Most Orthodontics problems are inherited. Examples of these problems, which have genetic component are crowding, spacing, protrusion of jaws and teeth, extra and missing teeth, jaw growth problems and facial deformities. Other problems are acquired. That may be because of thumb of finger sucking, mouth breathing, dental disease, abnormal swallowing, poor dental hygiene, the early or late loss of baby teeth, loss of permanent teeth due to accidents, poor nutrition or related medical problems. An inherited condition may be complicated by an acquired problem. Your Orthodontist will be able to treat most conditions successfully.

Most importantly, Orthodontic treatment involves the patient. To achieve the desired results, the patient must follow the doctors instructions about wearing Orthodontic appliances and practice good oral hygiene. With braces, certain foods like nuts, chewing gums, chocolates and caramel, chips, Hard foods, Fast foods, that require bitting into are off limits !!! Your Orthodontist will provide custom made braces according to the problem being treated.

Braces work to move teeth and their accompanying tissues through the bone. They are capable of manipulating the growth of facial bones as well. The principle involved here is that pressure causes bone to absorb and tension causes bone to form. Orthodontic appliances are proficient in delivering precise forces at desired locations of the teeth and jaw bones to bring about subtle changes in a calibrated and sequential manner proven by years of scientific and clinical research.

The Indian Orthodontic Society recommends the first Orthodontic check-up at 7 years of age. Most treatment may only begin between the ages of 9 and 14 but Orthodontist can spot problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth early. Certain problems are easier to correct if found earlier. While your child’s teeth may appear to be straight there could be a problem which only an Orthodontist can detect. Orthodontic treatment today is possible and successful at any age, Adults with healthy bones and gums are increasingly opting for braces. Its never too late to get a healthy, beautiful smile !!!

Orthodontists use the world Malocclusion to describe a variety of teeth and jaw problems. A malocclusion is a condition where the jaws and teeth do not close together properly. Literally, the word means “bad bite.” Most malocclusions are inherited for e.g.:- If your father has large teeth and your mother has a small jaw, you could possibly inherit a jaw that is too small to support large teeth. Inherited malocclusions include crowding of teeth, too much space between teeth, extra or missing teeth, cleft palate and a variety of irregularities of the jaws and face. Some malocclusions are acquired. They can be caused by thumb sucking, tongue thrusting (pushing the tongue against the teeth), mouth-breathing, finger nail biting, dental disease, premature loss of primary or permanent teeth, accidents or some medical problems.

Occlusion is our term for how the teeth meet, or the bite. The most important reason for proper occlusion is dental health. When teeth are correctly aligned, decay us much less likely. Crowded, overlapping teeth are food traps, extremely difficult to brush and floss properly and so decay is invited. Upper teeth will continue to shift, perhaps downward, or outward, later in life this situation usually leads to gum disease, and can lead to early loss of teeth in adults.

A surprising percentage of orthodontic patients are adults. Health, happiness and self-esteem are vitally important to adults. No patient is “too old” to wear braces! At one time, most people believed braces are “just for kids”. The fact is, that of the people treated, more than one of every four is over 21. Because the basic process involved in moving teeth is the same in adults as in children, orthodontic treatment can usually be successful at any age. The health of the teeth, the gums and the supporting bones will also determine the prospects for improvement. So who can benefit? Almost anyone, really. The truth is that you’re never too old to be your best.

Not necessarily so. Minor corrections can be accomplished with braces completely concealed in the mouth. More involved treatment may require braces on the teeth to successfully move them to the desired positions. Braces are the handles used to move your teeth in a positive manner. They vary from the conventional steel bands cemented around the teeth to loss obvious brackets bonded or cemented to the outer surfaces. Plastic braces may be used for minor corrections. Ceramic brackets, which are similar in colour to teeth, are less obvious to the casual observer and the offer the versatility of regular stainless steel braces. Of course, in all cases, regardless of the braces used on your teeth, the activating part of your braces is the wire that goes from tooth to tooth.

There are two essential ingredients needed to move teeth into proper alignment:
1) Steady, gentle pressure and 2) time. Tooth movement is actually a normal response to light pressures exerted on teeth. To accomplish this, the orthodontist attaches braces, which generally consist of metal or clear brackets and wires, to produce slight pressure on each tooth. During the treatment, the orthodontist will periodically make adjustments to maintain the directional pressure required to continue the movement of the teeth. Teeth are suspended in a membrane which in turn is surrounded by bone. When pressure is applied to a tooth it causes this membrane to be compressed on one side and stretched on the other side. The bone then responds to this pressure by dissolving on one side and rebuilding to fill the empty space on the other side. Step by step, teeth are moved and Mother Nature rebuilds often stronger that before. Over-erupted or extruded teeth can actually be eased back into their supporting bone.