Q: What kind of teeth need orthodontic treatment? A: Any malformation that affects the aesthetics and function of the teeth should be corrected. The most common is the misalignment of teeth, there are also some abnormalities of the bite, for example, commonly known as “pocket teeth”, also known as “ground envelope”, and “buck teeth”, these are These are problems with the bite. There are other special cases that can be examined in the hospital to determine whether orthodontic treatment is needed. Q: What are the dangers of misaligned teeth? A: The harm of misaligned teeth is first of all the aesthetic impact, some children will not look good because of the teeth and make self-confidence setback; second is the functional impact, there are some serious dental misalignment or poor bite will affect the patient’s chewing function, which will affect the body’s digestion and absorption of food. The uneven alignment of teeth also affects oral hygiene, and many places of brushing cannot be brushed, which can easily cause gingivitis, periodontitis and dental caries. In addition, some bite abnormalities can also affect the health of the temporomandibular joint. Q: When is the best time to straighten my child’s uneven teeth? A: The best age for orthodontic treatment is around twelve years old, when the baby teeth are completely replaced by the permanent teeth. However, there are some cases that need to be orthodontic treatment earlier, such as children who have already developed “enameled teeth” during the period of milk teeth, can go to the hospital when they are four or five years old for examination and treatment as appropriate; there are also children who have some bad habits that lead to misaligned teeth, they should also go to the hospital for treatment as early as possible. Parents are advised to visit the hospital regularly, such as every six months, to detect the problem early. Q: Is orthodontic treatment available for adults with uneven teeth? A: There is no age limit for orthodontic treatment. Adults can undergo orthodontic treatment as well, provided that periodontitis, dental caries, TMJ disease and other oral related diseases have been well treated. However, orthodontic treatment for adults can take three to six months longer than that for children because they have finished their development. Q: What should I do if I want to have orthodontic treatment but don’t want people to see the metal braces in my mouth? A: Considering more and more patients’ requirements for aesthetics, the Orthodontics Department of Beijing Dental Hospital has introduced three major types of aesthetic orthodontic methods with different degrees: I Ceramic brackets, the brackets glued on each tooth are no longer metal, but transparent in color, basically the same color as the teeth from a distance, and only an arch wire in the middle when viewed up close; II Lingual braces, as the name implies, all the braces are installed on the lingual side of the teeth. Whether smiling or talking, friends standing across from you can’t see that you’re wearing braces; III invisible orthodontic technology, so you can completely get rid of steel teeth, all the aligners are transparent resin molding, individualized production, and can be removed and worn according to the needs of the patient. Q: Do I need to have my teeth extracted for orthodontic treatment? A: Approximately 40% of patients will need to have their teeth extracted for orthodontic treatment. Since modern people eat more and more fine food, the jawbone has shrunk a lot compared to primitive humans, but the number of teeth has not decreased, so there is no room for teeth to grow, and as a result, the teeth are out and out of alignment. Misaligned teeth actually have no chewing function or chewing efficiency is very low. The purpose of extraction is to I create a gap to align other misaligned teeth; II improve the lateral appearance of some patients, such as the commonly known “buck teeth” mouth protrusion; III adjust the bite relationship, the poor bite of teeth will not only affect chewing, but also affect the health of the temporomandibular joint. Q: Do I need to pay attention to anything after I get braces? A: There are three main things to pay attention to: I. Brush your teeth properly. It is very important to maintain oral hygiene after wearing braces. If the food residue left in the gap between teeth and around the braces is not cleaned, it will easily cause gingivitis, periodontitis, dental caries and a series of other problems, so it is recommended to brush your teeth carefully after each meal, and the toothbrush should be replaced every two months; II Do not chew too hard food when eating. All the melons, fruits, pears and peaches should be cut into small pieces and chewed slowly, all the meat on the bones such as chicken legs and ribs should be torn off the bones, not to be chewed directly, and corn and other things should not be chewed, glutinous rice and other things that are too sticky should not be eaten; III There will be foreign body feeling and slight pain discomfort in the first week after wearing braces, usually this feeling will be obviously reduced after a week, if there is strong discomfort, please contact your doctor in time. If you have strong discomfort, please contact your primary care doctor. Q: How long does orthodontic treatment usually take? A: From the first consultation, examination, design of the plan to the braces, it takes one month to two months; after the braces are put on, it takes about two years until the treatment is finished and the braces are removed. Q: What is a retainer? A: After the patient’s braces are removed, the doctor will make a retainer for the patient to wear, usually a clear laminate retainer or Hawley’s retainer, which is basically invisible in the mouth and is more aesthetically pleasing than braces. The retainer is designed to reinforce the treatment results and can be removed by the patient and reviewed every six months as needed. Retainers must be worn daily for the first two years after treatment ends. If retainers are not worn in the early years of treatment, relapse can easily occur and teeth that were once aligned can become unaligned again. Q: Can misalignment of teeth be prevented? A: Some bad habits in early development of children can lead to misaligned teeth, such as bottle sipping, finger eating, lip biting, open mouth breathing, sideways chewing, etc. Early detection and breaking of these bad habits can prevent some of the misaligned teeth. Early detection and elimination of these bad habits can prevent some of the misaligned teeth. Premature decay, loss of baby teeth or retention of baby teeth can also lead to uneven eruption of permanent teeth, so parents should take their children to the hospital for examination and treatment. There are also some children with malocclusion that are influenced by genetic or congenital factors, which are not easy to prevent. In conclusion, parents should start to pay attention to their children’s dental health after the first tooth erupts.