The use of orthodontic appliances and braces allows your teeth to be straightened by using the force of a straight wire. Braces can also assist a number of alignment issues and guide the growth and development of the facial bones. You might be considering braces if you experience the following:
- Crooked teeth
- Crowded teeth
- Gapped teeth
- An overbite
- An underbite
- A crossbite
- An incorrectly positioned jaw
Orthodontic appliances and braces work by applying continuous pressure over a period of time to gradually shift the teeth into a proper fitting. As the teeth move, the bone alters shape as pressure is applied. Having braces will not only improve your facial structure and teeth, it will significantly improve the way you look and feel. Apart from aesthetic benefits, braces can improve biting, chewing and speech.
Plates can also be used in orthodontics as part of early treatment for a number of reasons and are customized to address and intercept developing orthodontic problems in a growing child. They can be used for simple tooth movements, or as part of two-phase treatment to improve the alignment of the jaws first. While orthodontic plates are usually applied to correct small problems, they can also be used in the early phase treatment. For example, plates can be used in young children to close gaps or maintain appropriate space between teeth for the adult teeth to grow into. Although plates are designed to prevent extreme tooth movement, braces might still be required in a second phase of treatment to align the teeth and create a proper bite.
Signs that you or your child require orthodontic plates might include:
- Underbite
- Deep-bite
- Extreme tooth movement
- Gapped teeth