Orthodontist Consultation

Orthodontics is a significant branch of modern dentistry that deals with studying and developing techniques to correct various malocclusions and align misaligned teeth. These defects often lead to the onset of caries, hygiene complications, speech distortion, chewing difficulties, and even facial shape alterations. Later, individuals may experience severe headaches, communication insecurities, and internal discomfort, which disrupt daily life.

Correcting malocclusions and improperly positioned teeth can be addressed at any age, but it’s best to do so during childhood. This is because children’s oral tissues, both hard and soft, are not fully formed, making them more responsive to correction. In adults, these pathologies can still be corrected, but it takes significantly longer. The earlier treatment begins, the faster and more effective the results.

A qualified orthodontist at ORTHO clinic specializes in correcting malocclusions. Based on initial examinations and additional assessments, our specialist develops an individualized treatment plan that guarantees the resolution of identified problems.

Tasks addressed by the orthodontist:

Aligns misaligned teeth to their correct positions on the jaws.
Corrects malocclusions by creating ideally aligned dental arches.
Eliminates gaps and crowding.
Monitors the proper development of the dental arches.
Restores teeth damaged due to dental diseases or trauma.

The combination of these tasks allows for the resolution of identified problems and the restoration of a patient’s beautiful smile, excellent mood, and sociability.

Signs of malocclusion:

Diagnosing problems with improper jaw and tooth growth can be done by almost anyone, but only an orthodontist can not only identify the pathology and assess it correctly but also eliminate it so that it never returns.

The main clinical situations considered indicative of malocclusion in dentistry include:

Bleeding gums.
Speech distortion.
Improper breathing.
Frequent dental problems.
Digestive disorders (GI tract).
Headaches and general discomfort.

Asymmetry of the facial oval and smile.
Jaw asymmetry, where one jaw protrudes over or under the other, or is larger/smaller in size.
Teeth positioned outside the dental arch, leaning forward/backward, or rotated around their axis.
Large gaps between teeth.
Upper and lower teeth do not occlude properly.

Causes of orthodontic treatment:

Factors influencing the development of tooth and jaw abnormalities are diverse. Some affect the development of the human dental arches slowly throughout life, while others progress rapidly:

Genetic predisposition.
Fetal development disorders during maternal pregnancy.
Improper feeding practices (frequent bottle or pacifier feeding of improper size).
Harmful habits.
Aging.
External and internal trauma.
Dental diseases and their improper treatment.
Loss of one or more dental units.
Poor diet and hygiene.

Orthodontic Pathologies:

1. Distal bite

The upper jaw significantly protrudes forward beyond the lower jaw.

2. Mesial bite

The lower jaw significantly protrudes forward beneath the upper jaw, making it appear more massive.

3. Open bite

The upper and lower teeth do not meet, creating a gap, making it impossible to close the lips tightly.

4. Deep bite

The upper teeth, due to improper anatomical jaw growth, cover more than half of the lower ones (normally, upper teeth should cover lower units by 1/3).

5. Crossbite

Underdevelopment of the jaw, where certain teeth or even groups are unevenly overlapped.

Methods of bite correction and teeth alignment

Depending on the specific clinical picture, the patient’s age, and the degree of pathology, the orthodontist may suggest one of the following correction methods:

1. Myotherapy (muscle exercises) – a complex of therapeutic and preventive exercises that the patient can perform independently to eliminate pathology.

2. Orthodontic (appliance) – the installation of various removable and non-removable structures such as braces, plates, caps, aligners, etc.

3. Surgical – invasive interventions to correct the pathology, such as tongue tie release, extraction of one or more teeth, placement of mini implants, etc.

4. Combined – several methods are used if various causative factors are identified.

Duration of consultation and treatment with an orthodontist

In cases of simple clinical pictures, diagnosing the disease and developing an optimal treatment plan take no more than an hour per session. However, complex and neglected cases often require several lengthy sessions and additional examinations.

Treatment durations are also highly individualized. For example, in the case of braces, the average wearing period is 1.5-2 years, although it can be as short as 1 year or as long as 3 years. It’s essential to remember that after conventional treatment, wearing retainers is usually necessary to prevent the realignment of straightened teeth. In such cases, the duration may equal the primary treatment period.