Benefits of orthodontics
Orthodontics has many benefits, including the following:
- Treating dental crowding and misalignment problems; straightening crooked teeth and aligning their edges.
- Treating dental occlusion problems, so that the upper and lower front and back teeth of the jaws fit together harmoniously when biting, which reduces the chances of damage to protruding teeth.
- Improving the appearance of teeth by closing large gaps between them or returning protruding front teeth to their place.
- Preventing tooth erosion and long-term damage.
- Improve chewing and some speech problems.
- Promote long-term gum and dental health.
To better understand the benefits of braces, it is noted that the abnormal positioning of the jaws and teeth may affect the shape of the face in some cases. Also, problems with the occlusion and crowding of the teeth may make it difficult to clean the teeth and gums, which increases the chance of damage to them. Problems with the occlusion may lead to pressure on the jaw muscles, which causes damage to the jaw and its joints and sometimes causes headaches. However, as mentioned, braces are an effective treatment for these cases.
To learn more about the benefits of orthodontics, you can read the following article: (Benefits of orthodontics) .
Disadvantages of orthodontics
Orthodontics is generally safe, but it may be accompanied by some risks in some cases. These risks can be reduced by following the advice of the treating physician carefully, as will be mentioned later. It is noted that most of these risks are caused either by a lack of attention to oral hygiene or by some previous health problems in the mouth and not by orthodontics, as modern orthodontic treatments are more accurate and easier and achieve faster results than before. Therefore, care must be taken to clean the teeth and orthodontics carefully during the period of installing the braces due to the possibility of food accumulating between the parts of the braces and increasing the chance of tartar formation on the teeth, especially if sugars are consumed from juices and foods frequently.
The following is a statement of some of the potential harms of orthodontics:
- Tooth decay and gum disease: Eating foods rich in sugars and not paying attention to dental hygiene regularly and properly leads to tooth decay and gum disease. As mentioned, braces do not in themselves lead to this, but they increase the chance of infection. Therefore, it is necessary to be careful to brush your teeth and pay attention to oral hygiene in general during the period of installation.
- Permanent stains or dental decalcification: The stains that may appear on the teeth after removing braces are known as dental decalcification. They are white spots that appear on the tooth enamel. They are the most common damage caused by braces and are caused by the acid produced by the bacterial metabolism of dental tartar.
- Toothache and mild discomfort: A person may feel mild pain or discomfort after installing braces, especially at the beginning of treatment, as the positions of the teeth begin to change and the mouth needs to adapt to the braces, or when the doctor makes adjustments to the braces. The severity of the discomfort that a person may feel depends on the type of treatment and the person’s ability to tolerate pain. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen and paracetamol can be used if the toothache is caused by the pressure of the braces on the teeth or their adjustment. However, if the pain continues for a long time, a doctor should be consulted immediately.
- Injuries associated with removable braces: It is recommended to avoid using removable braces during certain activities and sports that involve rough movements, as they may cause facial injuries.
- Short tooth root: As a result of the change in the position of the tooth and its movement after installing the braces, part of the tooth root may disintegrate, which may lead to weakness in the stability of the tooth and ease of its movement. However, in most cases, this does not cause dental problems. However, in very rare cases, the color of the teeth may change or the person may resort to root canal treatment.
- Relapse: Some relapse may occur, with some teeth partially returning to their previous shape if the doctor’s instructions are not strictly followed after removing the braces. Therefore, care must be taken to use a device known as a retainer after removing the braces. It is a tool that is used after removing the braces and obtaining the desired shape. It may be fixed or removable and maintains the shape and regularity of the teeth. If the removable retainer is not used, the teeth may begin to return to their previous shape.
- Cysts: Cysts may form when there are teeth that have not fully erupted from the jaw. This may lead to damage to adjacent teeth, bones, blood vessels, or nerves in the area. Therefore, this type of teeth must be monitored by X-rays to ensure that these cysts do not form.
- Loosening of the braces: In some cases, the braces may loosen or break, which may lead to irritation or injury to the lips, gums, or inside the cheeks. It should be noted that these symptoms may occur at the beginning of the installation of the braces even without loosening. Parts of the braces may also be swallowed or inhaled in some cases when they accidentally separate from the teeth. Therefore, care must be taken to adhere to the doctor’s instructions and to be sure to inform the doctor immediately if you feel any abnormal symptoms, or if the braces loosen, or are damaged or broken.
- Allergic reaction: In some cases, an allergic reaction may occur to the latex rubber used in elastic bands or the type of metal used in braces. The person should inform the doctor of any allergies he has to use the appropriate type of bands (latex-free) and change the type of metal.
To learn more about the harms of braces, you can read the following article: (What are the harms of braces? )
Tips to reduce the damage of braces
To reduce the damage caused by orthodontics, and to reduce damage to teeth or braces, the following tips can be followed:
- Limit the intake of foods and drinks rich in starches and sugars, which play a role in tooth decay and tartar formation.
- Rinse and brush your teeth carefully, making sure that all food residue is removed. This can be confirmed by looking at your teeth in the mirror.
- Brush your teeth regularly and carefully. It is preferable to brush your teeth after every meal, or at least rinse your mouth with water if you are unable to brush them, and be sure to use a soft toothbrush.
- Use toothpaste that contains fluoride, and consult your doctor about using a mouthwash that contains fluoride.
- Floss your teeth by passing the floss between the brackets and wires of your braces and using a special, flexible toothbrush to clean between the tight spaces and between the brackets and wires.
- Avoid eating sticky foods such as gum and sticky sweets, as they may cause the braces and their various parts to come off or be pulled out of place.
- Avoid eating hard and crunchy foods such as carrots, ice, hard candy, popcorn, and nuts as they may break the braces.
- Make sure to visit the doctor periodically according to the doctor’s instructions to ensure the safety of the braces and teeth cleaning.
- Be sure to adhere to the doctor’s instructions to avoid increasing the duration of treatment and reduce the risk of exposure to some complications and health damages.
It is worth noting that orthodontics requires full cooperation with the doctor; therefore, the results of the treatment depend on the person's commitment to the doctor's instructions to a large extent, and ensuring that these instructions are carefully understood to avoid problems and disorders in the teeth or failure of the treatment. It is also necessary to see a doctor in the event of a recession in one of the parts of the braces or in the event that a part of the braces is noticed to be protruding, causing irritation or a wound in the mouth. In this case, the doctor may cover the protruding part with a waxy substance to prevent friction with the mouth, or adjust the braces.
