Orthodontics can help shift misaligned teeth into alignment, using metal brackets or clear aligners.
How Orthodontics Came to Be
Archaeological findings suggest that orthodontics records back to more than 2,000 years as part of medicine.
The claim of its long history began with discovering mummified remains with metal bands wrapped around their teeth in Egypt.
Early civilizations such as the Greeks, the Etruscans, and the Romans would practice in early forms of orthodontics.
Fast forward to the 18th century, Pierre Fauchard, the Father of Modern Dentistry, invented the bandeau. The bandeau is a horseshoe-shaped strip of metal with regularly spaced holes that fit around the teeth to correct their alignment.
The 19th century gave significant contributions to orthodontics in the United States.
By the 20th century, Edward Hartley Angle classified malocclusion and misalignment. Also known as the Father of Modern Orthodontics, he created increasingly helpful orthodontic tools.
At present, development in orthodontics continues to take place to improve the cons of existing treatments.
Orthodontic Treatments
People with overbites, underbite, crossbite, open bite, spacing, and crowding may be eligible for orthodontic treatments.
Aside from the aesthetic consequence, malocclusions are difficult to clean. In turn, this poses a higher risk of tooth loss due to decay and periodontal diseases. They also cause additional stress on the chewing muscles. Thus, this can lead to headaches, TMJ syndrome, and neck, shoulder, and back pains.
Today, orthodontics provides more treatments than ever before.
These treatments may involve fixed or removable appliances.
Fixed appliances often include braces. On the other hand, removable devices include aligners, jaw repositioning appliances, lip and cheek bumpers, palatal expanders, removable retainers, and headgear.
These devices help move teeth, retrain muscles, and affect the growth of the jaws through gentle pressure on the teeth and jaws.
At times, tooth extraction may be necessary to provide adequate room for the movement of the teeth.
Orthodontic treatment may also involve multiple dental visits for adjustments. The treatment period also varies per case, depending on the severity of the issue.
Practicing good oral hygiene while undergoing treatment is necessary as food particles and plaque may gather and build up.
