Orthodontic Treatment
Orthodontic treatment is a special type of dentistry concerned with correcting the position of crooked teeth, to enhance your smile and your face. Orthodontics is more than cosmetic dental treatment. It can improve biting, chewing and breathing, reduced tooth wear and improved cleansing of teeth, as well as a big boost to your self-confidence.
Those days are gone when a metal band with a bracket was placed around each tooth. You can now choose from brackets that are clear or metallic, and in some cases, the colour of your appliance. Wires are far less noticeable, and the latest materials are designed to move teeth faster with more comfort. Today, any age is a great age to wear braces!
At Blue Tooth Dental, all available methods to obtain straight teeth are discussed, and we will give you unbiased advice about the limitations and advantages of different treatment methods for your case.
Duration of Treatment
Treatment time varies and can last between one and three years, depending on several factors including age, treatment method, and how minor or severe your case is. A big factor to a successful treatment is you, the patient! The more involved and diligent you are, the quicker and more efficient your treatment will be. For children, receiving interceptive, or early treatment can also help provide a quicker treatment time.
Before beginning your orthodontic treatment, Dr Faraz will discuss all your options and provide an estimate for how long your full treatment may take.
Fixed Orthodontic Treatment
Fixed orthodontics usually starts after the eruption of all permanent teeth are completed at the age of 12 or over. This system is equally as effective in Adults as in kids, however, the older you are the slower your teeth would move.
At Blue Tooth Dental, we use The Controlled Arch System, which is an orthodontic system that looks like traditional braces. It is what you can’t see behind the teeth that makes all the difference which allows this system to be so effective and unique. Below are some of the benefits of The Controlled Arch System:
- It can be more predictable than other systems.
- It works perfectly for both adults and teenagers.
- Protects your jaw joints and can improve their functionality.
- Eliminates the need for teeth removal
- Prevents a gummy smile in children and, in most cases treats this condition in adults
- Improves airway function and in some cases, it can be the treatment for snoring and sleep apnoea.
Dr Faraz at Blue Tooth Dental will complete a full dental examination, including x-rays, photos, and impressions of your teeth. Dr Faraz will use all that information to design the most effective treatment plan that suits your needs.
Functional Orthodontic Appliances
Functional orthodontic appliances use your muscle force and your neuromuscular responses to correct the position of your jaw. There are different types of functional orthodontic appliances
Removable growth guidance appliance
In young children, removable appliances (also known as ‘orthodontic plates’) can sometimes be used to improve the arrangement of teeth, by harnessing and gently guiding the growth of the young jawbones. The use of these appliances in some cases may reduce the length of treatment with fixed braces or eliminate the need for braces later in a child’s life.
Removable growth guidance appliance is usually used for children between 6 to 9 years old. The patient must use this for about 8 to 12 months. After this period, a third of children won’t need orthodontic treatments but some need a maximum of 8 months of fixed treatment after they have reached age 12.
Fixed growth guidance appliance
A fixed growth guidance appliance must be cemented on the upper teeth for 3 to 8 months and can be used for anyone above age 9. For severe cases, we may need a longer period.
Palatal expansion appliance
A palatal expansion appliance is a fix appliance that is used in the very narrow upper jaw to expand it sideways.
Invisalign
Invisalign uses a series of removable clear plastic aligners to achieve orthodontic corrections without braces. For patients who have mild to moderate teeth mal-alignment. these clear invisible aligners come in handy.
Invisalign allows you to visualise your treatment before you start, using simulation- This means there will be no unexpected outcomes and you can see detailed three dimensional images of how straight your teeth will look and how long treatment should take.
The length of treatment depends on the treatment aims and how much tooth movement is required, but the treatment duration is usually longer than braces. Invisalign is nearly invisible – and removable – you can eat and drink what you want in treatment; you can also brush and floss normally to maintain good oral hygiene.
At Blue Tooth Dental, Dr Faraz is an accredited Invisalign provider.
How does Invisalign Treatment Work?
This system consists of removable aligners that are custom-made for you and must be placed on teeth respectively – each for about two weeks, at least 20 hours each day – and they fix the teeth gradually during this period. Total treatment time averages 9-15 months and the average number of aligners worn during treatment is between 18 and 30, but both will vary from case to case. The aligners are virtually invisible and fit snugly over your teeth.
Each aligner shifts your teeth slightly, moving them horizontally and vertically and even rotating them when needed. Your aligners are engineered to use the right amount of force in the right place at the right time. When you change to the next set of aligners, your teeth gradually move into position, following a custom treatment plan mapped out by your dentist.
Treatment Process
At your initial consultation, Dr. Faraz will discuss your needs and evaluate whether Invisalign treatment is right for you. Then Dr. Faraz will take impressions of your teeth and map out a precise treatment plan, including the exact movements of your teeth and how long your treatment will be. You’ll even get to see how your teeth will move and preview your new smile.
Your custom-made aligners are virtually invisible, so most people won’t even notice you’re wearing them during your teeth straightening. Wear your Invisalign clear aligners 20 to 22 hours a day for the best results, taking them out to eat and to brush and floss. As you wear each set of aligners, your teeth will gently and gradually shift into place. Your doctor may recommend that you begin wearing a new set of aligners every week and schedule check-ups every six weeks or so. At every stage, you’ll be able to see your progress and imagine how far your new smile will take you.
Living with Invisible Aligners
The aligners are easily removable, so you can continue to brush and floss your teeth as you normally would. Cleaning your aligners is just as easy. You can simply brush and rinse them in lukewarm water. You’ll also remove the aligners each time you eat. This means you can continue to eat all the foods you love without any restrictions or worrying about food getting stuck in your wires and brackets.
Retainers
After your braces are removed or your clear aligner treatment is completed, you will have a permanent retainer cemented onto the inner side of your teeth and you will be issued with a removable retainer to wear during the night, to make sure your teeth do not move back into their original position.
Contact Blue Tooth Dental today and one of our friendly staff members will be more than happy to assist you with your orthodontic treatment.
