Orthodontics

Orthodontics & Orthodontic Treatment in Karachi

Orthodontics at Rehan Dental Surgery typical treatment for malocclusion can take around range from one to three years. When active treatment ends, retainers are prescribed for most patients to keep teeth in their new positions with braces being altered slightly every 6 to 8 weeks by the our Orthodontist. There are multiple methods for adjusting malocclusion, depending on the needs of the individual patient. In growing patients there are more options for treating skeletal discrepancies, either promoting or restricting growth using functional appliances. Extraction of teeth can be required in some cases to aid the Orthodontic treatment. Starting the treatment process of overjets and prominent upper teeth in children rather than waiting until the child has reached adolescence has been shown to reduce damage to the lateral and central incisors.

Appliances Fixed & Removable

Rehan Dental surgery use many different types of appliances in Orthodontic treatment in Karachi, both fixed and removable, are used to help move teeth, retrain muscles and affect the growth of the jaws. We carefully select the best suited appliances by placing gentle pressure on the teeth and jaws as per need of patient. There are number of options available depending on the  severity of your problem of patients will determine which orthodontic approach is likely to be adopted and the most effective.

The fixed appliances include braces and fixed space maintainers. Braces are the most common type of fixed appliance. Braces consist of bands, brackets and wires. Bands are secured around molar teeth used as an anchor for the appliance, whereas brackets are attached to the front teeth through which wires are passed and attached to the bands.

The arch wires are slowly tightened which put tension on the teeth pulling them into proper position. Braces are usually adjusted monthly over a period of a few months to a couple of years. Braces today are smaller, lighter and have far less metal so as to be as comfortable as possible.

Ligature tied onto the braces comes in a variety of colors and styles to suit ones preferences. Fixed space maintainers are used for younger patients who have lost a tooth prematurely. This appliance helps to keep the space open until a permanent one erupts. It consists of a band attached to the tooth next to the empty space and a wire extended across the tooth to the other side of the space.

There are also multiple removable appliances used in orthodontics such as removable space maintainers, jaw repositioning appliances, lip and cheek bumpers, palatal expanders, removable retainers, headgear and aligners.

Removable space maintainers serve the same purpose as a fixed space maintainer but are made out with acrylic bases and have plastic or wire branches between specific teeth to keep them open.

Jaw repositioning appliances or splints are worn on either the lower or top jaw and their purpose is to train the jaw to close in a favorable position. Lip or cheek bumpers are designed to keep the cheeks or lips away from the teeth because both can apply pressure on the teeth causing malocclusions. These bumpers help to relieve this pressure.

The palatal expander function is to widen the arch of the upper jaw. Pressure applied to the plate by the screws forces the joints of the jaw to open lengthwise thus widening the palatal area.

Removable retainers are used as a preventive measure which stops teeth from going back to their original position and are worn at the roof of the mouth. Headgear is device in which a strap is placed at the back of the head and a metal wire is placed at the front. This is to reduce the growth of the upper jaw. Aligners an alternative to traditional braces for adults, serial aligners are being used by us at Rehan Dental Surgery by our Orthodontists to move teeth in the same way that fixed appliances work, only without metal wires and brackets.

The fixed appliances include braces and fixed space maintainers. Braces are the most common type of fixed appliance. Braces consist of bands, brackets and wires. Bands are secured around molar teeth used as an anchor for the appliance, whereas brackets are attached to the front teeth through which wires are passed and attached to the bands. The arch wires are slowly tightened which put tension on the teeth pulling them into proper position.

Braces are usually adjusted monthly over a period of a few months to a couple of years. Braces today are smaller, lighter and have far less metal so as to be as comfortable as possible. Ligature tied onto the braces comes in a variety of colors and styles to suit ones preferences.

Fixed space maintainers are used for younger patients who have lost a tooth prematurely. This appliance helps to keep the space open until a permanent one erupts. It consists of a band attached to the tooth next to the empty space and a wire extended across the tooth to the other side of the space.

There are also multiple removable appliances used in orthodontics such as removable space maintainers, jaw repositioning appliances, lip and cheek bumpers, palatal expanders, removable retainers, headgear and aligners. Removable space maintainers serve the same purpose as a fixed space maintainer but are made out with acrylic bases and have plastic or wire branches between specific teeth to keep them open. Jaw repositioning appliances or splints are worn on either the lower or top jaw and their purpose is to train the jaw to close in a favorable position.

Lip or cheek bumpers are designed to keep the cheeks or lips away from the teeth because both can apply pressure on the teeth causing malocclusions.These bumpers help to relieve this pressure.

The palatal expander function is to widen the arch of the upper jaw. Pressure applied to the plate by the screws forces the joints of the jaw to open lengthwise thus widening the palatal area. Removable retainers are used as a preventive measure which stops teeth from going back to their original position and are worn at the roof of the mouth. Headgear is device in which a strap is placed at the back of the head and a metal wire is placed at the front. This is to reduce the growth of the upper jaw. Aligners an alternative to traditional braces for adults, serial aligners are being used by us at Rehan Dental Surgery by our Orthodontists to move teeth in the same way that fixed appliances work, only without metal wires and brackets.

Aligners an alternative to traditional braces for adults, serial aligners are being used by us at Rehan Dental Surgery by our  Orthodontists to move teeth in the same way that fixed appliances work, only without metal wires and brackets. Invisible Aligners are virtually not visible and are removed while eating, brushing and flossing.

Comparison between removable and fixed appliances

There are many advantages of both removable and fixed appliances. The advantages of fixed appliances are;

• Optimum precision and control of individual and sets of teeth
• Rapid and highly aesthetic results.

The advantages of removable appliances include

• Cost effective
• Can be removed on socially sensitive occasions
• Effective and the only recommended treatment in preadolescent and adolescent ages
• Functional therapy during growing ages for modification of pattern of jaw growth

How do you know that you need orthodontic treatment?

Only your dentist can advise you regarding the need for orthodontic treatment. He will use different diagnostic tools such as dental history, full medical records, plaster models of teeth, x-rays and photographs to determine a treatment plan for you.

However there are some signs that could show that you are a candidate for orthodontic treatment such as:

Overbite also called “buck teeth” is where the upper jaw lies too far forward over the lower jaw. Underbite is where the lower jaw is too far forward or the upper teeth too far back .Crossbite is where the upper or lower jaw is in a more lingual or buccal position in comparison to the other jaw.

Open bite is when your back teeth bite together but a space remains in front of your teeth. Misplaced midline is basically where the center of the two lower front teeth and the two upper front teeth do not align or match. Spacing are  gaps, or spaces, between the teeth as a result of missing teeth .Crowding when there are more teeth than the dental bridge an accommodate.