Orthodontics and orthodontic appliances
In addition to improving appearance and well-being, effective orthodontic treatment delays the ageing of the face, improves pronunciation and facilitates tooth cleaning.
Orthodontic treatment can eliminate painful headaches related to the dysfunction of the temporomandibular joints.
The course of orthodontic treatment:
- Orthodontic consultation
- Presentation of the treatment plan
- Initiation of appropriate treatment
- Follow-up visits
- Retention treatment
- Orthodontic consultation
It is a visit during which the orthodontist takes a complete medical history to find out about the patient’s needs and expectations. Then, an X-ray of the teeth is performed along with the examination necessary to prepare a treatment plan.
Presentation of the treatment plan
The purpose of the second visit is to familiarise the patient with the results of tests and bite analysis, bone conditions or face profile, and to present an individual treatment plan, taking into account the course, costs and the expected duration of treatment.
Initiation of proper treatment
The first element of the visit is, depending on the type of treatment, either to provide the patient with removable braces or to put on fixed braces. These are painless treatments. The orthodontist provides the patient with all the indications and necessary advice. To start treatment, it is essential that the teeth are healed, free from plaque and tartar, and the gums are free from inflammation.
Follow-up visits
Regular follow-up visits and well-functioning cooperation between the patient and the doctor are some of the conditions for the progress of treatment. During these visits, the course of orthodontic treatment is controlled and the braces are activated. Follow-up visits take place at various times, depending on the treatment method and the individual needs of the patient: for removable braces every 2-4 months, and fixed braces every 4-5 weeks.
Retention treatment
After the end of treatment with fixed braces, retention treatment is started to maintain the achieved treatment result and prevent relapse. In the case of treatment with removable appliances, the function of the retention apparatus is performed by the previously used orthodontic appliance without activation. In the case of treatment with fixed braces, after removing the braces, cleaning the teeth from glue and polishing, the patient receives a removable acrylic retention plate for the upper teeth and a thin, invisible wire glued to the inner surface of the lower teeth.
Removable retainers
The period of milk and mixed dentition in children is a time of intense changes in the craniofacial skeletal system. Unfavourable changes, noticed at the right time, can be quickly corrected with removable appliances. These are devices that are put in and removed from the mouth by the patient. Depending on the type of treated malocclusion, various modifications of removable retainers are used. They consist of an acrylic plate in a colour chosen by the patient and, depending on the type of retainer, wire elements supporting the braces or parts being the source of force acting on the teeth (screws, springs). The most appropriate moment to use them is when children and adolescents are growing. Both the duration of treatment with removable retainers and its effectiveness depend on the type of malocclusion, the patient’s age and the patient’s cooperation with the doctor. To expect a positive treatment result, your child must follow the rules for the use of removable retainers: wearing time and method of use.
Permanent retainers
Permanent retainers are adapted to permanent dentition and allow the teeth to be moved in different directions. Permanent retainers consist of various types of catches (brackets and rings) fixed permanently on the surface of the teeth with the use of special adhesives. These catches hold the resilient wires, which are the actual source of the force acting on the teeth. Since permanent braces exert constant pressure throughout the treatment period, they provide precise therapeutic effects.