Orthodontics
Invisalign (Clear Braces)
Invisalign is being preferred by more and more people for their bite alignment correction mainly because of the fact that they are not as conspicuous as traditional bracket-and-wire braces. Invisalign treatment consists of a series of clear thermoplastic braces tailor made specifically for your case of malocclusion. They make very small shifts in the position of your teeth, which means you’ll need to change invisalign braces every two weeks, or as prescribed by your dentist. As the name suggests, they’re practically invisible; people would have to look very closely at your teeth to know that you have these braces on.
Before the treatment starts, your dentist will need to take X-rays and photographs of your mouth and face so they can determine how to move the teeth and how to shape the invisalign braces. A 3D simulation of the step-by-step movement of your teeth is made to show you how the treatment will go from start to finish. This is then used to create your first set of aligners which you well get a few weeks after the first visit. Invisalign braces have to be kept on your teeth for 20 to 22 hours a day. It’s recommended that you remove these only when eating and brushing because if you keep them off for too long, the braces won’t be as effective an will take a longer time to correct the alignment of your teeth, potentially costing you more for an extra set of braces.
Before you decide to get Invisalign braces, make sure to have a thorough consultation with a dental professional as traditional wire-and-bracket braces are still more effective in treating more complex bite problems
Regular Braces
Metal Braces, or train tracks as they are affectionately called, is the most common treatment availed by those who have bite problems such as overbites, crowding and other complex teeth alignment issues. They consist of metal brackets that go on the surface of your teeth which are joined together by a wire that holds on to the back teeth. These apply pressure to the teeth to guide them to their desired position and are continually adjusted by the orthodontist. Your orthodontist may also prescribe retainers at the end of the treatment since there’s still the possibility of teeth going back to their former positions.
Before you get the braces, your orthodontist will need to first determine what type of malocclusion you have (crossbite, underbite, overbites, crowding etc.) and how severe it is. X-rays and photographs of your mouth and face may need to be taken as well. They will then determine the positioning of the brackets and the archwire in accordance with the intended movement of your teeth. This will take about 10-20 minutes. You may start to feel pain in your mouth a few hours after the treatment as a result of the treatment. In this case your orthodontist may recommend over-the-counter pain relievers. The pain will start to decrease a few days after the treatment
