In the last 40 years, many people have had braces or orthodontic treatment. There are various dental specialties in dentistry - one of the dental fields in dentistry is called Orthodontics. The specialized dentists that provide orthodontic treatment are called Orthodontists. When getting orthodontics, it use to be that people would get some kind of dental braces.
Now, there are other options for people to use to get straighter teeth, such as dental aligners. It is estimated that somewhere around 40 or 45% of people could use some kind of orthodontic treatment, to achieve straighter teeth or to correct the bite alignment for their teeth. Braces are not only for teenagers anymore. Nowadays, there are many more adults in their 20s or 30s getting braces or some kind of clear aligner treatment.
Many people with misaligned teeth / crooked teeth - have had an orthodontic treatment done by an orthodontist.
Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics / Orthodontics Treatment Dentists - known as Orthodontists are one of the branches of dentistry that looks to correct teeth and jaws that are positioned improperly. This orthodontics practice of dentistry includes the treatment of malocclusion of teeth. Crooked teeth, not aligned teeth, and teeth that do not come together correctly are harder to keep clean - which makes them at risk of being lost earlier than normal due to tooth decay and periodontal disease. That is, when have crooked or crowded teeth, it may put more wear and tear on your teeth & jaw muscles. This stress on chewing muscles can cause or lead to headaches, neck problems, and possibly TMJ syndrome. Of course, TMJ is due to many reasons, including from a lot of social stress, people who grind their teeth while sleeping, and various jaw issues.
Some people may be having orthodontics treatment to improve their bite - be able to chew better. Esthetics or improving the way our teeth look when smiling is another big factor why many people get orthodontic treatment. Crooked teeth or teeth not in the right place can detract from one's appearance. Hence, many people will get braces to straighten their teeth.
Both general dentists and orthodontists can provide braces for adults and kids.
What age is best to start with getting braces and seeing an Orthodontist?
Can adults later in life get braces/orthodontics treatment in adults to chat:
Orthodontic Treatments such as Getting Braces can be done at various ages. For children, most dentists and orthodontists recommend somewhere between the age of 10 and older - with many recommending between the ages of 10 to 14, though some do recommend even later or earlier >> depending on the patient. For adults, many are getting or having braces in their mouths much later in life. Again, it depends on the patient and their overall dental condition (teeth crowding, etc.).
This will depend on the level of orthodontic treatment needed for the patient. A patient with a small gap in their front teeth or slight crowding will take less time. While someone with severe crowding and needing a lot of teeth alignment - may take much longer. Generally, it should be anywhere from 6 months to 24 months. With the average time being somewhere around a year. A good orthodontics question or local orthodontist question to ask your orthodontist is to ask - How long will my dental braces treatment take? How long will I need to be wearing braces? As an orthodontics patient, the more information you have about the ortho treatment plan - the better.
One area in orthodontics treatment that has made major inroads in bypassing braces - are the dental appliances many people know as clear aligners. One of the more popular clear aligner companies is Invisalign. There are other clear aligner / dental appliance companies other than Invisalign, though many consumers have heard of only maybe Invisalign. This type of treatment has its limitations - generally, works better for less degree of crowding or people with not a major amount of crowded teeth, etc. This treatment can be just as costly as braces. Best to get a thorough dental exam and proper dental X-rays to see what is the best option for the patient.
Dento and Facial - Teeth and Face orthopedics or dentofacial orthopedics is the process of helping the facial jaw bone growth to become proportional for patients. Orthodontists may use head gears or other types of dental appliances to guide the facial bone growth to be more proportionate. This can include correcting an overbite or underbite issue in the jaw - and may include general dentists, orthodontists, and oral surgeons working in conjunction with one another. This may include corrective jaw surgery or orthognathic surgery. We get asked many Orthognathic Surgery Questions at DentalChat. Looking for Orthodontics Answers - ask us your local orthodontics questions online at DentalChat.com.
Many dentists and orthodontists will take a ceph x-ray -- an cephalometric radiography of the head. The ceph x-ray takes craniofacial images of the head, jaw, and skull - providing dentists and orthodontists better imaging of the teeth and jaw. The Ceph machine was developed in the 1930s. It has become much more advanced with new digital technology.
There are many benefits to getting orthodontic treatment. This includes a healthier mouth, better bite, and a more pleasing appearance. Having crowded teeth can make it harder to floss and easier for food to get trapped in the teeth. Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics Information Discussion - Whether discussing Best Orthodontist Treatment Options Chat Online, Online Orthodontics Blog, Local Orthodontist Dental Specialty Blog, and How long braces treatment can take - we are discussing all dental specialties on DentalChat. We discuss Emergency Dental Care, Tooth Pain Chat, and Cosmetic Dental Care - as well as other dental topics on DentalChat.com. We welcome our user's dental feedback.