ADULT ORTHODONTICS
Treatment targeting post adolescent patients (18-60 age group)
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Adult orthodontic treatment is the one that is specially targeting post- adolescent patients.It also includes tooth movement carried out to facilitate other dental procedures necessary to control disease and restore function.It has been the fastest growing area in orthodontics in recent years.Advances in orthodontics have also made treatment more comfortable and less noticeable than ever for individuals of all ages. Many of today’s treatment options are designed to minimize the appearance of the appliance to better fit any lifestyle.
The biggest difference in orthodontics for adults vs. children/teens is that adults are no longer growing. Adult treatment may take slightly longer than treatment for children/teens with a similar problem due to the maturity and density of the bone adults have. Some medications, and habits like smoking, clenching or grinding teeth, or tongue thrust, can affect the outcome of treatment. It’s common for orthodontists to work with a patient’s family dentist to coordinate care. For some adults to reach optimal dental health, the dentist and orthodontist may need to call in other dental specialists such as oral surgeons, periodontists and endodontists.
Almost 50% of adults, have mild, moderate or severe gum disease. People may be unaware that they have gum disease because it does not hurt. The mildest form of gum disease is gingivitis. Untreated gum disease, or gingivitis, can get worse and become periodontitis as plaque spreads below the gums line. As the disease progresses, it progresses to advanced periodontitis. As unnerving as gum disease can be, it can be avoided. Teeth that are properly aligned are less prone to gum disease.
I have some crowns. Can my teeth be moved?
Yes. Teeth with crowns can be moved.
Not these days. Among the choices are braces, which consist of brackets and wires, and, for some people, clear aligners.
Yes. But “clear braces” can mean different things to different people. Some people use the term “clear braces” when referring to aligners. Aligners aren’t braces in the traditional sense, but they are able to move teeth, too. If an orthodontist uses the term “clear braces,” he/she is probably talking about braces that have brackets made of a tooth-colored (ceramic) material.
In addition to “clear” braces mentioned above (ceramic braces), there are braces made with metal brackets. But even metal brackets come with options. Braces can be made of stainless steel or ceramic.
Your orthodontist was referring to self-ligating braces. They have a clip that is build into the bracket, and the clip holds the wire to the bracket.”
Some adults are able to use ceramic braces to move teeth successfully. The brackets are tooth-colored, so are less visible to others. Not all kinds of orthodontic problems can be corrected with ceramic braces. If they are of interest, talk to your orthodontist about whether they are right for you. Ceramic braces can be self-ligating, or can require conventional ties to hold the wire in the bracket slot. Sometimes adults have a combination of ceramic and metal braces. Again, speak to your orthodontist about what will work for you.
The best treatment is the kind performed by an orthodontist, who is a specialist straightening teeth and jaws for patients of all ages. Orthodontists regularly use the wide variety of treatment options available, and can help you find the treatment option that will correct your individual orthodontic problem and complement your lifestyle.
FMS orthodontists make use of the full range of orthodontic appliances – not just one or two – to get you a great outcome in the shortest possible amount of time. Based on his/her specialty education in orthodontics and clinical experience, the orthodontist will recommend the treatment option he/she believes is the best fit for you and your lifestyle while straightening your teeth. Here are five tips to make your treatment go as quickly as possible:
For some adults, orthodontic treatment alone cannot fully correct their orthodontic problem. They may also need surgery in combination with orthodontic treatment to achieve a functional, healthy bite. Surgical orthodontics, also called orthognathic surgery, is corrective jaw surgery performed to remedy skeletal problems that affect the ability to bite, chew and speak. Orthodontic treatment is done before and after surgery so that upper and lower teeth meet appropriately, and the individual is able to more effectively bite, chew, and speak.
Surgical orthodontics may be necessary for someone whose upper and lower jaws, which hold the teeth, are out of position. Consequently, the upper and lower teeth don’t fit, impairing the ability to bite, chew or speak. Your orthodontist will work in conjunction with an oral and maxillofacial surgeon to position your jaws and teeth for optimal function.
Unlike children, adults are no longer growing, so the only way to modify the size or shape of an adult’s jaw bones is through surgery.
Sometimes the root cause is genetic – as you were growing, your upper and lower jaws grew out of proportion to each other, and that can keep upper and lower teeth from meeting as they should, making it hard to bite, chew or speak. Other causes can be linked to birth defects or injuries to the jaw or environmental causes.
Orthodontic treatment usually comes before surgical orthodontics. The purpose is to align teeth so that they fit correctly after surgery is performed. Orthodontic treatment continues for a time after surgery to bring teeth into their final, optimal positions for good function.
Surgical orthodontics is generally recommended for adults who have a severe problem with the positions of their teeth and jaws that cannot be corrected by orthodontic treatment alone. Sometimes surgical orthodontics may be needed for those whose jaws are injured in an accident, or to correct a birth defect.
For correction of misaligned jaws and teeth that are the result of a growth problem, surgical orthodontics is performed on patients who have finished growing.
It is highly unlikely that surgery alone can correct both misaligned teeth and misaligned jaws. Orthodontic treatment is necessary to ensure teeth are in the right positions within the jaws
Surgery is performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, who works in conjunction with your orthodontist. The two specialists work as a team to design and execute your plan of care.
Patients seeking esthetic dental treatment today desire to enhance their appearance for an improved quality of life and better self-esteem. To achieve overall esthetic smile interdisciplinary treatment approach plays a very important part that offers a more comprehensive approach to diagnosis and treatment planning as well as better treatment outcomes.
Adjunctive orthodontic treatment involves tooth movement designed to enhance the success of other dental procedures necessary for the control of disease and to restore function. If existing tooth positions make it impossible or difficult to insert dental restorations, then orthodontic treatment should become part of the treatment plan.
1)Implant space management using braces or aligners
2)correction of crooked teeth for veneers or laminates in smile designing
3)Restoring gum function following orthodontic treatment.
4)Establishing right bite in patients having clicking sounds.
