At MarDenta we specialise in orthodontics and helping patients get a fabulous smile. Some people don’t really understand what orthodontics is and what options are available to them, so we wanted to give you the low down here.
Orthodontics is all about straightening crooked teeth or realigning teeth that don’t fit together such as an overbite or underbite, or teeth which are either too crowded or have gaps between them. The main reason that people come to us dentists for orthodontic treatments is that they want a better smile, but there are also some real health benefits to it too. Crooked teeth are harder to keep clean and therefore at greater risk of tooth decay, they can also stop you chewing properly and lead to headaches.
We have many different ways to straighten teeth, but the most common way is to use braces to move teeth into the correct position. There are braces which are fitted to the teeth on the outside, but also some which can be fitted inside the mouth so they are less visible. There are also removable braces and those that you sleep in at night.
The best time to start treatment is between 10 and 14 years old, as teeth are easiest to straighten at this age, and children are less self-conscious too. However, don’t feel that you’ve left it too late to get the perfect smile, orthodontic treatments are available for any age and they are a lot more attractive now than they used to be.
Our orthodontic specialist Dr. Ríos Godino also does dentofacial orthopaedic treatment for children. This entails guiding the development of the jaw and structure of the face while children are still growing to avoid problems with the teeth and jaw as adults. This can be treated using headgear and expanders while they are sleeping for example and can be done independently, or combined with traditional orthodontics if required.
A major step forward in orthodontics in recent years has been the development of aligners as an alternative to traditional braces. These are virtually invisible and can be removed during eating, brushing and flossing so they are much more comfortable and easier to keep clean.
We use the Invisalign treatment system, as it’s so popular around the world and has excellent results. They have a five step treatment process which starts with talking to an experienced Invisalign-trained provider such as MarDenta and scheduling a consultation to make sure it’s right for you. Then we create a customised treatment plan based on x-rays, pictures and impressions of your teeth. A set of custom-made aligners are then created for you and you start wearing them, removing them to eat and clean your teeth. You change these every two weeks to keep the teeth moving in the right direction and after around a year you should expect to have teeth that you can be proud of.
If you’d like to talk to us about having an orthodontic treatment and what we feel would be best for you, please book a consultation and take the first step to a beautiful smile.
