Orthodontic Treatment

Orthodontic FAQs

WHAT AGE SHOULD MY CHILD HAVE AN ORTHODONTIC EVALUATION?

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends an orthodontic screening for children by the age of 7 years. At age 7 the teeth and jaws are developed enough so that the dentist or orthodontist can see if there will be any serious bite problems in the future. Most of the time treatment is not necessary at age 7, but it gives the parents and dentist time to watch the development of the patient and decide on the best mode of treatment. When you have time on your side you can plan ahead and prevent the formation of serious problems.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT AT A YOUNG AGE?

Research has shown that serious orthodontic problems can be more easily corrected when the patient’s skeleton is still growing and flexible. By correcting the skeletal problems at a younger age we can prepare the mouth for the eventual eruption of the permanent teeth. If the permanent teeth have adequate space to erupt they will come in fairly straight. If the teeth erupt fairly straight their tendency to get crooked again after the braces come off is diminished significantly. After the permanent teeth have erupted, usually from age 12-14, complete braces are placed for final alignment and detailing of the bite. Thus the final stage of treatment is quicker and easier on the patient. This phase of treatment usually lasts from 12 - 18 months and is not started until all of the permanent teeth have erupted.

Doing orthodontic treatments in two steps provides excellent results often allowing the doctor to avoid removal of permanent teeth and jaw surgery. The treatment done when some of the baby teeth are still present is called Phase-1. The last part of treatment after all the permanent teeth have erupted is called Phase-2.

WHAT CAUSES CROOKED TEETH?

Crowded teeth, thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, premature loss of baby teeth, a poor breathing airway caused by enlarged adenoids or tonsils can all contribute to poor tooth positioning. And then there are the hereditary factors. Extra teeth, large teeth, missing teeth, wide spacing, small jaws - all can be causes of crowded teeth.

HOW DO TEETH MOVE?

Tooth movement is a natural response to light pressure over a period of time. Pressure is applied by using a variety of orthodontic hardware (appliances), the most common being a brace or bracket attached to the teeth and connected by an archwire. Periodic changing of these arch wires puts pressure on the teeth. At different stages of treatment, your child may wear headgear, elastics, a positioner or a retainer. Most orthodontic appointments are scheduled 4 to 6 weeks apart to give the teeth time to move.

WILL IT HURT?

When teeth are first moved, discomfort may result. This usually lasts about 24 to 72 hours. Patients report a lessening of pain as the treatment progresses. Pain medicines such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) usually help relieve the pain.

Orthodontic Terms

ARCH WIRE

The part of your braces that actually moves the teeth. The arch wire is attached to the brackets by small elastic donuts or ligature wires. Arch Wires are changed throughout the treatment. Each change brings you closer to the ideal tooth position.

BRACKETS

Brackets are the “Braces” or small attachments that are bonded directly to the tooth surface. The brackets are the part of your braces to which the dentist or assistant attaches the arch wire.

Occasionally, a bracket may come loose and become an irritation to your mouth. You can remove the loose bracket and save it in an envelope to bring to the office. Call the office as soon as possible and make an appointment to re-glue the bracket.

ELASTICS (RUBBER BANDS)

At some time during treatment, it will be necessary to wear elastics to coordinate the upper and lower teeth and perfect the bite. Once teeth begin to move in response to elastics, they move rapidly and comfortably. If elastics (rubber bands) are worn intermittently, they will continually "shock" the teeth and cause more soreness. When elastics are worn one day and left off the next, treatment slows to a standstill or stops. Sore teeth between appointments usually indicate improper wear of headgear or elastics or inadequate hygiene. Wear your elastics correctly, attaching them as you were told. Wear elastics all the time, unless otherwise directed. Take your elastics off while brushing. Change elastics as directed, usually once or twice a day.

Malocclusion - Poor positioning of the teeth.

Class I

crowding of the teeth beforeBefore
crowding of the teeth afterAfter

A Malocclusion where the bite is OK (the top teeth line up with the bottom teeth) but the teeth are crooked, crowded or turned.

 

Class II - A Malocclusion where the upper teeth stick out past the lower teeth.

Class III

underbite beforeBefore
underbite afterAfter

A Malocclusion where the lower teeth stick out past the upper teeth. This is also called an "underbite".

 

Occlusion - The alignment and spacing of your upper jaw and lower teeth when you bite down.

Open bite - Anterior opening between upper and lower teeth.

open bite beforeBefore
open bite afterAfter
 

Overbite - Vertical overlapping of the upper teeth over the lower.

deep overbite beforeBefore
deep overbite afterAfter
 

Overjet - Horizontal projection of the upper teeth beyond the lower.

overjet beforeBefore
overjet afterAfter
 

Crossbite - When top teeth bite inside the lower teeth. It can occur with the front teeth or back teeth.

O Rings

O rings, also called A-lastics, are little rings used to attach the arch wire to the brackets. These rings come in standard gray or clear, but also come in a wide variety of colors to make braces more fun. A-lastics are changed at every appointment to maintain good attachment of the arch wire to the bracket, enabling our patients to enjoy many different color schemes throughout treatment.

Separator

A plastic or rubber donut piece which the dentist uses to create space between your teeth for bands.

Fixed and Removable Appliances

BAND & LOOP (B & L)

A Band & Loop is routinely used to hold space for a missing primary (baby) posterior (back) tooth until the permanent tooth can grown in.

herbst appliance

Herbst® Appliance

Herbst

An appliance designed to encourage the lower jaw to grow forward and “catch up” to upper jaw growth.

LOWER LINGUAL ARCH (LLA)

Lower Lingual Arch - Pediatric Dentist & Orthodontics in Brookfield, WI. A lower lingual arch is a space maintainer for the lower teeth. It maintains the molars where they are, it does not move them. This is fabricated by placing bands on the molars and connecting them to a wire that fits up against the inside of the lower teeth. It keeps the molars from migrating forward and prevents them from blocking off the space of teeth that develop later. This is used when you have the early loss of baby teeth or when you have lower teeth that are slightly crowded in a growing child and you do not want to remove any permanent teeth to correct the crowding.

PALATAL EXPANDER

Palatal Expander - Pediatric Dentist & Orthodontics in Brookfield, WI. An appliance which is placed in the roof of the mouth to widen the upper dental arch. The maxilla, or upper dental arch, is joined in the center by a joint, which allows it to be painlessly separated and spread. Temporarily you may see a space develop between the upper two front teeth. This will slowly go away in a few days. Once this has occurred, the two halves knit back together and new bone fills in the space.

QUAD HELIX

Quad Helix - Pediatric Dentist & Orthodontics in Brookfield, WI. This appliance provides continual, gradual pressure in as many as four directions, to move molars, expand or contract arches or assist in eliminating finger or thumb habits.

HAWLEY

A universally used retainer with many applications; to move teeth, close spaces, maintain alignment during or after treatment.

NANCE

This appliance maintains the position of the maxillary molars without using any other teeth. The plastic button on the palate provides stability.

RETAINERS

At the completion of the active phase of orthodontic treatment, braces are removed and removable appliances called retainers are placed. To retain means to hold. Teeth must be retained or held in their new positions while the tissues, meaning the bone, elastic membranes around the roots, the gums, tongue and lips have adapted themselves to the new tooth positions. Teeth can move if they are not retained. It is extremely important to wear your retainers as directed!

ORTHODONTIC CARE

BRACES CARE

You will be shown the proper care of your braces when your orthodontic treatment begins. Proper cleansing of your mouth is necessary every time you eat. Teeth with braces are harder to clean, and trap food very easily. If food is left lodged on the brackets and wires, it can cause unsightly etching of the enamel on your teeth. Your most important job is to keep your mouth clean. If food is allowed to collect, the symptoms of gum disease will show in your mouth. The gums will swell and bleed and the pressure from the disease will slow down tooth movement.

BRUSHING: You should brush your teeth 4-5 times per day.

  1. Brush back and forth acros…between the wires and gums on the upper and lower to loosen any food particles.
  2. Next, brush correctly as if you had no brackets or appliances on.
  3. Start on the outside of the uppers with the bristles at a 45-degree angle toward the gum and scrub with a circular motion two or three teeth at a time using ten strokes, then move on.
  4. Next, do the same on the inner surface of the upper teeth.
  5. Then, go to the lower teeth and repeat steps 1 & 2.
  6. Look in a mirror to see if you have missed any places. Your teeth, brackets and wires should be free of any food particles and plaque.

Note: If your gums bleed when brushing, do not avoid brushing, but rather continue stimulating the area with the bristles. Be sure to angle your toothbrush so that the area under your gum line is cleaned. After 3 or 4 days of proper brushing, the bleeding should stop and your gums should be healthy again.

FLOSSING: Use a special floss threader to floss with your braces on. Be sure to floss at least once per day.

FLUORIDE RINSE OR GEL: May be recommended for preventive measures.

APPLIANCE CARE

Clean the retainer by brushing with toothpaste. If you are wearing a lower fixed retainer be extra careful to brush the wire and the inside of the lower teeth. Always bring your retainer to each appointment. Avoid flipping the retainer with your tongue, this can cause damage to your teeth. Place the retainer in the plastic case when it is removed from your mouth. Never wrap the retainer in a paper napkin or tissue, someone may throw it away. Don't put it in your pocket or you may break or lose it. Excessive heat will warp and ruin the retainer.

ELASTICS CARE

If elastics (rubber bands) are worn intermittently, they will continually "shock" the teeth and cause more soreness. Sore teeth between appointments usually indicate improper wear of headgear or elastics or inadequate hygiene. Wear your elastics correctly, attaching them as you were told. Wear elastics all the time, unless otherwise directed. Take your elastics off while brushing. Change elastics as directed, usually once or twice a day.

PROPER DIET

Avoid Sticky Foods such as:

  • Caramels
  • Candy bars with caramel
  • Fruit Roll-Ups
  • Gum
  • Candy or caramel apples
  • Skittles
  • Starbursts
  • Toffee
  • Gummy Bears

Avoid Hard or Tough Foods such as:

  • Pizza Crust
  • Nuts
  • Hard Candy
  • Corn Chips
  • Ice Cubes
  • Bagels
  • Popcorn Kernels

Cut the following foods into small pieces and chew with the back teeth:

  • Apples
  • Carrots
  • Corn on the Cob
  • Pizza
  • Pears
  • Celery
  • Chicken Wings
  • Spare Ribs