Orthodontics

What is Orthodontics?

Orthodontics is a branch of dental care that significantly enhances the beauty of your smile. This treatment method focuses on correcting the alignment of teeth in the upper and lower jaws. Through orthodontic treatment, one can achieve a proper dental arch and orderly arrangement of teeth. Not only is orthodontics a therapeutic approach, but it also enhances facial aesthetics. If your teeth are misaligned or your jaws do not fit together correctly, orthodontics can easily rectify these issues. It also helps improve speech and chewing problems. The duration of orthodontic treatment varies based on individual dental conditions and the severity of misalignment.

Types of Orthodontics

Orthodontic treatments are generally categorized into two types: fixed and removable.

Fixed Orthodontics:

  • Lingual Orthodontics
  • Damon Orthodontics
  • Metal and Ceramic Braces

Removable Orthodontics:

  • Hawley Retainers
  • Z-Spring Retainers
  • Bite Plate Braces
  • Invisible Braces

Invisible Orthodontics

Invisible orthodontics is one of the newest and most appealing methods for aligning teeth and enhancing smile aesthetics. This technique combines science and art to align teeth using clear, virtually invisible plastic aligners. With the advent of this method, individuals who were previously concerned about the appearance of metal wires and brackets during treatment began their orthodontic journey. Clear aligners, such as Invisalign, are transparent dental trays that gradually move and align the teeth without being noticeable. This method is suitable for individuals from the age of 10–11, during the period of losing milk teeth, to adulthood.

History of Invisible Orthodontics

In 1945, an American orthodontist named Harold D. Kesling invented a custom-designed removable device made of rubber to speed up traditional orthodontic treatments. This device was a precursor to today’s clear aligners. The first clear aligner system was developed in 1993 by John Sheridan, an American orthodontist, as the Essix retainer, which is still in use today. In 1997, two Stanford University students, Zia Chishti and Kelsey Worth, invented the world’s first comprehensive clear aligner system, known as Invisalign.

Required Documents

  • OPG X-ray
  • Cephalometric X-ray
  • Clear, standard intraoral and extraoral photographic images
  • Oral Scan

Clear Aligner Treatment Steps

Tooth movement in clear aligners is achieved using different thicknesses of transparent orthodontic trays. These trays are replaced every ten days to three weeks, with each set having slight differences to progressively move the teeth according to the treatment plan designed in specialized software. The duration of the treatment largely depends on patient compliance.

Clear Aligner Design and Manufacturing Process

The patient’s oral scan file or a digital 3D mold is reconstructed using specialized orthodontic software. Under the supervision of an expert orthodontist, a digital treatment plan is created, predicting each step until the teeth are completely aligned. The number of treatment stages varies based on the patient’s dental structure, and the exact number of stages can be determined once the treatment plan is finalized in the software. For each treatment stage, the patient’s casts are produced using 3D printers, and the corresponding transparent trays are made using a vacuum former.

Advantages of Clear Aligners

  • They are virtually invisible in the mouth during treatment.
  • They are very easy to use.
  • They impose no specific restrictions.
  • They are removable, allowing patients to take them out while eating, drinking, playing, or brushing teeth.
  • They are easy to clean.
  • Cleaning teeth is much easier for those using clear aligners compared to fixed metal braces.
  • The treatment period is shorter.
  • They are ideal for individuals planning to relocate, as they require fewer visits than fixed braces.

Disadvantages of Clear Aligners

  • They are not suitable for very complex misalignments.
  • Patients may sometimes forget to wear them since they can be removed independently.
  • Improper care can lead to the breaking of the transparent trays.

Important Considerations for Clear Aligners

  • Aligners usually fit comfortably but may cause slight discomfort at the beginning of each stage.
  • Brush your teeth after every meal to prevent food particles from getting trapped in the aligners, which can cause bacterial growth in the confined space.
  • Remove the aligners while eating.
  • Brush and floss before wearing them.
  • Avoid consuming colored and hot beverages like tea and coffee while using aligners.
  • Do not use denture tablets for cleaning aligners.
  • Avoid placing aligners on colored surfaces.
  • Store aligners in their protective case when not in use to prevent damage.
  • Drink water frequently to maintain oral and aligner cleanliness.
  • Clean aligners daily with a soft toothbrush and cold water.
  • Keep dental molds clean, washing them with cold water or a soft toothbrush.
  • Wear aligners for at least 22 hours a day to ensure effective and timely treatment.
  • Contact your orthodontist immediately if an aligner is damaged, and use the previous aligner to maintain alignment.
  • Contact your orthodontist if an attachment comes off, and continue wearing the aligner until it is reattached.