Orthodontics The Myths and Facts Debunked

May 19, 2020, Pitner Orthodontics

Cosmetic dentistry is an area which in recent years has been explosively growing. Braces are today the most effective orthodontic corrective equipment known as fixed orthodontic devices.

Orthodontics can improve esthetic, durable, and cheaper rehabilitation treatments. Dentists can minimize the need for crowns, long bridges and fillings by aligning the teeth in their right position and on the right axis. Despite this progress, unfortunate myths remain, including the following, which distort the perception of orthodontics.

Sedation Dentistry and Orthodontics

Sedation dentistry can be a valuable tool for patient comfort. Patients who are scared of the dentist are often unable to get dental care in the traditional manner. There are many reasons why a patient may be nervous when they go to the dentist. Nervous patients can avoid going to the dentist for many years, which can cause serious problems with their teeth and gums.

Treatment with sedation dentistry can help address these concerns and make it possible for patients to have comfortable dental treatments. Sedation dentistry is also used as part of Invisalign treatment, where aligners are used to move teeth into place, much like braces.

Only kids and adolescents receive orthodontic therapy.

Orthodontic therapy can benefit patients of all ages, and you're never too old to have a smile. More and more adults are looking for braces and Invisalign treatment. Indeed, 27 percent of orthodontic patients in America are estimated to be adults. Orthodontic treatment is a health and wellness investment because straight teeth are not only cosmetic. Orthodontic treatment can make it easier to clean teeth so that gum disease and decadence are reduced, the function of chewing, speech, jaw pain, and pressures can improve your confidence, and more. The good news is that adults tend to be good candidates for aesthetic treatments such as Invisalign, hidden lingual braces, and clear braces.

I can straighten my teeth with my family dentist.

Some general dentists provide Invisalign and braces. If you have very, very mild cases, it is not recommended, and you won't have the training to handle moderate to severe malocclusions safely and efficiently while lightening up your teeth in your dentist. An orthodontic practitioner is a specialist who has finished dental school but then has been trained in orthodontic residency for two to three more years. Moving your teeth is complicated and orthodontic therapy permanently changes your anatomy, so a trained, qualified orthodontics expert  is essential to be considered. An orthodontist knows how to balance esthetics with function, which gives you incredible results and improves your oral health.

It will take years for orthodontic treatment.

Of course, treatment can take several years, sometimes if a patient has a complex problem. But that's not the case most of the time. This accuracy improves the treatment of efficiency. Many use advanced treatment options in our practice, including self-containing metal and clear braces, Incognito lingual braces, and Invisalign, which all have the ideal controlled force to move teeth quickly and efficiently.

Unnecessary visits to the office.

At-home lines that do not include visits to offices have become a large enterprise but pose serious risks. An experienced orthodontist must evaluate himself and receive a personalized treatment plan that takes into account your unique needs. Then, once treatment has begun, occasional visits to the office are essential for ensuring that your treatment stays on track, and it can monitor your teeth, gums, and jaws' health. If there is a problem, it can solve it quickly so that the treatment can finish on time.

Braces are voluminous and unattractive.

The braces of today are a long way from those of the past. Even traditional metal braces were made up of smaller brackets and thinner wires. Ligatures (the small elastic bindings or the metal-binding that secures wires to the brackets) do not require automatic straps to make the braces more straight and clear, blend into your smile. These braces go on your teeth, so they're totally invisible, so when you smile, nobody can see them at all. If you don't have brackets and wires, you can straighten up your teeth with Invisalign without braces. Smooth and precise are the alignments. Most people will not notice that you wear them.

The teeth can just be fixed on braces.

While fixed orthodontic braces are the standard because they are versatile and efficient, today, there are other malocclusion devices and technologies available in many forms and materials, such as metal, ceramic, plastic, and transparent. Colored or clear brackets are now available that are a lot more esthetic.

The lingual bracelet inside the teeth is also an option to install. While these wrists can lead to a transient lisp because they remain invisible in contact with the tongue, they are not suitable for severe cases, which are difficult to clean and costly.

The transparent plastic aligners called Invisalign can also be used to align teeth without braces. These are almost invisible, clear plastic aligners, admittedly an easier option to eat and drink whatever patients want. However, this alternative technology should be understood not to correct all kinds of malocclusions, let alone complex ones. 

The tighter the braces mean faster therapy.

Many think that the faster the braces tense, the faster the teeth move. Some patients even need devices to be tightened to speed up the treatment.

Conversely, some dentist needs to demand that the teeth respond optimally, not maximally. If the forces are too strong, they can destroy the tissue around your teeth, including the bone, the gingival ligament, and the periodontal ligament. Orthodontics is a delicate power balance; excess power can cause tooth movement in the wrong way.

If the strength is ideal, the tissue will react best, and the teeth move more quickly. It is a well-established principle in orthodontics that a dentist must continuously evaluate the proper strength of the teeth for wires, elasticity, coil springs, power chains, and so on.
 

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