Orthodontics
What is Orthodontics?
Orthodontics is the Dentistry specialty responsible for correcting the position of the teeth and jawbones which are incorrectly positioned.
In order to achieve a good occlusion, it is necessary to establish a correct relationship between jaws and a dental positioning which allows the maintenance of all oral functions, namely chewing, speaking, swallowing, and aesthetics. The ideal dental occlusion should maintain a proportional distribution of forces and have adequate space between teeth.
Health
Proper tooth and jaw positioning decreases the likelihood of tooth loss and the incidence of temporomandibular dysfunction, and decreases the incidence of dental caries.
World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
Orthodontics can contribute to the patient’s well-being and health:
• on a physical level, since good occlusion contributes to decreasing the likelihood of temporomandibular disorders and increases chewing efficiency;
• at a social and mental level, since a beautiful smile increases confidence and improves our entire social interaction.
Aesthetics
A dental malocclusion will have significant aesthetic repercussions, often causing the patient to avoid smiling.
Teeth durability
Orthodontic correction promotes dental hygiene and decreases the accumulation of food between the teeth, thus decreasing the likelihood of dental caries and tartar accumulation.
Correct dental gearing enables a proper distribution of strength on teeth and their bone and gum tissues, which allows a decrease in dental fractures and problems.
Step by step
The first step is to schedule an appointment with an orthodontist for an assessment. During the consultation, you will be physically examined and undergo necessary complementary exams, in order to make an individualized diagnosis and a treatment plan.
We will present you the multiple treatment options tailored to your case, and the advantages and disadvantages of each option will be discussed. If the malocclusion requires care from other areas of dentistry, the case will be assessed by the various areas of dentistry and an interdisciplinary treatment plan will be presented.
In order to move the teeth to their ideal positions, the orthodontist will use an “appliance,” braces or aligners, to apply controlled forces which will change the teeth position in a gentle and predictable manner. The recent developments in Orthodontics have made treatment more comfortable and less noticeable than ever before. Many of today’s treatment options are designed to minimize the appearance of braces and to better suit all lifestyles. Today’s options include clear aligners, tooth-coloured (aesthetic) braces, and more traditional but smaller braces.
Not all appliances are suitable for the correction of all types of orthodontic problems. The orthodontist will evaluate and discuss with you which orthodontic appliance is more suitable for correcting your problem.
Clinical Cases of Fixed,
Removable and Invisalign®️ Dental Appliances
Get to know the types of dental appliances available at YOU.
Clear aligners
Clear aligners
Clear aligners correct tooth positioning through a series of fully customized transparent, aligners, programmed specifically according to each patient’s needs. The aligners are changed every week (or every two weeks) and gradually move the teeth according to a predefined sequence, until they reach the final teeth position.
More comfort
Tooth movement is accomplished by applying light forces to each set of aligners, making it a more effective, comfortable, and less painful treatment.
When you remove the aligners, you can carry out your oral hygiene routine, brushing, and flossing without any changes.
Removable and aesthetic aligners
These braces are removable, virtually invisible due to being transparent and are custom-made using 3D technology.
Fewer appointments and viewing of the final result
The treatment plan is defined using a software which allows you to predict how long it will take to reach the proposed result, as well as to visualize the expected final result.
Aligners require fewer visits to the clinic, since the complete tooth movement plan has already been done digitally. Consultations usually take place every 6-8 weeks.
Conventional fixed appliance/metal braces
Metal braces are fixed appliances and consist of metal brackets, archwires and elastic bands which allow tooth movement.
Due to being a fixed appliance, it requires the patient’s full cooperation regarding oral hygiene and the adaptation of his/her eating habits.
It is most commonly used in teenagers and requires activation appointments every 4 weeks.
Conventional fixed appliance/metal braces
Metal braces are fixed appliances and consist of metal brackets, archwires and elastic bands which allow tooth movement.
Due to being a fixed appliance, it requires the patient’s full cooperation regarding oral hygiene and the adaptation of his/her eating habits.
It is most commonly used in teenagers and requires activation appointments every 4 weeks.
Self-ligating braces
These are fixed appliances which do not require elastic bands to support the arch, hence the name “self-ligating braces”.
Therefore, tooth movement in this type of appliance will occur with low friction, reducing treatment time and discomfort.
Activation appointments are needed every 4 weeks.
Self-ligating braces
These are fixed appliances which do not require elastic bands to support the arch, hence the name “self-ligating braces”.
Therefore, tooth movement in this type of appliance will occur with low friction, reducing treatment time and discomfort.
Activation appointments are needed every 4 weeks.
Responsible team
Dr. Maria Passos
Frequently Asked Questions
What is good occlusion? What are the types of dental occlusion?
Under normal conditions, the upper dental arch should be slightly larger than the lower, both in width and length.
The main types of dental occlusion are:
– Type 1: normal occlusion, in which the upper dental arch fits correctly over the lower dental arch;
– Type 2: the upper dental arch is much larger than the lower dental arch. It looks as if the person does not have a chin;
– Type 3: the upper dental arch is smaller than the lower dental arch. The person’s chin seems very large.
How do i know if i need/if my child needs braces?
If you have any of the jaw positioning problems described above.
Some signs may also indicate that there is a malocclusion. For example:
- Tooth wear;
- Difficulty or discomfort when chewing;
- Breathing through the mouth;
- Biting the cheek or roof of the mouth;
- Early or late loss of baby teeth;
- Difficulty in speaking;
- Frequent cavities;
- Teeth with very exposed or sensitive parts;
- Frequent headaches;
- Temporo-mandibular joint dysfunction (lower jaw moving or making sounds).
If you identify any of these signs, you should schedule an appointment with your orthodontist.
What are the causes of malocclusion?
Dental malocclusion may arise due to several reasons:
– Incompatibility between the size of the teeth and jaws;
– Changes in size and position of the jaws;
– Bad oral habits (such as extended use of bottles, thumb sucking or pacifier), which can also be a consequence of changes in the balance between the lips’ muscles and tongue.
– Missing teeth and their consequences on other dental parts that are in the mouth.
When should my child have the first consultation with an orthodontist?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children have their first evaluation with an orthodontist by age 7. At this age, the child will have a mixture of baby and permanent teeth and the orthodontist will be able to recognize orthodontic problems (“malocclusions”) even at an early stage.
However, if your child is under the age of 7 and you notice something “strange,” you don’t have to wait to do an initial evaluation.
Does my child need early orthodontic treatment?
Only a few orthodontic problems need correction while the child has baby teeth. But in case any problems are detected, the orthodontist is likely to take a “wait and see” approach and schedule periodic observation appointments to check your child’s growth and development. So that we can initiate orthodontic treatment once it’s time to take action.
Are orthodontic appliances used in early orthodontic treatment?
When a child receives early treatment (when the majority of the teeth are baby teeth), the type of treatment varies according to the type of problem which needs to be corrected.
Not all orthodontic treatments are performed using braces. For some patients, early treatment may just consist of removing a “stubborn” baby tooth so that the subsequent permanent tooth can erupt correctly.
On the other hand, some patients may need braces in order to, for example, position the tongue correctly when swallowing or to break the thumb sucking habit. It may also be necessary to place an expander in children with a very narrow jaw.
Early orthodontic treatment aims to restore normal occlusal and skeletal conditions so that craniofacial growth and development can take place within normal standards; dental alignment is not the goal at this point.
Once the majority or all of the permanent teeth have erupted, braces on both arches are often recommended to optimize tooth alignment.
Am i too old to undergo orthodontic treatment?
Age is not a determining factor in deciding whether or not to proceed with orthodontic treatment, since orthodontic treatment can be just as effective in adults as it is in teenagers. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, one in every three orthodontic patients is an adult.
Since i am an adult, will i have to wait a long time to see the results of my orthodontic treatment?
Many orthodontic problems can be fixed just as easily in adults as in children/teenagers, and age does not prevent teeth from moving. However, adults have denser bone tissue and slower cell renewal, which means that the treatment may take a little longer.
How long does orthodonti treatment last?
The treatment lasts for 24 months on average. It is a relatively small investment of time which brings big benefits, such as improved oral health, better function (when chewing), the ability to keep teeth clean more easily, and greater self-confidence.
How often should i schedule consultations?
During your orthodontic treatment, you will need to visit your orthodontist every 4 to 8 weeks approximately. This will vary depending on the appliance placed and the existing malocclusion.
Can patients with periodontal disease have braces?
The periodontologist will have to support the orthodontic treatment planning of the periodontal patient through an initial evaluation, and will also individually assess the health of each dental piece and evaluate the feasibility of their movement. Patients with periodontal disease and braces will need to do a periodic follow-up with a periodontologist to ensure that dental pieces health is maintained, as well as a very careful daily oral hygiene.
Your first consultation begins here.
After requesting your appointment, our team will contact in order to find the best date for you.
Our patients are very important to us and we always do what we can to help them have a better quality of life and a smile that promotes their well-being.