Orthodontics – a great deal of choice
Amongst Kent dentists you will find many who have a specialty in orthodontics as a dental job, this is the treatment of issues such as extra, missing or crowded teeth, overbites and underbites, and issues with the alignment of the jaw.
Braces are the usual method for correcting most orthodontic issues at the dentist, this is done by applying gentle but constant pressure in desired ways to train the teeth to grow in the proper way. Braces can be either fixed in place or removable so that they can be taken out to eat, both types are used for both adults and children but treatment is quicker and easier if done during childhood while teeth are still growing.
A range of things such as accidents, early baby tooth loss or even thumb sucking and root canal treatment can cause orthodontic issues. If left untreated orthodontic conditions can have severe consequences, causing tooth decay because of problems with maintaining hygiene or even leading to speech impediments. Orthodontics also covers the diagnosis and prevention of such conditions, checks can start from age seven and early detection of potential problems makes them quicker, easier and cheaper to treat or prevent.
The first part of orthodontic treatment is the active stage, where teeth are moved and trained to grow in the correct manner. Then follows the retention stage, which is about keeping them in their proper places once they have been put there.