Ortho Appliances is the branch of dentistry that
deals with straightening and correcting the tooth alignment and the dental
specialist who does this is called an "Orthodontist". Ortho
Appliances is not only used to improve your appearance. Malocclusion or
malaligned teeth can have long term effects, such as:
- Interference with normal growth and development of the jaws
- Abnormal swallowing patterns
- Abnormal facial muscle function
- Impairment of chewing
- Speech defects
A fixed appliance is a dental appliance which cannot
be removed by the patient. Dental appliances are used to move the teeth to
correct malocclusion, situations in which the teeth are not aligned properly
in the mouth. Depending on the nature of the malocclusion, a dental
appliance may be worn primarily for cosmetic reasons, to straighten teeth
which look unsightly, or it may be important for medical reasons, to correct
a malocclusion which may cause difficulty eating, increase the risk of oral
infections, or cause other problems. Wearing a fixed appliance can be
uncomfortable. As long as the patient wears the device, special care needs
to be taken to keep the teeth and mouth in good condition. Certain foods are
often off limits because they can damage the appliance or leave residue
which cannot be easily cleaned. After tightening and adjustments, the teeth
and jaw are often sore for a few days.
