Before you choose an orthodontist Ottawa to correct your teeth, you will sit down for an initial consultation, during which time the orthodontist will outline a treatment plan. In order to get the most out of this meeting, it can be important to understand much of the orthodontic lexicon beforehand. Prepping for the meeting will allow you to ask better questions, probe deeper into his/her reasoning for using one technique, procedure, or apparatus over another, which will better ensure that you make the best choice.
If the initial consultation is a few steps away, then click on Selecting a Ottawa Orthodontist to Suit Your Needs. Alternately, if you have set up a few consultations and are wondering more generally what to expect and what information to search for, click on What Questions to Ask and What to Expect of Your Ottawa Orthodontist.
The information below is more specifically regarding the main problems patients take to orthodontists, and the most prevalent types of treatment orthodontists Ottawa provide.
Instant Orthodontics
This type of treatment, which places veneers or crowns over teeth to make them appear better, is very appealing for its low price and the quickness with which it takes effect. Because the treatment involves only a superficial change, the treatment is done with instantly and entails little pain or discomfort. However, the practice has been ridiculed by orthodontists, who claim that all veneers, no matter how well executed, damage teeth irreversibly (Journal of the American Dental Association Apr. 2008). While this damage is usually not significant the first time it occurs, because most veneers must be replaced a few times, the overall effect of this branch of treatment can become hazardous to the patient’s teeth.
Generally, orthodontists treat patients by moving their teeth or adjusting their jaw-line without putting anything in or taking anything out of their mouths permanently. Only in extremely severe cases will a trained orthodontist remove teeth, except for wisdom teeth, a common exception to this rule. So, whereas the former type of orthodontics will rely on crowns and veneers to change the appearance of teeth for the better, the following problems and treatments are the type that most orthodontists Ottawa will be familiar with and use.
The most common problem that patients of orthodontists face is teeth crowding. Ottawa Orthodontists will solve teeth crowding or improper teeth placement with a variety of different devices, which either adjust the jaws to provide more space, or apply pressure directly to the teeth. Depending on the patient, Ottawa orthodontists will choose any combination of the following to adjust the jaw:
lip bumpers – for the lower jaw
herbst – to push the lower jaw forward
expanders – to widen the jaw
headgear – for the upper jaw (see below)
In the event that the orthodontist believes a crowding problem will occur in a young patient, as the permanent teeth come in, the orthodontist may want to use either: 1) a lower lingual arch space maintainer; or 2) a transpalatal arch. These are essentially the same device, but the lower lingual arch space maintainer is used on the lower jaw, while the transpalatal arch is used on the upper. These are simply more specific names for retainers, and are often removable for eating and cleaning.
Overbites and Underbites, or overjets and reverse overjets, are generally treated with either headgear or Herbst. Both may be adjusted for overjets and reverse overjets, and patients tend to have a preference when given choice in the matter. The biggest difference between them is that headgear must only be worn for roughly 12-16 hours per day, whereas Herbst are a permanent appliance in the patient’s mouth. Because there are many different types of each appliance, ask your orthodontist to show you pictures of patients using the headgear/Herbst he/she provides, and consult regarding your specific treatment.
When speaking with your Ottawa orthodontist, already knowing some of the techniques and apparatuses they will suggest, as well as having already formed some preferences will better ensure that you have the best alignment experience possible.
