Orthodontics is the field of science that aims to prevent the occurrence of disorders related to the teeth-jaw-face area, to stop the progression of existing disorders and to treat them, as well as to provide good aesthetics and function (biting, chewing, speaking and laughing).
It is not possible to clean perplexed and badly positioned teeth properly, no matter how well they are brushed. There will definitely be food residue between the teeth and patients have a high risk of decay formation and gum diseases. There is a risk of bone loss and early loss of teeth in such gum problems.
Moreover, disorders related to closing the mouth cause more pressure on the jaw muscles, therefore causing Temporomandibular joint problems which will result in headaches and pain in the back and shoulders. Perplexed teeth cause an aesthetically undesirable appearance. People close their mouths when laughing as a result of this.
Basically, the main goals of orthodontic treatment are to provide psychological support by improving chewing and speaking functions, providing better oral hygiene and aesthetics, and increasing the patient’s self-confidence in public.
With the importance of aesthetics today, the number of adults who demand orthodontic treatment has increased significantly. For individuals who avoid smiling due to crooked teeth, a healthy and beautiful smile is an element that increases self-confidence in social life. The change in the order of the teeth also positively affects the lip support and the appearance of the face.
Orthodontic treatment is possible at any age. Adults who have not had the chance to be treated at an early age can also apply to orthodontists anytime. Crooked teeth is corrected with brackets (braces) in adults, just like they are treated in children. Facial aesthetics are greatly affected in developmental and congenital problems that occur in jaws and may cause psychological problems in patients. In addition, individuals with such malocclusion cannot close their mouths completely and experience biting, chewing, and respiratory problems. These problems can cause many other problems in various parts of the body (stomach, heart, etc.). Cases where jaws are large or small, in front or behind are called skeletal anomalies and a surgery called orthognathic surgery can be applied in these cases because the adult is fully grown.
Some of the orthodontic problems seen in adults occur due to lost teeth over the years. Even if a comprehensive orthodontic treatment is not desired, short-term orthodontic treatment (treatment with braces) may be required to make implants or bridges to compensate for the missing teeth.
For adult patients, there are aesthetic/porcelain options that allow the person to use braces more easily. Another option is the lingual technique, called invisible braces, where braces are attached to the inner surface of the teeth. This is another method that can be done with transparent appliances.
ORTHODONTICS WITH TRANSPARENT PLATES
Transparent plates, one of the latest technologies in orthodontic treatments, is a braceless orthodontic treatment to correct your teeth. In the transparent plate system, corrective plates specially prepared for your mouth are used to correct your teeth. Your dentist takes measurements from your mouth and these measurements are transferred to the computer environment with a 3D scanning method called CAD-CAM system. Teeth transferred to the virtual environment are moved by computer simulation. After your treatment plan is created in a virtual environment, you can see the end of the treatment in three dimensions. At the end of the treatment, the patient and the physician see how the teeth will be in three-dimensional models and give production approval. Thus, you can make a special smile design with your dentist. At the end of the treatment, you will not encounter an unwanted result or surprise and you will not be disappointed. These plaques are soft, comfortable and completely transparent and sit well on your teeth. As a result of installing these plates, your teeth are gradually placed where your orthodontist planned.
The most important reason why transparent plates, which offer the opportunity of braceless orthodontic treatment, are preferred, is that people will not recognize that you have your teeth treated while correcting the perplexity of your teeth. Treatment with transparent plates is more comfortable than traditional bracketing methods, since there are no wires or metal parts in the mouth, there is no stinging and wound formation, the treatment is more painless than traditional treatment with braces. It does not have a negative effect on speech, there is no need to remove it in presentations, meetings. The most important feature of transparent plates is that they do not adversely affect your daily life. First of all, clear plates are hardly visible in your mouth and you can continue to laugh as you wish during the treatment. You can easily remove your plates while eating, drinking or brushing your teeth, and eat whatever food you want. Since the treatment is made without metal and soft plates are used, you will not encounter a situation that will disturb your teeth and gums. You can brush your teeth and use dental floss whenever you want. Your appointment time with the doctor will be short because there will be no wire adjustments or changes.
ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT WITH LINGUAL BRACKETS
Lingual orthodontic treatment is one of the fixed wire treatment methods. In Latin, “lingua” means “tongue” and refers to the treatment made from the surfaces of the teeth on the tongue side. The fact that orthodontic braces cause visual discomfort in patients during the treatment has been a driving force for the development of such a treatment method. The biggest advantage for patients in this treatment is that the fixed brackets attached to the teeth are on the tongue side, not on the lip. Thus, nothing is visible on the teeth. The most aesthetic orthodontic treatment is lingual orthodontic treatment.
The biggest problem faced by patients in this highly aesthetic treatment method is speech disorders. Since the appliances are on the language side, the phonation of some letters such as “t”, “s” and “d” will be very difficult, as the sounds will hit these appliances while they are coming out. There may also be slight irritation on the tip of the tongue. It may take up to 1 month for patients to get used to them. This method is a bit more expensive than others.
ORTHOGNATIC SURGERY
Orthodontic treatment primarily affects the appearance of the teeth and the contour of the lips, however, it is possible to create skeletal changes with functional orthodontic treatment applied during growth and development periods, but such changes in places that remain out of lips and teeth that are hard and soft tissues such as nose and jaw tip are not possible in adults. Thanks to orthognathic surgery, significant changes can be obtained in the nose, lips and chin in adult individuals. This way, individuals gain a new external appearance and are very satisfied with this change.
The procedures performed in cooperation with orthodontics and surgery in order to correct the skeletal relationship in the correction of dentofacial deformities in patients with severe skeletal deviation and who have completed their growth is called orthognathic surgery. The purpose of orthognathic surgery is to bring the patient to a desired psychosocial position by giving patients a better aesthetic appearance and function.
Orthognathic surgery operations are routinely used in the correction of many dentofacial anomalies, the aesthetic improvement of the tooth row and face, and the correction of all jaw and dental functions with applications applied to both the lower jaw, upper jaw and both. With these operations, it is possible to move the jaws in all three directions, which makes it possible to be applied in cases that exceed the limits of orthodontic treatment. Studies have shown that as a result of the treatment of severe dentoalveolar anomalies that cannot be corrected with orthodontic treatment, with orthognathic surgery, people have a much more effective occlusion function, and even the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders and pain that were present before the operation significantly improved due to the improved occlusion.
The current problem is determined by radiographs, photographs and model examination. This operation, which requires the orthodontist and the surgeon to work together, is performed by a plastic surgeon or maxillofacial surgeon under general anesthesia after the teeth are sorted with orthodontic treatment. Orthodontic treatment is applied with brackets (braces) before orthognathic surgery. In order to ensure that the teeth are well bite (occlusion) with each other after surgery, the teeth must be brought to their correct positions with orthodontic treatment. Otherwise, functions such as good chewing ability cannot be achieved as a result of the surgery.
In cases where the lower jaw is in front or in behind, upper jaw is in front or in behind, asymmetry in the face and lower jaw, and when gums are excessively visible in the upper jaw orthognathic surgery should be applied.
Orthognathic surgery is performed after the individual’s growth is completely over.
