When a person’s teeth are misaligned, it can result in a myriad of oral health issues, including gum diseases, difficulty chewing or eating, and jaw damage. On top of that, it can also negatively influence people’s physiological well-being and self-esteem.
Conventional orthodontics, such as metal braces, may prove to be the ultimate solution for you if you have dental issues that take away your sparkle and affect your oral health. This traditional approach to correcting orthodontic issues can also help to fix complicated jaw alignment problems. This article focuses on unveiling the significance of conventional orthodontics so you can make pronounced decisions for your oral health.
WHY DO YOU NEED CONVENTIONAL ORTHODONTICS?
The main purpose of conventional orthodontics is to help you get rid of oral imperfections. In today’s modern era, new technologies have diversified conventional orthodontics and have made them more comfortable, efficient, and precise than ever before. Generally, people associate traditional braces with children, but nowadays, adults are also opting for conventional braces in order to fix malocclusions and other oral complexities.
Here is a wide range of benefits that conventional orthodontics offers, which make it the most appropriate treatment approach for multiple oral health issues.
1. THEY CAN HELP ADJUST FACIAL FEATURES:
Conventional braces can definitely exert a positive impact on your facial shape. By correcting issues like gapped, overcrowded, misaligned, and crooked teeth, traditional braces can certainly improve the symmetry of your face. Therefore, after getting traditional metal braces, people find their facial features more balanced and symmetrical.
If you’ve been wearing these braces for prolonged periods, they can even change your jawline, chin, and the shape of your lips. Over time, traditional braces imperceptibly tighten your jawline and your teeth, imparting you with more presentable facial features.
2. CORRECT ORAL IRREGULARITIES IN MINIMUM AMOUNT OF TIME:
Another significant benefit of conventional orthodontics is their short duration. This is because traditional braces exert a decent amount of consistent force on the teeth, and adjustment takes lesser time than other dental alternatives. In fact, some misalignments can only be corrected through traditional braces, as other dental appliances may not provide adequate grip.
This is especially the case with the posterior teeth (molars), as they have the strongest roots; therefore, they need more force to realign. However, if metal braces no longer provide enough force for realignment, an adjustment to the wires or brackets is needed. This would apply an adequate amount of torque to correct the issue and move teeth into their desired position.
3. THEY OFFER A BUNCH OF OPTIONS:
Conventional metal braces are visible when you smile; therefore, they offer different cosmetic options. The metal may be of different colors, such as silver or gold, making them appear like jewelry. This creativity with design and colors can also persuade children to get metal braces.
4. CONVENTIONAL ORTHODONTICS IS THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE OPTION:
Conventional orthodontics, such as metal braces, are a widely accepted and proven method. They fix a diverse range of dental issues and are considered both restorative and aesthetic procedures. In addition to being the most effective option, metal braces are also quite affordable.
In some cases, dental insurance may contribute to the cost of this treatment procedure. Nonetheless, even if your insurance company does not cover all the expenses, metal braces still cost less than other orthodontic options. They are installed in a single sitting, and people are only required to visit their dentist for adjustments.
However, the exact difference between the cost of conventional metal braces and other treatment options depends on the duration of the treatment. Make sure to talk to your dental professional about the procedure of metal braces so they can fit your needs.
5. THEY’RE MORE DURABLE:
Traditional metal braces are more durable than other alignment options, like plastic aligners. Not only is metal a more durable material, but these braces also have the advantage of not being easily lost as they are permanently fixed to your teeth. Therefore, if you or your child have misaligned teeth, traditional metal braces may be the perfect method for you. They’re fabricated with tiny stainless steel brackets that are attached to your teeth, and then an archwire connects to the brackets.
The archwire is adjusted periodically to slowly shift your teeth into the desired position. In some cases, dentists may also suggest fitting metal bands to your back teeth. These bands are resilient and can effectively help keep the braces in their fixed place.
PROCESS OF GETTING CONVENTIONAL BRACES:
1. INITIAL CONSULTATION:
In the initial appointment with the orthodontist, he will closely assess your teeth and take X-rays to determine if braces suit you. During the first appointment, dentists also take impressions of patients’ teeth in order to begin their treatment procedure.
2. TREATMENT PLAN:
Following the initial consultation, dentists tailor a treatment plan that suits the unique requirements of every patient to acquire optimum results. Your braces will be crafted according to the molds and the impressions of your teeth.
3. PLACING THE BRACES:
In the next appointment, dentists place customized braces on the teeth of their patients. During this session, the dental professional cleans and conditions patients’ teeth. Next, they prime their teeth and place predetermined brackets. Once the brackets are in place, the wire is added into the brackets to hold the braces in the right position.
4. DISCUSSION OF ORAL CARE:
Properly taking care of your conventional braces is a pivotal step to keeping your treatment on track. Once your metal braces are installed, your dentist will suggest some basic care tips, like how to brush your teeth in a proper manner and which toothpaste is the most suitable one. Sometimes, dental professionals also provide patients with small spindle brushes to clean between the wires of braces and thoroughly remove food debris and bacteria.
5. ADJUSTMENTS & CHECKUPS:
Once metal braces get installed, the first readjustment is needed after almost 3 to 4 weeks. During this appointment, dentists typically insert a new wire into the brackets in order to provide an improved torque to patients’ teeth. The new wire will be relatively stronger than the previous wire. At each adjustment appointment, dental professionals place a slightly different wire to shift the teeth to their required position.
