subject: The Basics of Orthodontics [print this page] The Basics of Orthodontics The Basics of Orthodontics
Most kids today are afraid of going to the dentists. Even some adults are scared of dental check-ups because they fear that it would be painful. This is a common misconception. Dentists exist to prevent and stop pain, not cause it.
Dentists provide treatments to dental problems that bring discomfort such as toothaches. They help prevent other oral health problems from occurring through regular dental examinations. Dentists also help you achieve perfect smiles by providing different dental services you need. There are different types of dentists for various kinds of dental problems. An orthodontist is one of them.
Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry that focuses on the alignment and proper formation of teeth. Orthodontics treatments are intended for dental problems such as malloclusions or improper bites, dental displacements and disproportionate jaw relationships. The use of dental braces is the most common type of orthodontics treatment.
Kids aged seven and onwards (including teens) are the usual patients of an orthodontist. At such age, a knoxville pediatric dentistry clinic can no longer address different dental problems that adolescents and teenagers acquire.
An orthodontist knoxville professional provides both restorative and aesthetic procedures in solving your dental problems. An improper bite can affect the way you eat and speak as well as the quality of your smile. To give you a well-aligned smile, an orthodontist repositions the teeth and their underlying roots. He or she can also enhance your facial appearance by reshaping your jaw, neck and lips.
During your visit at an orthodontics Knoxville clinic, your dentist may use different methods to develop a treatment plan. This includes oral, facial and functional evaluation, intraoral and facial photographs, panoramic and cephalometric X-rays, and impressions for the models of the teeth and bite. Through the x-rays, the orthodontist makes models of your teeth. You may be advised to wear dental braces or retainers for a number of years, depending on the severity of the problem. Braces are metal wirings that help shift the teeth in their proper position. They are of different types: steel (traditional), clear, gold-plated stainless steel, lingual, spring aligners and more.
