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| 1. What is the right age of getting orthodontic treatment? |
A child is matured enough to undergo orthodontic treatment when his carries are erupting in the oral cavity. This is usually in between 9 to 10 years of age in the population, but orthodontic checkups may initiate as early as 6 years of age. Orthodontic counseling is imperative at these ages because orthodontists can suggest skeletal or growth discrepancy, if any, their intervention, and dietary counseling, etc. Timely intervention can minimize invasive treatment later.
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2. At 30-40 years or may be beyond could the orthodontic treatment be undertaken? |
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There is as such no age bar to undertake orthodontic treatment.
Orthodontists need only bone support and patient motivation and cooperation to insinuate his modality.
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| 3. How do I keep my teeth clean with the braces put? |
There is a special brush called an orthodontic brush which is available readily with any chemist shop which has a row of bristles in the center than there at the sides to accommodate the bracket in between. An interdental brush is also useful. |
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4. With the gap created in the teeth with advancing age be reduced with the orthodontic treatment? |
It will depend on the causative factor. If it is due to periodontal weakening (which in most cases is) that is due to poor oral hygiene then there is a first a need to keep the oral hygiene good as putting the braces and wires will only worsen the condition.
There are other causes for gap between the teeth and is dealt with depending upon the cause.
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| 5. What is the duration of orthodontic treatment? |
There is no fixed time duration of orthodontic treatment. It depends on various factors such as:
- Severity of malocclusion.
- The patient's
desire and motivation to undergo orthodontic treatment.
- Periodontal support.
Hence as the severity of malocclusion is more in most cases, the time required to correct it increases so the duration with advancing age as compared to that in a growing child.
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| 6. Is there any restriction of diet/food when the orthodontic treatment is going on? |
Any kind of hard and sticky food such as raw nuts, apples, raw carrots, chewing gum, and sticky éclairs, toffees should be avoided.
To emphasize, form of food to be changed rather than food itself e.g. cashew nut could be crushed, meat to be over boiled, etc.
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| 7. Will the teeth removed/extracted for orthodontic treatment are is going to come back? |
No the permanent teeth removed for the purpose of orthodontic treatment do not come back. The only purpose for the removal of teeth in orthodontic treatment is to create space which can be utilized for the retro-positioning of the anterior teeth.
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| 8. Why do the teeth become mobile during orthodontic treatment? |
Forces with various appliances are applied on the teeth for the orthodontic treatment because of which the bone adjacent to the teeth (in the direction in which the tooth is going to move)
gets reorganized. It needs to be emphasized that these are under physiological limits.
As our objectives are accomplished orthodontic appliances are removed and teeth are as firm and function normal to those teeth which have not got any orthodontic tooth movement. Care is to be taken that patients do not touch their teeth and advertently try to check for mobility, which can permanently harm the teeth.
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| 9. For how long after the orthodontic treatment the patient has to wear the retention plate? |
Approximately 6-8 months. This is the time required for the bone remodeling and till that time the patient has to wear retention plate. It also depends upon the kind of malocclusion. Based on it :
- Permanent retention.
- Semi - i.e. till remodeling/growth occurs.
- No retention required.
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| 10. Is it hereditary? |
To an extent yes. Since the expression of heredity is partially dependent on environment hence it may be possible to influence the development of hereditary characteristics by changing the environment of the person.
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| 11. Does teeth extraction have any adverse effect on eyesight? |
No, with hygienic working environment and autoclaved instruments being used for extractions there is no risk of infections.
Further there is no effect on eyesight also.
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| 12. Is orthodontic treatment painful? |
At the initiation of orthodontic treatment, there is usually a discomfort in mastication and excessive drooling of saliva. Generally these symptoms subside in 4-5 days. There is no hospitalization as orthodontic patients are walk-in patients.
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| 13. What type of material are used in orthodontics? |
Orthodontic materials available are totally biocompatible. No adverse effects are documented in the lliterature. Only that intensive scientific documentation could be towards enhancement of quality.
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| 14. Is there any other way to lessen the too obvious braces, which may hinder or make any one too conscious in profession? |
Orthodontic braces and wires are available which are of ceramic material that is tooth coloured. Teflon coated orthodontic wires are also used to greatly reduce the conspicuous appearance on teeth. Now a days lingual braces have also come into vogue. These lingual braces are placed inside the tooth i.e. on the tongue side technically lingual aspect of the teeth.
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| 15. Besides esthetics and an important role in personality development, does orthodontics improve the general health of the patient? |
Department of orthodontics contributes towards fabrication of bite plates, night guards, and surgical templates.
Biteplates are advised in case of night grinding (bruxism) and periodontal therapy. Night guards and bite plates are advised in cases of temporomandibular joint disorders and other similar craniofacial anomalies.
In cases of juvenile craniofacial anomalies or in management of cleft lip and palate patients, fabrication of feeding appliance, etc. is also managed by the department of orthodontics.
Orthodontist is also involved in parent counseling to improve the upbringing of child and conditioning of child behavior.
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