Some Question-Answers About Orthodontics

Before you decide to visit an orthodontist, there must be many questions in your mind. Here are some questions you may ask and their answers may help you.

1. What is orthodontic?
Orthodontics, colloquially speaking, is the alignment of irregular teeth. But for the professional orthodontist, the goal of orthodontic treatment is beauty, health, function and stability. Beauty is to straighten out the disordered teeth, improve your face profile, and make you have a beautiful smile. Health means maintaining the health of your periodontal tissues such as teeth and gums through orthodontic treatment, as well as enhancing your self-confidence and keeping you mentally healthy. Function, which means improving your chewing function through orthodontic treatment so that you can eat when you want. Stability is to maintain the results of orthodontic treatment and avoid relapse.

2.Who can have orthodontic treatment?
Orthodontic treatments are available for both children and adults. In theory, there is no age limit for orthodontic tooth movement, meaning that people of any age can receive orthodontic treatment. Orthodontic treatment can not only give you a charming smile, but also prevent gum receding, bleeding, loose teeth, premature loss and other diseases. Because disordered teeth are an important cause of these diseases.

3.When do you get orthodontic treatment?
For different types of dental and maxillary deformities, the optimal age for treatment is different. For patients with or will lead to serious bone deformities of the face, such as anti-Jaw, serious protrusion, lip biting, finger sucking and other bad habits, should be corrected as soon as possible. For those with irregular teeth, it is best to wait until the permanent teeth stage after all the baby teeth have been replaced (about 12 years of age).
Adult orthodontic treatment is mainly to solve aesthetic problems, while improving the overall oral health conditions. There is never a time limit to having a winning, confident smile.

4.How long does orthodontic treatment take?
The expected course of orthodontic treatment is about 2 years. But the degree of deformity varies from patient to patient, and so does the length of treatment. As long as you work well with the orthodontist, make regular visits, maintain good oral hygiene, and protect the appliance from damage, the time of orthodontic treatment will be greatly reduced.

5.What do you do when you first visit an orthodontist?
The first time you visit an orthodontist you can ask anything you want to know. Your doctor will give you a detailed clinical examination, and then draw up a general treatment plan, estimating the length of treatment and the cost. If both doctors and patients agree that treatment is necessary, the doctor will take a dental mold and allow you to take the necessary photographs and X-rays. Finally, the orthodontist will make an appointment for your next visit. (Remember to return to the doctor on time!)

6. Is orthodontic treatment painful?
Modern orthodontic therapy has taken many steps to make orthodontic patients feel more comfortable. These methods include: making the brackets smaller and smoother; Improve the orthodontic treatment arch wire, so that it can produce sustained, gentle orthodontic force. Generally, there will be 2-3 days of discomfort after each return visit and straining of the arch wire. But you don’t need to take any pain relievers.

7. Will orthodontic treatment hurt the teeth or body?
It won’t. Tooth movement is the gradual physical movement of the tooth within the alveolar bone using gentle and continuous mechanical force, which is accomplished by trained orthodontists. The tooth movement rate is about 1 mm/month. Therefore, there will be no damage to the teeth and bones. However, it cannot be ruled out that there are unfortunate patients with damaged teeth and periodontal tissues among the “masterpieces” of untrained heirloom dentists or general stomatologists.

8. Who is an orthodontist?
As orthodontics is a highly professional work, orthodontists are specialists. He must first be an orthodontist, and then after two to three years of professional theoretical and technical training to become an orthodontist. The orthodontic Committee of the Stomatological Association has made clear provisions on this issue. Therefore, it is recommended that we must go to the dental hospital orthodontic treatment.