Ask the Warrior Dentist:  -  The Changing Face of Orthodontics

A generation ago the term “dental braces” or “orthodontics” conjured up images of pieces of shining, metal reflecting light off a teenagers smile.  

Today’s braces are far more aesthetic as well as far more efficient than those braces from years ago.  They are also more comfortable and better designed.

More choices exist today for orthodontics as well.  Dental appliances are being used on children at an earlier age to correct problems or to simplify later treatments and help provide a better outcome.

Over four million people in the United States wear braces or other orthodontic appliances.  About one fifth of these people are adults.  With the advances in orthodontics and the aesthetics of appliances more adults are taking advantage of this form of dental care to improve their looks and correct dental problems that have been bothering them their entire lives.

Orthodontics help both children and adults not only with achieving a beautiful smile but with dental health as well.  For instance, overcrowded teeth can cause problems with brushing and flossing creating the perfect breeding ground for cavity-causing bacteria and plaque.  Braces can also correct bite problems that could hamper eating and create a greater risk for gum and bone problems.  Bite problems, left uncorrected, can also make chewing difficult and put stress on the jawbone, producing pain.  
Braces, retainers, and other orthodontic appliances are classified as medical devices and as such are regulated by the Food and Drug administration.   This is to help assure their safety and effectiveness.  Any new or innovative orthodontic device or material must be approved by the FDA before it comes on the market or is used in general orthodontic procedure.  This includes the plastics, wires, bonding agents colors and dyes used.  Even so, you should let your orthodontist know if you feel you are having any adverse reaction to any orthodontic appliance.
Invisalign, as alternative to braces was cleared by the FDA to straighten teeth in older teens and adults.  The overall purpose of Invisalign is the same as that of traditional braces in that it seeks to gently move teeth into their proper position.  Invisalign uses a series of clear removable aligners instead of wires and brackets. An orthodontist takes impressions of the teeth and sends these models to the maker of Invisalign. The company uses a computer-generated simulation of the desired movement of the teeth to custom-make the aligners for each patient. Each aligner is worn for about two weeks. The aligners are removable for eating, brushing, and flossing which is a great advantage over the non-removable braces.  For some people, a combination of braces and Invisalign is successful, requiring less time in traditional braces.  The Invisalign procedure was not developed for young children or people with severe dental mis-alignment.  If you feel this might be appropriate for you, just ask your dentist on your next visit.
Since most people do not have naturally straight teeth it’s a great thing that orthodontics has so vastly improved in recent times making orthodontic care even more of a viable, aesthetic and effective solution for achieving a beautiful and healthy smile.