use the device. Early baby tooth loss can cause permanent upper teeth to come out wrongly. So the device helps in holding the molars until the premolars develop.
A Nance holding appliance consists of stainless steel rings which are fixed to the first molars. A stainless steel wire is attached from one band to the other touching the roof of the mouth. This wire consists of an acrylic pad in the center.
How Headgear Can Fix Overjet?
Sometimes braces are not enough to reposition the teeth or correct the bites, etc. An orthodontist might use additional device or appliances to correct the teeth structure. Headgears are one such appliance, with parts worn outside the mouth too. It helps in creating enough force to move our teeth and at the same time guiding the growth of jaws and face.
There are different types of headgears used by orthodontists. To fix problems of overjet (excessive horizontal overbite), orthodontists use headgears like, cervical pull type or high-pull headgear. They can be used for both children and adults. These headgears are generally required to be worn for about 12 to 14 hours each day. They can be discomforting to wear for a few days and your orthodontist might recommend some pain relievers till you are used to it. It is important to follow the instructions of your orthodontist for the headgears to be effective.
How to Fix Crowding With Schwartz Expander?
There are many important orthodontic appliances and tools for children, apart from braces and retainers. One such device is the Schwartz appliance. It is a removable device and requires frequent adjustment as the treatment progresses. The purpose of Schwartz appliance is to fix number of dental problems related to teeth and jaws in children, including narrow jaws and crowding. Although the device is currently used for children only, but there are recent debates focusing on its use for adults as well.
There are different types of Schwartz appliance, and the use is recommended by an orthodontist depending upon the child’s needs. An orthodontist might recommend a lower or upper Schwartz appliance and sometimes a three-way Schwartz appliance depending upon the needs of the child. The appliance is used for about 4 to 9 months depending upon the case. It is also available in different designs and colors, making it appealing for children.
What Are Space Regaining Appliances?
Children can be prone to early orthodontic problems, such as losing of milk tooth. Sometimes an orthodontist or dentist might remove these teeth due to cavity as well. This creates an empty space, causing difficulties for premolar teeth to grow and develop at the right place. This is the reason Space regaining appliances are used to fill the space that has been created due to early losing of teeth.
An orthodontist might use several ways to fix these spacing problems in children. One such way is the use of removable Space regaining appliances, which consists of a spring moving the out of position teeth to the right position. Orthodontists can also treat this problem by using fixed braces with open coil, which can provide the same result of moving the teeth to the right position. Space regaining appliances has a lot of benefits, as empty spaces or gaps can lead to serious dental problems and also affect the smiles and looks.
What Is Thumb Habit Appliance?
Thumb sucking habit is quiet common in children. Although many children comes out of this habit as they grow, but there are many who stick to this habit. Thumb sucking can cause some serious dental problems if your child sticks to the habit. The habit can affect teeth and bones as well. It is important to take your child to an orthodontist before the situation worsens.
Orthodontist use Thumb habit appliance, which is a small device or appliance which can help your child to overcome with the thumb sucking habit. Thumb habit appliance will be provided according to the size of your child’s mouth and place it on the roof of the mouth. The orthodontist might also place tongue bead, behind the front teeth. Anchor bands are used to make sure the appliance remains in place. Thumb habit appliance can cause some difficulties in talking for your child, but it will be much easier once your child gets used to it.
How Facemask Is Fixing Underbite In Children?
Underbite is a serious type of problem, and it is important to get early orthodontic treatment. It can cause both dental health problems and affect our smiles. Some underbite issues can be corrected by wearing braces but for severe bite cases your orthodontist might suggest an orthodontic facemask such as reverse pull headgear.
The reverse pull headgear is an orthodontic facemask which is used for different conditions and is used in pre-teen years. The main purpose of the reverse pull headgear is to increase jaw mobility and helps in dragging the upper jaw forward. It is placed or attached on the upper jaw and uses rubber bands. The device puts pressure on the rubber bands, resulting in the growth of the upper jaw bone and will pull the jaw forward. As it exerts pressure, the device can be uncomfortable for the children at start but things will get better in a few days. If it gets painful or starts itching consult your orthodontist.
What Is 2×4 Orthodontic Appliance?
A 2×4 Appliance, is used for a number of orthodontic problems such as crossbites or teeth overcrowding. Bite issues are one of the most common problems among children and adults. This is where the use of 2×4 Appliance becomes very important. It also doesn’t affect any primary teeth during the treatment.
A 2×4 Appliance looks similar to braces. The appliance is usually recommended or fixed in children. Generally it is placed on the first molars and four incisors of the arc. The process of installing the appliance can be discomforting as it requires force for the installation and use. Some patients might also suffer from root damage to some extent. Your orthodontist might give or prescribe some milder sedative in case of any pain or discomfort. After the treatment your orthodontist might recommend the use of retainers to fix and strengthen the teeth. Retainers also help to prevent any further crossbite problems.
How Pendulum Appliance Helps Move Molars?
When we think about orthodontic appliances and tools, usually the braces could be the only thing which can come to our mind. But there are many more orthodontic appliances which are used to give us healthier smiles and better oral health. One such appliance is the Pendulum appliance. A Pendulum appliance is used for adjusting and moving the molars to the right position. Wrongly positioned molars can prevent the other teeth to develop and come out on the right place.
A Pendulum appliance consists of stainless steel wires, and rings, connected to a frame. Dental glue is used to additionally secure the appliance, apart from hooking it over the teeth. It is important that the device is placed at the right place for the treatment to be effective. Once fitted, the appliance will help to reposition the molars. The appliance can cause a little inconvenience for a few days but once your child gets used to it, things will become normal.
What Is Forsus Appliance?
Forsus appliance is an orthodontic tool used for the treatment of overbite. Overbite can have some serious effects on our oral health and also effects the personalities. There are number of ways to correct the problem of overbite and your orthodontist after examining your case will recommend the type of appliance which would be effective or required for your case.
One of the ways which your orthodontist might use to treat the overbite issue is by Forsus appliance. It moves the lower teeth forward while moving the upper teeth backwards. Metal bands are placed on the teeth in lower and upper jaws with a wire threaded through them so all the teeth are joined. Additionally metal piece with springs will be attached, so that each bite pushes the jaws and teeth to the right position. The Forsus appliance may cause some inconvenience and discomfort in the beginning and can make some problems while chewing.
What Is Palatal Expander And How It Helps?
Early orthodontic treatments are very important and can prevent serious dental problems in future. It is important to treat any orthodontic issues with your children in a young age, because this is the time when jaws are still growing. A Palatal expander appliance is used for a number of reasons, including problems related to crossbite and crowding, etc.
Palatal expander appliance is used for creating more space or room so that all the teeth can develop and come out properly. Smaller jaws can create problems where teeth can’t fit in. Palatal expander appliance consist of two parts and are custom-made for each child according to the requirement. These two parts are connected with a screw which needs to be adjusted or tightened every day, with a key. This pushes the palatal bones apart till they reach the desired position. The appliance is placed for a few months after the desired position is achieved.