Allsmiles

Once the almost-exclusive domain of teenagers, dental braces – or braces as they are commonly called – have become more widely used among pre-teen children and older adults in recent years as dentists have pushed their patients to have orthodontic problems corrected regardless of the stage of life.

Dental braces are implements that have traditionally been made of small pieces of metal wire, springs and brackets that are attached directly to the teeth. However, technology has progressed and braces that have a more natural look, and other less obvious implements have become more popular leading, at least in part, to the surge in use of dental braces across the spectrum of age demographics.

While many doctors are putting braces on adults – even in middle-age – to correct long ignored dental problems, it is still generally accepted that the best treatment results occur in children whose teeth are still growing. One of the main drawbacks to having braces as an adult is that the process takes significantly longer to correct problems.

Once properly adjusted, dental braces apply pressure to surrounding teeth in order to push them into proper alignment and improve the appearance of the patient’s smile. An orthodontist may recommend dental braces to correct overbites, or underbites, crooked or crowded teeth, misaligned teeth or jaw position, improperly aligned or ‘bad’ bite and Temperomandibular Joint problems.

The causes of these conditions are many and varied. However, trauma from an injury can obviously cause dental problems that would require braces for treatment. In addition, activities such as extended thumb sucking, pacifier use and ‘tongue-thrusting’ can cause the upper teeth to protrude over the bottom teeth. If baby teeth fall out too soon, the prolonged gap that remains until adult teeth eventually come in can allow adjacent teeth to spread out or grow crooked in the space. In some cases, this can even prevent the adult tooth from coming in at all.

Aside from obvious cosmetic benefits to dental braces, properly aligned and straightened teeth can improve speech, aid in digestion (because food will be chewed more properly before swallowing) and cut down on wear and tear of enamel surfaces.

Children should have an orthodontic examination by the age of 7 to identify potential problems and establish a treatment plan to be carried out during adolescence and teenage years. A proper orthodontic evaluation should involve X-rays, intra-oral and facial photographs and impressions of the teeth made with dental putty. Only then, can an orthodontist obtain a complete picture and offer a valid diagnosis.

The use of dental braces as a corrective measure is usually a two-part process. In the initial stage, the braces are installed to forcibly correct specific dental problems. Once the teeth have been properly corrected, the patient is usually fitted with a retainer or non-fixed brace that is worn only at certain times – overnight for example.

In addition to traditional braces, treatment alternatives include Invisalign-type braces that use clear plastic pieces to achieve the same effect and other partial braces that target specific areas while leaving the remainder of the mouth untouched. These options, while effective for many people, especially those with minor conditions, are not for everyone. Alternatives to traditional braces should be considered only in regard to a specific condition and only when recommended by an orthodontist as practical and able to correct the diagnosed problem.