How Orthodontic Treatment Works.
Teeth are moved by placing gentle, controlled forces on them, as the orthodontist uses “appliances” such as braces or clear aligners to guide them to their ideal positions over a period of time. Tooth movement happens because of the breakdown and rebuilding of bone tissue.
At the end of “active” treatment (when teeth are being moved), patients will wear retainers to give the new bone a chance to harden and support the new positions of the teeth.
It’s truly a complex biological process, and orthodontists master the multi-faceted intricacies of orthodontic treatment through years of study, including four years of dental school followed by two-to-three years of education in an accredited orthodontic residency program.
What kinds of “appliances” are there?
Braces
The most common appliance used is orthodontic treatment. Fortunately, they have come a long way. Basically, braces have two parts: brackets and wires. Wires move the teeth; brackets serve as stationary handles to hold the wires.
Contemporary braces can be:
- Stainless steel
- Tooth-colored ceramic
Bracket are affixed directly to teeth. Wires are threaded through slots in the brackets. The wires are held in place by tiny rubber bands “Ligatures” and come in a huge assortment of colors.
Clear Aligners
People sometimes call clear aligners “invisible braces.” They are made of a transparent plastic-like material. They are made to fit the patient’s teeth at different stages of their treatment. Each set of aligners is worn for 1-3 weeks, at least 22 hours a day, before moving on to the next set. Each set is engineered to move the teeth incrementally, per the orthodontist’s treatment plan, until the desired alignment is reached. Tooth-colored attachments on the teeth will help aligners move teeth properly. Some, but not all, kinds of orthodontic problems can be successfully treated with clear aligners.
Which treatment is fastest?
Thanks to advances in technology, just about every type of treatment is relatively fast. Dr. Shaw will recommend the type that is best suited to correcting your individual orthodontic problem in the most efficient manner possible.
To make treatment go as quickly as possible:
- Follow your orthodontist’s instructions on brushing and flossing.
- See your dentist for a professional cleaning at least every six months during orthodontic treatment.
- Watch what you eat if you have braces – avoid hard, sticky, and crunchy foods. Opt for foods that are soft and easy to chew.
- Wear your elastics (rubber bands) as instructed.
- Keep scheduled appointments with your orthodontist.
Which treatment is best?
The best treatment is the kind performed by an AAO Orthodontist who has a minimum of 3,700 hours (2 or more years) in an orthodontic residency after 4 years of dental school. Orthodontic treatment is a customized professional service performed and monitored by a highly-educated healthcare professional. Orthodontic treatment is not a product. Moving teeth and aligning jaws requires a comprehensive knowledge of the biological and physiological processes at play to safely and predictably move teeth into new, healthy positions. The type of treatment (such as braces or aligners) or brand of appliance is less important than the knowledge and skill of the individual who performs your treatment.
