4 signs you need to wear braces on your teeth –

Many of us have had to wear braces on our teeth as a child. For a period of their lives, taking pictures or smiling seemed like a problem, as well as eating certain foods (those who have never been bothered by cabbage stuck in the device, throw the first stone!). As time went by, the teeth were straightened and we got rid of the braces.

However, not only do many adults have to get braces back, they sometimes have to put them on for the first time since they didn’t have dental treatments as children.

WHY USE APPLIANCE?

“Most adult patients seek orthodontic treatment for aesthetic reasons, but a portion comes to me for pain or functional dysfunction, usually related to the TMJ “, explains the orthodontist Dr. Karin Stamer.

Look good in the photo, even more so in times of instagram, has been shown to be a factor that leads people to the dentist, however, there are many reasons that ask for correction via orthodontic appliances, such as correcting the position of the teeth – the most common is to see a lack or excess of space, caused by the difference between the size of bone bases and teeth. “These problems generate dental crowding or diastemas (spaces between teeth)”, explains Karin.

Other problems are functional and the result of negative oral habits, such as finger sucking (think of children who suck their thumb when sleeping, for example). These habits are true “villains” for the dental arch, leading to crossbite, triangular arches, open bite, among other alterations.

“The early loss of baby teeth can lead to loss of space for the eruption of the permanent tooth, delay or accelerate its eruption, requiring treatment to correct and control these changes”, continues the orthodontist. “When tooth loss occurs in adulthood, it can cause migration and changes in the position of several teeth, including in the opposite arch to the loss, generating serious aesthetic and functional problems.”

If all this is too complicated to understand, we can simplify the reasons for adults to use braces in 4 points:

Crooked or misaligned teeth
problems with the bite
Spaced teeth
Jaw and headache pain

HOW DO I KNOW WHICH APPLIANCE IS THE IDEAL TREATMENT?

Ok, we have the reasons for using braces, but, apart from aesthetic issues, how do you know that the problem is in your teeth? Of course, there is the obvious toothache, which immediately calls for a specialist appointment. But other than that, there are other signs and symptoms.

“In children, one should observe whether the lips are closed, whether there is snoring when sleeping or whether the child can feed with his mouth closed”, explains Karin. “Dark circles and low head posture, as if the child was sad all the time, may be indicative of the need for facial orthopedic treatment using devices. And constant use of a pacifier, sucking fingers, biting nails, biting objects like markers, can also generate the need for orthodontic treatment.”

As an adult, some signs are:

Gums that bleed easilyindicating the existence of gingivitis or even periodontitis.
TMJ painwhich may be indicative of functional problems with the bite.
Bruxism or teeth clenchingwhich may be a warning sign that something is wrong with the occlusion.

An orthodontic treatment, which corrects the position of the teeth, can last from a few months, in the simplest cases, to 2 months, in the most complex ones, regardless of the patient’s age.

The good news is that many treatments are performed using clear aligners (like the famous Invisalign), which makes this process more comfortable and faster.

However, some patients are more sensitive than others, and may be bothered by the fact that the teeth are a little sore, since orthodontic movement occurs at the expense of inflammation of the fibers that attach the teeth to the bone.

“During the treatment, spaces can appear between the teeth, causing food impaction and some aesthetic discomfort, but these changes are temporary”, explains the orthodontist. “For some people, discrete changes in diction may appear while using the devices. As for removable appliances, care must be taken not to lose or break the appliance when it is out of the mouth.”