The A to Z of Braces and Aligners

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Precision Dental Clinic, Dubai

2301 Aspin Commercial Tower, Near Shangri La Hotel - 106 Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai
Dubai

What is orthodontics?

As a specialty, it is to improve the aesthetics, function and stability of teeth. What I mean by this is that, not only do we straighten the teeth and make your smile look good, we get the teeth into position where they function well with each other in terms of biting, speaking and being in harmony with the muscles and joints of the jaw. It also involves looking at the treatment over a period of time. For example for teens, teeth are growing so you have to consider how they will develop whereas for adults you have to consider how the teeth will support the face, jaw and muscles during the aging process.

What makes an orthodontist good?

A good orthodontist gives a lot of importance to diagnosis and treatment planning. Every patient has a unique set of problems which includes dental, medical and socio-economic issues. It’s not just teeth you are treating but the person themselves and tailoring a treatment plan that accommodates all the issues pertaining to that person. 

What are the differences between braces and aligners?

Braces and aligners are two different modalities of straightening teeth to a correct bite. Braces are fixed onto the teeth and can only be fitted or removed by an orthodontist. Aligners are a removable solution. There’s a lot of technology involved with creating and developing aligners. You will need a virtual 3-D model made of the teeth, along with a treatment plan for aligners to be made to specification. For braces, they are typically placed directly onto the teeth and the movements are controlled by the orthodontist.

What is a better solution: braces or aligners?

The end result of either treatment is straight teeth and the bite is improved. In certain cases you need more control over the kind of movements to shift teeth into certain positions, for most orthodontists and I personally prefer to have something fixed. Braces tend to give you more control over how teeth are moving. Aligners do have some limitations, however in the end, it is according to the profile of the patient and the recommendation of the orthodontist as to which orthodontic treatment is the most appropriate for the patient to have a good smile, bite and look good over time. 

What is the best brand of invisible aligner?

The most important difference between the brands of aligners is unfortunately something that the patient can’t see. It is something that a doctor can see and decide. It is pretty much the back-end, the software that is being used to develop the treatment plan and to control the movements of the aligner. That’s one aspect of it, the other is the material that the aligners are made from. Considering these two factors, different aligners will give you different results with some being more effective than others. 

How long does an orthodontic treatment last, and how to ensure great lasting results?

Between one to two years is how long it takes to get full a full orthodontic treatment done. For some patients, a simple alignment treatment can otherwise take 6 to 8 months. The function of the retainer after orthodontic treatment is to hold the teeth in the corrected position after the treatment is over. Even after moving teeth, they have a tendency to want to move back to their original position and this tendency is the highest in the first year after completing a treatment. Retainers have to be worn very religiously during the first year.

What are some common misconceptions of braces and aligners?

MYTH 1: Aligners can be worn sometimes

TRUTH: Aligners need to be worn full time to be effective and should be removed only when eating or brushing.

MYTH 2: Retainers are not needed after an orthodontic treatment such as aligners

TRUTH: Whether you move teeth with braces or aligners you do need retainers to avoid teeth relapsing back to their original positions

MYTH 3: Teeth can be straightened only at certain ages

TRUTH: As long as you have healthy gum and bone condition, there is no age limit to when you can get your teeth straightened. Starting from the age of 7 or 8 upwards up to almost any age.