Orthodontics

Orthodontics is a specialty in dental medicine that takes care of the diagnosis, prevention and correction of various problems with teeth and jaws.

Includes the placement of various types of braces, dental splints, dental liners or orthodontic elastics.

The main task of the orthodontist is to improve the functions of the maxillofacial area, as well as the general dental and oral health.

Many of our patients have a problem with the bite or the arrangement of the teeth, which makes them uncomfortable when communicating with others. This is the main task of the orthodontic examination, to examine the processes and changes associated with the growth and development of the maxillofacial structures.

The basis of orthodontic treatment is to restore the correct arrangement of the teeth in both the upper and lower jaw, thus improving the functionality of the bite.

Very often, the need for orthodontic treatment is necessary, both for aesthetic and functional reasons and in most cases in a combination of both.

Tooth loss, prolonged thumb sucking in little children, prolonged use of a pacifier, diseases such as Marfan's syndrome, Prider-Willi syndrome, or defects in the development of the jaw, are just some of the reasons that can create problems with the bite and impose the need for orthodontic treatment.

Stages of orthodontic treatment:

Before installing an orthodontic appliance, your orthodontist should prepare a treatment plan for you to follow during the treatment period.

The implementation of the plan itself begins with the placement of a removable appliance, gluing braces or fixing another non-removable orthodontic appliance.
After this step, you should strictly follow all prophylactic visits to your orthodontist to avoid unwanted complications during treatment.

During the prophylactic control visits the following are monitored:

• adjustment of the wire elements and/or the plastic part of the lingual plate, depending on the requirements of the healing process;
• adjustment of the wire elements and/or the plastic part of the functional devices;
• change in the construction of the device according to the treatment plan by repairing the existing or making a new device;
• inspection and adjustment of the extraoral apparatus;
• when using a fixed technique:
• activation of the arc placed in braces;
• placement of additional elements;
• change of the operating arc;
• appropriate bends of the acting arc;
• placing elastics to correct the position of single teeth or the proportions of the jaws;
• placement of additional devices as part of the overall treatment with fixed equipment;
• control of oral hygiene and the condition of the periodontal soft tissues;
• instructions for carrying and activating the devices.

Oral hygiene when using orthodontic appliances:

With fixed appliances (braces) - brushing teeth must be observed in the morning and evening. If you do not have the opportunity to brush your teeth immediately after eating, the least you can do is rinse your mouth well with water so that you will remove large food residues between the teeth and around braces.

It is good to brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day (morning and evening).

Special brushes with V-shaped bristles are used, making it easier to clean the tooth surfaces on which brackets are glued.

It is important to note that orthodontic appliances create additional prerequisites for retaining food debris and plaque. When they are not removed, it leads to demineralization (superficial destruction), caries, gingivitis (inflammation of the gums).

Methods for cleaning orthodontic appliances:

The removable appliance is carefully washed with a brush and paste on all surfaces. Pay special attention to the areas around the plastic's body elements and the plastic surfaces that are in contact with the mucous membranes and chewing surfaces of the teeth.

Methods for brushing teeth:

• The outer surfaces of the teeth: place the brush at an angle of 45 degrees to the gum line and gently wash them with a swirling motion from the gums to the edge of the teeth;
• Internal surfaces: with short movements of the brush-up and down clean the front teeth and with a rotary movement the back teeth;
• Chewing surfaces: place the brush on them and wash them gently back and forth;
• Additional cleaning: cleaning can be completed with floss - carefully run the floss up and down the teeth' side surfaces several times.

Modern orthodontic methods provide several possibilities for the correction of deformations and discrepancies in the position and arrangement of teeth, dentitions, jaws, and the proportions of dentitions and jawbones.
One of the main prerequisites for achieving the desired result is maintaining good oral hygiene during treatment.

Why is it important to brush your teeth well?

Dental plaque is a sticky, gelatinous bacterial mass that forms on teeth.
The plaque consists of microorganisms, saliva components, peeled cells from the oral mucosa, and specific carbohydrates. It is invisible to the naked eye but collected from the tooth surface contains an average of about 170,000,000 live bacteria in one gram.