A treatment has to be conducted whenever a malocclusion is diagnosed. Otherwise, it may cause face deformation or have many undesirable health consequences.
When should you visit the orthodontist?
You shouldn't ignore first symptoms of malocclusion. If you notice that there is anything wrong with your occlusion, you should immediately see your orthodontist. If the doctor suggests that you should undergo the treatment, you should follow his advices.
Malocclusion affects not only the patient's appearance but it also leads to different tooth and periodontal diseases, such as:
- caries
- tooth sensitivity
- parodontosis
- bruxism
Other effects may include incomprehensible speech or lisping. Malocclusion can also affect our psychical health as its consequences involve also embarrassment, complexes or even low self-esteem.
What does orthodontic treatment involve?
In the case of a baby, who still does not have all milk teeth, it is possible to do special exercises for muscles in order to prevent malocclusion. However, in the case of older children or adults, it is necessary to wear custom made braces, which are to treat the malocclusion.
Orthodontic treatment is a long-term process and its durance depends on a patient and his/her type of malocclusion. Some patients have to wear braces for a couple of weeks, others for months or even years.
Myotherapy
Myotherapy is a set of exercises for the muscles of mastication and the mimic facial muscles. Its aim is to regulate the strength of particular muscles responsible for the appropriate shape and relation between the lower and upper jaw. In order to achieve the desired results, one should exercise regularly and as frequent as the doctor advises.
There are two different kinds of exercises for the muscles of mastication: active and passive. The passive exercises include a massage which is to improve muscle elasticity and tension. The massage can be done by the patient himself with the use of special equipment or by someone else. An appropriate position of one's head while sleeping is also a kind of the massage.
The active exercises include flexing and relaxing particular groups of muscles (appropriate lip formation, moving the lower jaw back and forward, improving strength and endurance of muscles). The exercises are advisable for patients suffering from overbite, underbite, vertical and transverse malocclusion as well as for patients who will get braces in the nearest future.
Braces
In the case when the exercises cannot treat the malocclusion, it is necessary to wear the braces.
Nowadays, the patients can choose between fixed and removable braces. However, the braces should be chosen in relation to the patient's age as well as the type and stage of the malocclusion. In the case of children and their not serious problems with the bite, the removable braces turn out to be very effective. Nonetheless, in the case of older children or adults, it is usually necessary to choose the fixed braces which consists of several brackets and metal bands that are cemented to the teeth by means of a special glue.
The braces restore the appropriate relation between the upper and lower jaw as well as straighten the teeth.
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