Braces
Orthodontics no longer holds any fear for adults and children, and famous celebrities serve as role models. The use of innovative materials and optimised treatment techniques, which also offer an aesthetic solution, make orthodontic treatment fast and kind to surrounding tissue.
Whether we use fixed or removable braces depends on the degree of the patient’s teeth or jaw misalignment, as well as age, and can only be decided individually after a thorough examination.
No matter whether a “fixed” or “removable” brace is fitted, the patient’s compliance plays an extremely important role.
As part of orthodontic treatment, we recommend an analysis of how the patient’s chewing system functions. The aim of this analysis is to identify affected structures and to eliminate the causes at an early stage.
This is a brief guide to the many different types of appliances available.
Expansion plates / Functional appliances
Removable orthodontic appliances are made of plastic and metal. Removable appliances can be used to move single teeth or whole groups of teeth.
Read more: Orthodontic treatment with removable appliances
Clear brackets
Removable, transparent brackets can align teeth without the need for metal and wires but treatment is limited and depends on whether a patient is a suitable candidate. Alignment of the patient’s teeth has to be assessed on a case to case basis to determine whether this type of treatment is appropriate.
Read more: Invisible treatment
This is a brief guide to the many different types of appliances available.
Metal brackets
- Transparent brackets - white arch wires
- Self-ligating brackets - Damon System
- Lingual technology - invisible treatment
- Superelastic arch wires
- Jasper Jumper - non-compliance appliance
- Pendulum appliance - non-compliance appliance
- Orthodontic miniscrews
- Maxillary expansion device
Read more: Orthodontic treatment with fixed braces
After successful completion of orthodontic treatment, teeth can move back to their old position. This is known as a relapse and may also be due to:
- growth
- pressure exerted by cheek, tongue, lip muscles
- side teeth moving forward
- eruption of wisdom teeth
Retainers are designed to keep your teeth in alignment long-term after orthodontic treatment. They can be removable or fixed appliances.
Removable appliances usually only need to be worn at night. It is easier and more secure to have a small fixed retainer fitted which is made from a fine piece of special wire and attached to the back of the front teeth.