Dental Care: Braces

Are you getting braces and have no idea what to expect? Maybe you had braces before and need them again? Or perhaps as an adult you are “finally getting your teeth done.” Whatever your situation, you are not alone; millions of people, including adults, wear braces.

As a matter of fact, more people over age 30 are getting braces today than ever before. There is no age limit for braces. As long as you have good periodontal health, braces can be used to straighten your teeth and correct your bite.

To better understand why braces are needed, let’s talk about teeth. Your first teeth probably came in when you were about six months old, and you most likely had all 20 of them by age three. During your childhood, these ‘baby’ teeth fell out one by one, and were replaced by permanent, adult teeth. A complete set consists of 32 teeth, including four “wisdom teeth.”

Your teeth all grow out of the same place; from within the jawbones, which are surrounded by the gums. Some people’s teeth grow out from the gums at the right angle and with the right spacing, but many people’s teeth don’t. Some teeth may grow in crooked or overlapping; others may grow in twisted or rotated.

Some people’s mouths are too small, crowding the teeth and causing them to shift into crooked positions. In some cases, a person’s upper and lower jaw isn’t the same size. When the lower half of the jaw is too small, it makes the upper jaw hang over when the jaw is shut, resulting in a condition called an overbite. When the opposite happens, it’s called an underbite.

All of these types of disorders go by one medical name: malocclusion, which is Latin for ‘bad bite.’ In most cases, a bad bite isn’t anyone’s fault and is often an inherited trait. However, malocclusion can be a problem because it interferes with proper chewing. Chewing is the first part of eating and digestion, and it’s important that teeth can do the job. Crooked teeth that aren’t aligned properly don’t work as well as straight ones. They can also be harder to brush and keep clean, which can lead to tooth decay and cavities.

When braces are needed, dentists refer patients to an orthodontist. Orthodontists are dentists with special training in the diagnosis and treatment of misaligned teeth and jaws. The orthodontist will first take x-rays, photographs, and impressions. Special x-rays taken from 360 degrees around the head show the relationships of the teeth to the jaws and the jaws to the head. Once a diagnosis is made, the orthodontist can decide on the right kind of treatment, which, in most cases, is braces.

Braces straighten teeth by doing two very important things: they stay in place for an extended amount of time and exert steady pressure. This combination allows braces to successfully change the arrangement of teeth in a person’s mouth.

In many cases, the patient can choose which kinds of braces are used. Some braces are made of a lightweight metal and go around each tooth, while other metal ones are attached to the outside surfaces of the teeth with special glue. Clear braces can be attached to the outside surfaces of the teeth, as can ceramic ones that are the same color as teeth. Some patients can get the newer ‘mini-braces’, which are much smaller, or ‘invisible braces’ which are affixed to the inside surfaces of the teeth.

Once the braces are put on, they usually remain on the teeth for anywhere from six months to two years. During this time, the orthodontist must make sure the braces exert steady pressure. To achieve this, the patient must go for regular visits, usually once a month. The orthodontist will attach wires, springs, or rubber bands to the braces to create more tension and pressure on the teeth.

Some adjustments may make your mouth feel a bit sore or uncomfortable because the tension tends to make itself felt in more places than your teeth. Most of the time, taking ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help. If you have a lot of pain after your braces are adjusted, talk to your orthodontist about it.

Some people with braces find that they are more prone to canker sores caused from the braces hitting the inside of the mouth. If this happens, there are over-the-counter medications that can be placed directly on the canker sore to help with healing.

Braces, wires, springs, and rubber bands can act like magnets for food and plaque, which can leave permanent stains on the teeth if not brushed away. Most orthodontists recommend brushing after meals with fluoride toothpaste and taking special care to remove food stuck in the braces. Some orthodontists will prescribe or recommend a fluoride mouthwash, which can get into places that a toothbrush can’t.

It may take a while, but with the right combination and timing of wires, springs, and rubber bands, the teeth will slowly but surely move into their correct positions. When you’re feeling frustrated about having a face full of braces, just remember that no matter what, your braces will come off eventually, and you will be left with a wonderful, straight smile!