What’s orthodontia?

Orthodontics involves moving the teeth and modifying the growth of the jaws to regain harmonious dental alignment and improve oral functions. These treatments are strongly recommended because dental malpositions, in addition to being sometimes unsightly, can cause cavities, inflammation of the gums, and various chewing disorders… Adolescence is the most frequent treatment period.

Dental displacements and alignments can be carried out at any age, provided that the mouth has been previously cleared of all infectious foci (decay, abscess, gingivitis, etc.).

In adults, invisible treatment techniques are used where possible.

Most orthodontic treatments aim to move the teeth to realign them using plastic aligners or braces, small metal fasteners glued to the inside or outside of the teeth. For treatments with braces, the movements are made along an arc, the shape of which helps guide the movement of the teeth. This arc is changed regularly according to the movements that one wishes to obtain. Rubber bands connecting the upper and lower jaw can be used to move the teeth horizontally or vertically.

Some children have one or both jaws that are too slow or too fast to grow. These children may benefit from treatment using removable (called activators or false palates) or fixed (called braces) devices to speed up or slow down this growth. Most pediatric dentists say that This correction is only possible in children because they have not finished growing. In adults, correction of an offset of the jaws is possible, but it will have to be done with the help of surgery (orthognathic surgery).

• It is recommended not to consume hard or sticky foods (candy, chewing gum) and practice very meticulous brushing.
• The treatment is partly covered by social security if it begins before the age of 16. Afterward, it is entirely the responsibility of the patient.
• If your child has badly placed teeth or cannot close his mouth because of his teeth too far forward, do not hesitate to consult the Kids Dentist Indianapolis IN at Speedway Dentistry. We will thus be able to assess together the need to set up an adapted orthodontic treatment.

Thumb and pacifier: What does Childrens Dentist Indianapolis IN suggest?

Babies need to suck on their thumbs, or a pacifier is natural. But thumb and pacifier are often the cause of teeth positioning problems, say specialists at Pediatric Dentistry Indianapolis IN. The child must be helped to break this habit before the arrival of permanent teeth. Even physiological pacifiers cause dental malposition and deformation of the teeth. Jaws while maintaining immature swallowing.

At what age to start orthodontic treatment?

According to Indianapolis pediatric dentist, Orthodontic treatment can be started as soon as the first permanent molar has appeared, sometimes even when there are only baby teeth. The start of treatment depends on what needs to be corrected.

Early orthodontic treatments by the pediatric dentist

Around 3-4 years, treatments are rare. But if your child already has a big gap between the two jaws, it can be taken care of from that age. The treatment will be done using small removable devices. It is around 6-8 years that the lags between the two jaws are most often detected. At this age, the correction is also done using removable devices. We can also do piloting (extracting certain teeth) to allow the permanent teeth to have room to grow properly: breathing and phonation.

Treatments for adolescents 

Most orthodontic treatment is done in adolescence. Before puberty, we can still play on the growth of the jaws, while afterward, only the position of the teeth can be changed. To change the position of the teeth, rings glued to the teeth are most often used.

Treatment of adults

Adults can benefit from orthodontic treatments to realign their teeth. On the other hand, if they present a lag in the growth of the jaws, the treatment should be surgical (orthognathic treatment). In adults, only the position of the teeth can be changed.

•  Early orthodontic treatment can sometimes prevent much longer and more complicated treatment in adolescence.
• If you suspect a particular risk in your child, do not hesitate to speak to the office or consult an orthodontist to determine the best time to begin treatment.

The different orthodontic treatment techniques

Different devices can be used to move the teeth. The choice of technique will depend on the tooth movement to be achieved and the patient’s wishes.

Early treatments

In children, when all the permanent teeth have not yet grown, removable resin appliances are often used, generally not very visible, with at most one wire passing in front of the upper incisors. These devices are worn every night and when the child is quiet at home, rarely at school. One can also use fixed devices consisting of two bands on the first permanent molars and a wire running along the palate.

It is sometimes necessary to place a space maintainer in a child to keep the place of the final tooth to come when the corresponding milk tooth in poor condition has had to be removed prematurely.

Treatments for adolescents and adults

When all the permanent teeth are in the mouth, two main techniques are possible to move the teeth:

• 1st solution: glue on each tooth fasteners called “brackets” and “rings” made of metal or transparent ceramic. In these brackets, a metal wire is inserted. It is attached by a plastic or metal ligature, which will help guide the movement of the teeth. These rings can be glued on the outside of the teeth (visible) or the inside (invisible).
•  2nd solution: the teeth can be moved using transparent plastic aligners, which must be worn 24 hours a day except during meals. This can be achieved either by a series of gutters that will have to be changed every two weeks or by a gutter that will be activated gradually. The gutters are mainly used for making short trips.

For some treatments, the help of a dental surgeon (for example, to clear a canine buried in the bone) or a maxillofacial surgeon (to move the jaws during the treatment) may be necessary.

•  During treatment, dental hygiene is made very difficult by the presence of brackets and wire.
• Brushing must be extremely thorough during this period to avoid the discovery of numerous and large cavities when the device is removed.
• It is therefore recommended that you continue to have regular checks carried out by your dentist.

If you are looking for a children dentist near me in Indianapolis, then Speedway Dentistry– Children Dental Center Indianapolis IN is the best match for you.