Orthodontics is a dentistry specialty that addresses the*diagnosis, prevention, management, correction of mal-positioned teeth and jaws and misaligned bite patterns
It may also address the modification of facial growth known as dental facial orthopedics
Biology of teeth movement and how it moves advances in gene therapy and molecular biology technology may shape the future of orthodontic treatment.
Most orthodontic work is effective in the early permanent dentition stage before skeletal growth is completed.
If skeletal growth has completed, jaw surgery is an option.
Sometimes teeth are extracted to aid the orthodontic treatment.
Treatment is highly effective before a person reaches adulthood in so far as pre-adult bones may be adjusted more easily before adulthood.
Treatment may require Several months to a few years and entails using dental braces and other appliances to gradually adjust a tooth position and jaw alignment.
NB:
In cases where the malocclusion is severe, jaw surgery maybe incorporated in the treatment plan.
Orthodontic therapy may include using fixed or removable appliances.
However the most effective orthodontic therapy is delivered using fixed appliances known as BRACES
Braces are the commonly most effective devices that are used in orthodontics treatment.
Braces are adhensively bonded to the teeth together with an arch wire which is also held with ties.
These provide greater mechanical control of the teeth.
Optimal treatment outcome is improved by using these fixed appliances.
These maybe used to rotate teeth if they don’t fit the arch shape of the other teeth in the mouth, they adjust multiple teeth to different places to change the tooth angle and the position of the tooth’s root.
However, this treatment is not preferred where a patient has poor oral hygiene.
To a patient whose oral hygiene is not good then clear aligners are an alternative to braces although insufficient evidence exists to determine their effectiveness.
Treatment duration
The time required for braces varies from person to person as it depends on the severity of the problem, the amount of room available, the distance the teeth must travel, the health of the teeth, gums and supporting bone and most importantly how closely the patient follows instructions.
During treatment
The patient is expected to clearly follow all the orthodontist’s Instructions right from mantainance and hygiene to the time when they are instructed to check in with the specialist for review.
Patient is not supposed to bleach or post pone time of review instructed by the orthodontist so as not to interrupt with the treatment plan.
Post treatment
After orthodontics treatment has completed, there is a tendency for teeth to return or relapse back to their pre treatment positions.
Over 50% of patients have some reversion to pre-treatment positions within 10years following treatment.
*Therefore in order to prevent the relapse, the patient is offered a retainer once treatment has completed.
The patient will need to wear this retainer all the time for the first six months, then only during sleep for many years.
Patients will benefit alot from wearing their retainers.
Braces price in uganda
Regular Braces cost between Shs3m to 4m, lingual braces between Shs5m to 6m,self-ligating braces cost between shs4 to 6m and the porcelain/ceramic is charged between Shs7M to Shs9m….
