Orthodontics

The first step to begin an orthodontic treatment consists of a visit to the dentist’s practice, for a first assessment made by the orthodontist. During this session, depending on the age and existing orthodontic problem, you will be recommended to run a series of orthodontic investigations to develop a proper diagnosis and an efficient treatment plan. Investigations consist of x-rays (panoramic, cranium side or profile, and in the case of children, depending on age, x-ray of the left hand helping in establishing the particular growth time of the respective child and the type of treatment necessary depending on the growth), study models (plaster models) or orthodontic diagnosis images.

Dental appliance is the main treatment, which results in the correct positioning of the teeth and a perfect smile.

Types of orthodontic appliances – fixed appliances

Fixed orthodontic appliances are devices applied on teeth at the beginning of the treatment and which cannot be removed by the patient until completion of orthodontic therapy. As a result, one of their advantages is that a successful treatment does not depend on consistency of patients, as in the case of mobile appliances. Besides, they do alter at all neither the speech nor the phonation. It can be applied successfully in adults as well, allowing highly accurate teeth movements in all the three spatial angles. Most often, the duration of an active treatment is reduced as compared to movable devices.

As a conclusion, fixed appliances enable solving difficult cases, both in children and adults. Depending on the materials of brackets (“stars”) stuck to the teeth, they can be non-physiognomic (metallic) or physiognomic (ceramic, composite). Sometimes, after ending an active treatment and removal of the device, you may need contention (keeping) the results by means of other mobile devices. One of the most important aspects one should bear in mind as a fixed appliance holder is hygiene, which, unless properly maintained, may lead to gingivitis, occurrence of dental cavities.

Types of orthodontic appliances – mobile appliances

Mobile appliances, also called functional appliances, are devices that act on muscle activity, which they change in order to get the desired effects. They are indicated in some orthodontic abnormalities caused by abnormal action of a muscle group. They can be applied in temporary dentition, at early ages when there is a bad habit of sucking the finger which already caused the movement of front teeth.
They can also be applied in mixed dentition in similar cases, or in order to treat jaws deformed by an oral breathing, interposition of the lower lip behind upper front teeth. Control and activation of such devices are less often as compared to movable appliances. Results are directly proportional to the duration of device usage, the child’s cooperation having a decisive role. Although results are to be seen after longer periods, they are quite stable over time.

Types of orthodontic appliances – movable appliances

Movable appliances are devices indicated in the active treatment of orthodontic abnormalities in children and in the contention of results obtained after wearing a fixed device. They are devices that can be removed and put back into the oral cavity. Among their advantages are the good results if worn, the relatively low price as compared to fixed appliances, the possibility to fix them easily in the dental laboratory.

As disadvantages, it can be removed by the child, depending on the child’s cooperation, as the results obtained are directly proportional to the time of wearing them, also, they do not allow highly accurate dental movement as compared to fixed appliances.