New Delhi - A smile has the power to bring a thaw to many unwanted situations -- it can break barriers and is a way to someone’s heart. In a perfect smile, bright, pearly white and even teeth contribute majorly.
For correcting the unevenness in teeth, braces had been the ultimate solution for ages. While many wear them to get their teeth aligned, some are hesitant to go for them mainly because of twin apprehensions -- visibility of wires and the long duration they have to be worn for effective outcomes. As unevenness or crooked teeth already are a source of embarrassment, those metal wires further ruin the looks, and so people are shy towards their use even when they help correct the condition.
“Advancement in orthodontic dentistry has found a solution for them in invisible braces or clear aligners wherein there is no use of metal, ceramic, lingual brackets and wires on teeth. As they are not visible, duration to wear it is also not an issue. Invisible braces are no less than a blessing for those who are looking for a solution, but are not open to traditional braces. The treatment process is also less painful and is convenient when it comes to brushing and flossing,” says Dr Amit Sachdeva, Sr Dental Surgeon, Axiss Dental, India’s leading multi-specialty chain of dental clinics.
In the West, the concept of invisible braces is very popular and it is fast catching up in India as well with people growing more conscious about their looks.
Invisible braces can effectively be used to treat many teeth abnormalities and are as good as any other metal braces. Some conditions that can be corrected with its use are:
Spacing or gaps: The continued growth of jawbones causes gaps in the teeth, putting teeth to risk of cavities, gum problems and diseases.
Crowding of teeth: This condition arises when the jaw do not have space to accommodate the teeth. Not treating it on time results in overcrowding which can lead to plaque accumulation, gum problems, cavities and tooth decay.
Overbite condition: The extreme protrusion of upper jaw leads to this. Due to the excessive protrusion, the upper jaw covers the lower jaw which can result in tooth wear, gum problems, irritation or cause pain.
Underbite condition: When lower jaw and teeth protrude to cover upper jaw, it causes underbite. This can again lead to tooth wear, gum problems and pain in the jaw.
Deepbite condition: In this condition, teeth in the upper jaw cover the teeth in lower jaw deeply. It results in tooth wear and causes chewing problems.
Openbite condition: This condition arises when the upper teeth do not make contact with the lower teeth, giving an impression that the mouth is never closed. It too can cause pain in the jaws.
Technology behind invisible braces
Clear plastic is used to create invisible braces which are customized as per the requirements and needs of the user. “Aligner trays are made to fit each jaw, and each stage of teeth aligning process. The aligners are developed after minute calculations and there are various stages to adjust them. The dentist keeps a tab on the progress and changes the braces every 4-6 weeks for proper shifting and movement of the teeth to their desired positions,” adds Dr Dev.
The invisible braces, which are designed using 3D software and cutting-edge technology, are flexible, removable and easy to wear unlike traditional braces.
Treatment Process For Invisible Braces
· Consultation with dentist: Initial consultation with the orthodontist provides insight into how grave the situation is and how much time it will require to fix the problem.
· Aligner fabrication: Post dentist’s check-up, a CT scan is conducted of the tooth impressions. A custom fit aligner is fabricated taking into account the tooth movements which are generated with the help of computer aided simulations.
· Placement of invisible brace: After fabrication of the brace is completed, they are tested on the user to check if they fit properly on not. In case there is any problem, corrections are made at the problem points.
Braces’ Care
· The braces should be removed only at the time of eating, brushing and flossing. Removing them unnecessarily will not give the desired outcome and delay the treatment process.
· When removed, the braces should be kept in clean case so that they do not cause any infection in the gums.
· Along with teeth, the braces should be cleaned twice a day – in the morning and in the night.
· After eating, mouth should be washed, whenever possible, to keep the braces clean and mouth smell-free.
· As the braces are made of plastic, too much pressure result in its breakage and cause harm to it. It is better to use soft toothbrush and avoid eating anything hard as long as the treatment continues.