1. At what age should I take my child for his first orthodontic examination?
It is beneficial for children to have their first orthodontic examination at the age of 6-7, when the permanent teeth begin to erupt. With the orthodontic examination performed during this period, problems with the growth and development of the jaws and the erupting permanent teeth can be noticed. In some cases, treatment can be started immediately, and sometimes all of the patient's permanent teeth can be expected to erupt. If there is a skeletal and functional disorder, treatment should be started as soon as possible. The orthodontic treatment to be performed depends entirely on the severity of the disorder and only the orthodontist should make the treatment decision.
2. What is the source of orthodontic problems?
Orthodontic problems; hereditary causes, nutritional disorders, tooth decay, gum problems, early loss of primary teeth, mouth breathing, atypical (baby-like) swallowing, long-term use of fake pacifiers, bad habits such as thumb sucking, lip sucking, teeth clenching, nail biting, pencil biting, It may be caused by problems such as hormonal irregularities and systemic diseases.
3. Is there an age restriction for orthodontic treatment?
Contrary to popular belief, there is no age limitation in orthodontic treatment. If you are not satisfied with your smile, if you do not like your dental structure and facial aesthetics, you can receive orthodontic treatment, regardless of your age. While dental corrections can be made at any age if the bone and gum tissue supporting the teeth are healthy; Jaw problems can only be corrected at a young age. If we have a jaw problem and our growth and development have stopped, then orthodontic treatment alone will not be sufficient, however, orthognathic surgery applications are required.
4. Do prematurely lost milk teeth cause orthodontic problems?
The most common misconception about milk teeth is that milk teeth are temporary and brushing them is not very important. However, milk teeth serve as guides for the permanent teeth that will replace them and contribute to the development of the maxillofacial skeletal system. Milk teeth lost before eruption due to not being given the necessary importance, It prevents it from growing and expanding as it should. In this respect, giving due importance to milk teeth is very important for the health of permanent teeth.
5. My child sucks his thumb. What harms does it cause?
The newborn baby has a highly developed sucking mechanism. Thumb sucking is a phenomenon seen in normal children until the age of 3-4 without any psychopathological factors. Although thumb sucking is innocent and harmless in the early stages, it should be stopped at the age of 3.5. If it continues, negative and permanent damage occurs in the development of teeth and jaw, and the child must receive serious and long-term orthodontic treatment to correct it. This habit should be prevented by wearing gloves or socks at night or by applying bitter nail polish to the nails. If this cannot be achieved, 'habit breaking appliances' can be applied by an orthodontist.
6. What is the main purpose of orthodontic treatment?
The basic and main goals of orthodontic treatment; Providing chewing and speaking functions, helping to provide better oral hygiene by eliminating crowding, ensuring aesthetics and eliminating psychological problems by increasing the patient's self-confidence in society.
7. Do brackets and wires cause pain during fixed orthodontic treatment?
There is no pain for the patient during the insertion and removal of brackets and wires, and there is even no need for anesthesia. In the first days when braces are worn, there may be slight irritation on the inner surfaces of the cheeks and lips, and slight pain may be felt in the teeth while chewing. All these complaints disappear after about a week of getting used to it, and you won't even feel like you have a wire in your mouth.
8. Is there a need for tooth extraction in fixed orthodontic treatment?
If there is not enough space to move the teeth into their correct positions, tooth extraction may be required for orthodontic purposes. When deciding on tooth extraction, criteria such as the amount of crowding in the lower and upper jaw, the growth pattern of the lower and upper jaw, and the patient's facial profile are taken as basis. Even though the tooth is extracted, there will be no residue in the mouth at the end of the treatment. there is no gap left. However, the reason why tooth extraction was decided should be explained to the patient thoroughly before starting the treatment.
9. How often will I come for appointments?
Appointments are arranged on a case-by-case basis. In general, the appointment interval for patients receiving fixed orthodontic treatment varies between 4-5 weeks. However, there may be special situations that require more frequent control. Contrary to popular belief, treatment time will not be shortened by coming to sessions more frequently. On the contrary, this will damage your teeth and prolong the treatment.
10. How long will my orthodontic treatment take?
Orthodontic treatment may vary between 6 months and 3 years (average 1.5 - 2 years) depending on the severity of the anomaly, the patient's age and compliance with the treatment.
11. What is the effect of braces on speech?
Braces generally do not affect speech. However, in some cases, some appliances (such as anti-tongue, nance) used in certain stages of the treatment may negatively affect speech in the first days after their installation. However, this situation improves as the language adapts to the region again.
12. Will braces cause my teeth to decay? Are there any health hazards?
It is a common misconception that braces cause cavities. Braces do not have a direct tooth decay effect. Tooth decay is caused by food residues resulting from incomplete brushing. Although braces make it difficult to clean food residues, decay does not occur in properly cleaned teeth. That's why teeth should be brushed after every meal. When brushing the braces, it is important to clean the area around the brackets very well.
Dental braces are not harmful to health. If you are not allergic to metal, there is nothing to worry about. If you have allergies, aesthetic braces may be an alternative to your condition.
13. Can I do sports with braces?
If you use orthodontic appliances worn outside the mouth, it will be difficult for you to do sports. It is recommended to remove extra-oral appliances during sports. Braces do not constitute an obstacle to doing sports. However, any impact or fall Protective devices can be used to prevent injuries that may occur during the process.
14. Can I eat anything during orthodontic treatment?
You have to pay attention to what you eat and drink during orthodontic treatment. Brackets and wires are fragile. Consuming the wrong foods causes the brackets to break, which prolongs the treatment period. For this reason, you should eat by dividing or cutting into small bites, without biting anything during the treatment. Foods that will cause the brackets to come off or break (dried nuts such as hazelnuts, peanuts, foods with seeds such as chips, plums and cherries, sticky foods such as Turkish delight and chewing gum, fried and hardened edges of pastries such as lahmacun, pita, pizza, pastries, bread, toast) You should stay away during the treatment and be very careful if you want to eat. Seed foods should be consumed by removing their seeds. There is no harm in eating chocolate and ice cream afterwards, as long as you brush your teeth very well. In addition, acidic drinks should not be consumed during the treatment, as they cause both brackets to break and tooth decay.
15. What Could Happen If Orthodontic Treatment Is Not Performed?
Tooth crookedness and skeletal irregularities, in addition to aesthetic problems, can cause chewing disorders, jaw joint pain and locking, speech problems, tooth decay and gingivitis. Since crooked teeth are difficult to clean, conditions such as tooth decay, gingivitis and gum recession will occur more easily compared to an individual with regular dental rows. If your teeth do not close properly, it causes more pressure than normal on your jaw joints and can lead to problems such as mouth opening and closing restrictions and jaw locking in the long term. Additionally, orthodontic disorders can negatively affect a person's psychosocial development by reducing their self-confidence. By performing orthodontic treatment, precautions are taken for all these problems.
16. Will my teeth return to their previous shape after Orthodontic Treatment?
After orthodontic treatment, teeth want to return to their previous positions. To prevent this, the reorganization of bone and surrounding tissues must be completed. The teeth should be kept in their corrected positions until they are removed. Fixed or mobile reinforcement appliances are used to keep the teeth in their current positions. If these appliances are not used for the recommended periods of time, the teeth may deteriorate again.
17. Can my dentist perform orthodontic treatment?
Orthodontic treatments should only be performed by people who have received serious training in orthodontics. Orthodontists are experts who straighten teeth and ensure correct form and function. In order to become an orthodontist, it is necessary to receive at least 4 years of orthodontic doctorate or specialist training following dentistry education. Therefore, prefer to consult an orthodontist to solve your orthodontic problem.
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