subject: Orthodontics Is Not Only For Adolescent Dental Problems [print this page] Orthodontics Is Not Only For Adolescent Dental Problems
The grinding teeth, followed by jaws shutting tight. These are becoming common signs of difficult times. Tension caused by such things as job insecurity, inflation and identity crises among men and women is reflected in abnormal, potentially harmful mouth movements. Adults commonly experience a condition known as bruxism, which is characterized by the gnashing of teeth and clenching of jaws while asleep. A common neuromuscular problem nowadays, the clicking of jaw joints causes side effects like headaches, vertigo, and ear pain.
Studies of bruxism reveal that women in the over 40 age bracket are more prone to it than men by about four to one. Stomach problems are usually a reflection of men's frustrations, while women's are usually reflected through problems in the mouth. Jaw straps and plastic retainers are methods one can use to avoid teeth damage, but unless the frustrations causing tension are dealt with, the problem cannot be cured.
Bruxism is just one of other problems in the dental world that orthodontists are just realizing. For several years already, straightening teeth for cosmetic reasons has changed from being the sole goal of orthodontics. The bone, muscle, jaw, lips, and tongue are the focus of several techniques and theories that have recently emerged.
Although orthodontics is often thought of as an area of dentistry that deals primarily with adolescent problems, it also relates well with many adults. There is a greater amount of care given for the treatment of adults by orthodontists, one dentist points out. The tissues of adults are not as quick in bouncing back as those of children.
Advances in combining both plastic surgery and orthodontics have been made so that reconstruction of deformities that have come about because of jaw protrusion and clefts may be done. According to him, about two thirds of all those who go to the orthodontists year have cases involving jaw growth. The teeth will usually go where the jaw is at. In a lot of cases, you just need to place the jaw at the correct position, and the teeth will just follow. The underdeveloped jaw can be restructured through surgery or with corrective appliances to guide proper jaw growth.
While it is an optional cosmetic procedure, orthodontics is also a preventive procedure. Improper tongue thrust is something that a thumb sucking child could develop and may make the child have a speech impediment. The tongue's strength is capable to shifting teeth to a different position.
Chinstraps for the mouth exert forces on the lower jaw and are used as an aid to correcting abnormal bite or malocclusion. Bone damage and jaw joint problems may come from having a bad bite. An improvement of materials for different dental devices have led to their cosmetic improvements as well. The effective metal braces often loses to plastic when discussing aesthetics, but in terms of effectivity, the former wins.
A radiography apparatus known as the laminagraph is being used widely in orthodontics. The laminagraph does not use as much radiation as in a conventional full mouth Xray, and can take an Xray of the entire dentofacial region in a single shot. Laminagraphy is not meant to be a replacement for individual X rays but as a helpful addition to conducting diagnoses.
