Orthodontics in layman’s terms is the straightening of uneven teeth. Our orthodontic treatment goals are aesthetics, health, function and stability. 1. Aesthetics – is to straighten the disordered teeth to improve your facial appearance and give you a beautiful smile. 2.Health – is to keep your teeth and gums and other periodontal tissues healthy through orthodontic treatment; and to enhance your self-confidence and keep your psychological health. 3.Function – it means to improve your chewing function through orthodontic treatment, so that you can eat when you want. 4.Stability – It means to keep the results of orthodontic treatment and avoid relapse. What is the scope of orthodontic treatment? The scope of orthodontic treatment: it mainly includes the correction of various misalignments, such as misaligned eruption of individual teeth, abnormal arch morphology and tooth alignment, abnormal arch, jaw bone, craniofacial relationship, etc. Common conditions such as: labial or lingual misalignment of teeth (tiger teeth, rabbit teeth), tooth crowding and overlapping misalignment, interdental gaps, anterior protrusion or opening of teeth (diastema), and poor chewing function of teeth, etc. Is the orthodontist regular? An orthodontist is a specialist. He must first be an oral surgeon, and then go through 2 to 3 years of postgraduate study in orthodontic theory and technical training to become an orthodontist. The Orthodontic Committee of the Chinese Dental Association has made clear provisions for this, orthodontics is a new discipline, knowledge and technology updates quickly, a qualified orthodontist must not only go through formal training, but also work after continuous learning to improve in order to provide better treatment for patients. Can’t I get orthodontic treatment when I’m older? Tooth movement is a bone remodeling process that occurs throughout life, so orthodontics is suitable for both young and old. However, the time to begin orthodontic treatment varies from individual to individual. Children as young as three or four years old, as old as 80 or 90 years old, can be the target group for orthodontic treatment. In theory, there is no strict age limit for orthodontics, but for adults, there are many complications that are different from those of teenagers, most notably: 1, adults pay more attention to aesthetics; 2, adult alveolar bone is less reactive, so the treatment process is generally longer; 3, periodontal inflammation is prevalent in adults, and cannot be corrected if it is active or uncontrolled; 4, adults have no growth potential and more severe skeletal deformities, which generally require surgery. Despite the above problems, but in the clinic, with the improvement of living standards and changing concepts, the number of cases of adult orthodontics has been on the rise, foreign general to 30% proportion; 40-50 years old cases, and even 60 years old cases are repeatedly reported. Age is not the most important requirement for orthodontic treatment, the key is whether the conditions for orthodontic treatment are met, which mainly includes periodontal condition and general health. When should I undergo orthodontic treatment? There are some malocclusions that need to be treated early (3-5 years old), such as “ground bite”, lip biting, finger sucking and other bad habits. However, it is advisable to consult and examine the orthodontist when permanent teeth start to erupt in children (8-10 years old). Because at this time, the process of permanent teeth eruption can be observed early and regularly, and problems can be detected and solved in time. The best age for most fixed orthodontics is between 11-16 years old, which we call the best time. Why is it important to correct “ingrown teeth” early? “The principle of orthodontic correction is early orthodontic treatment to prevent malocclusion. At present, there is a widespread misconception in the community that the milk teeth do not need to be treated, and it is not too late to wait until the child has replaced the teeth. If left untreated, when the permanent dentition changes from dental to bony malformation, the entire facial shape will change and cannot be corrected by moving the teeth alone, but requires surgery at the same time. Children under the age of 4 are too young to cooperate with the surgeon in the fabrication and fitting of orthodontic appliances. Children over the age of 4 years have the ability to control themselves to a certain extent, so doctors generally recommend starting treatment for retrogression at the age of 4 years. If the teeth are mildly retruded during the period of baby teeth or alternate teeth, they can be treated with movable braces under the guidance of the doctor. At the same time, since most of the retrogressions are hereditary and recurring, some children may have retrogressions again after the correction of their baby teeth, and they need to be treated again after the eruption of permanent teeth. How long does orthodontic treatment take? We generally expect orthodontic treatment to take about 18 months. However, each patient’s degree of deformity varies and so does the length of treatment. As long as you work well with your orthodontist, keep regular follow-up appointments, maintain good oral hygiene, and protect your aligners from damage, then the orthodontic treatment time will be greatly reduced. What do I need to do at my first visit to the orthodontist? At your first visit to the orthodontist you can ask any questions you may have. The doctor will give you a detailed clinical examination, then draw up a general treatment plan, estimate the course of treatment and the cost. If both the doctor and patient agree that treatment is necessary, the doctor will take impressions of your teeth and allow you to take the necessary photographs and x-rays. Finally, the orthodontist will give you an appointment for your next follow-up appointment. Why do some people need to have their teeth extracted to straighten their teeth? Because with space to extract teeth, we can comfortably correct crowding, make space to retract teeth that are protruding forward, correct the bite, etc. It should be reminded that tooth extraction is a destructive treatment, and whether orthodontic patients need to be extracted for orthodontic treatment is decided by the orthodontic specialist after a thorough examination and analysis of the patient’s malocclusion treatment, so patients should not blindly listen to the advice of people without professional knowledge before treatment, and rashly remove teeth and cause irreparable damage. Will tooth extraction affect the health of teeth? No. At the end of treatment, the doctor will completely close the gap where the tooth was extracted, leaving no gap and no need for dentures. As long as you receive proper treatment from your orthodontist and follow the doctor’s instructions, it will not cause loosening of your teeth, and you will not lose them easily even in your old age, and it will not affect your nerves or cause other after-effects. Will wearing orthodontic appliances affect my life? When just wearing aligners, patients may not be very adaptable, sensitive patients can choose orthodontic special mucous membrane protection wax to keep the mouth comfortable, it will be fine after a few days, when eating, the movement should be light, try to avoid eating coarse and hard food, so as not to cause brackets off. Do not touch the orthodontic device on the teeth with your fingers either. You can safely engage in various outdoor sports and other daily activities. Why do I have to wear retainers? Retainers are made to prevent relapse after orthodontic treatment is completed. They are part of orthodontic treatment and should not be underestimated. If you do not wear your retainer as required by your doctor, you can describe your treatment as a “failure”. This is because when the teeth are aligned, they are not yet stable in their new position, and if you do not wear a retainer, your teeth will move back to their original position, which we call a relapse. The retainer must be worn to stabilize the tooth in its new position and give it enough time to undergo biological modification before you can truly have a straight tooth. Retainers generally take two years to wear, with the first six months or so requiring the patient to wear them around the clock, and after a year the retention time is greatly reduced, usually only at night, which is determined by the doctor at the follow-up appointment based on the retention results. The retention time for adult patients is extended accordingly, and even lifelong retention is required. How much does orthodontic treatment cost? The cost of orthodontic treatment is determined by: the complexity of the condition, the age of the patient, the type of aligner chosen, and the estimated length of the treatment course. The cost of orthodontic treatment varies from patient to patient because each patient’s case is different. There are also regional differences in the cost of orthodontics. What orthodontic bracket options are available? In the past, there was only one type of metal bracket for orthodontic treatment, and you didn’t like it, but you didn’t have a choice. Now, however, you have more options: traditional stainless steel brackets, clear ceramic brackets, and bracketless invisible braces. Will wearing aligners interfere with sports? You can play all kinds of sports and outdoor activities as usual. However, it is recommended that you do not engage in strenuous, competitive sports that may scratch your lips and damage your aligners.