Orthodontics
Cape Town

What Is Orthodontics?

Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that deals with the alignment of the teeth.

Teeth that are misaligned, or skew, can cause significant problems in the mouth. Bacteria and plaque gather where teeth overlap and create hotspots for cavities, discolourations and decay.

Misaligned teeth also affect your bite, which could lead to problems when speaking, eating or chewing. This could also lead to jaw tension and pain.

Orthodontics addresses those issues with the use of special devices, like braces or retainers.

If you have any of the following, you may be a candidate for orthodontic treatment:

• Overbite — where the upper front teeth stick out over the lower teeth
• Underbite — where the lower teeth are too far forward
• Open bite — space between the biting surfaces of the front and/or side teeth
• Misplaced midline— when the centre of your upper teeth does not line up with the centre of your lower teeth
• Spacing — gaps, or spaces, between the teeth
• Crowding — when there are too many teeth to accommodate

Many types of devices, both fixed and removable, are used to move teeth, retrain muscle and alter the growth of the jaws.

These devices work by placing a gentle force on the teeth and jaws. The severity of your case will decide which orthodontic appliance is the most effective.

• Braces — the most popular fixed appliance, braces are made up of bands, wires and brackets.
• Special fixed appliances — these are used to control thumb sucking or tongue thrusting; these appliances are attached to the teeth by bands.

• Aligners — these are a great alternative to braces. Serial aligners are used to move teeth in the same way as braces but without metal wires and brackets. Aligners are transparent and can be removed for eating and cleaning.
• Jaw Splints— these devices are worn on either the top or lower jaw, and help train the jaw to close in a better position.
• Lip and cheek bumpers — these keep the cheeks and lips away from the teeth. These muscles can exert pressure on the teeth, and bumpers relieve that pressure.
• Palatal expander — This is used to widen the arch of the jaw. It's a plastic plate that covers the roof of the mouth. The plate applies pressure to force the joints in the palate to open and widen.
• Removable retainers — these devices stop the teeth from shifting to their previous position.

Braces continually put pressure on your teeth, slowly encouraging them to move into the correct position. It's the archwire that puts the most pressure on your teeth, while many of the other parts work to keep them in place.

Your teeth are cushioned by your gums. Under your gums, you have a Periodontal Membrane, which protects the lower half of your teeth.

Braces encourage your actual teeth to move, and they put pressure on the Periodontal Membrane at the same time.

One side of this membrane stretches out so that the teeth can move. The bars and bands then push it from the other side - creating space for the teeth to shift safely.

The real answer is that braces don't hurt at all during the application process, so there is no reason to be anxious about the placement appointment. There will be mild discomfort after the wire is engaged, which may last for a week. Most patients experience some pain in the first week after their braces, expanders, and wires are placed and after a wire adjustment.

Your lips and cheeks may need a few weeks to get used to the braces as well. All the devices that we use are cutting-edge and exert very light, continuous, and biologically sound forces that significantly decrease any pain associated with orthodontic treatment.

Some discomfort is expected through the process. Each person will eventually adapt to the discomfort over time. Over the counter pain-relievers and a regimen of salt water rinses can be used to ease the pain significantly.

Thanks to modern advances in dental technology, just about every type of treatment is relatively fast. The team at JJS Dentistry make use of a full range of orthodontic devices. They will recommend options that are best suited to correcting your orthodontic issue in the most efficient manner possible.

That being said, there are ways to make your treatment go as fast as possible:

• Follow all your orthodontist's instructions with regards to brushing and flossing.
• Don't forget to see your dentist for a cleaning every six months during orthodontic treatment.
• If you have braces, avoid hard, sticky, and crunchy foods. Opt for soft foods easy to chew.
• Beware of sugary, acidic soft drinks, including regular and diet drinks, fruit juices, fruit drinks and energy drinks.
• Wear your elastics.
• Keep your scheduled appointments with your orthodontist.