subject: Orthodontics Is Not Only For Adolescent Dental Problems [print this page] Jaws tightly closed and teeth grindingJaws tightly closed and teeth grinding. They're becoming more frequent signs of these trying 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. As a person looking for orthodontics sydney you should visit that site.
The ratio of women over 40 and men over 40 who are prone to bruxism is four to one, studies show. For men, stomach problems are the signs of tension, while for women, it's usually problems in the mouth. Teeth damage can momentarily be avoided through the use of a plastic retainer or jaw strap, but the surest way to curing the problem is to deal with the frustrations that are the root problems of the tension.
Just one of many dental problems that orthodontists have only come to realize now is bruxism. For the past several years, the field of orthodontics has broadened its scope to include more than just the straightening of teeth. New techniques and theories focus on the total facial structure including bone, muscle, jaw, lips and tongue, in addition to teeth.
Many adults may actually require the services of orthodontists, even if the orthodontics is perceived to mainly cater to adolescents. Treating adults needs to be given more consideration compared to treating children, said one dentist. Their tissues don't bounce back as readily as children's. Go to this site for further information on neuromuscular dentistry.
He says that there are now procedures that combine both plastic surgery and orthodontics for reconstruction of disfigurement as a result of jaw protrusion and lip and palate clefts. He says that about two thirds of the orthodontic cases treated annually are problems involving jaw growth. The place of the jaw often dictates the place of the teeth. Placing the jaw at the right place would most likely lead the teeth also to the place they're supposed to be. Restructuring through surgery and the use of corrective appliances are two possible options to guide the underdeveloped jaw to proper growth.
Orthodontics is optional, but it may be used as a preventive measure. Speech impediment as well as deviant swallowing may result from improper tongue thrust, a condition that a thumb sucker can develop. The tongue's strength is capable to shifting teeth to a different position.
Abnormal bite can be corrected if chinstraps are worn, because these things provide upward and downward forces directed toward the lower jaw. Bad bite would usually result in tooth loss or damage of the bone. For the cosmetic improvement of dental devices, the heavy metal bands used in braces have been replaced with lightweight chromium and cobalt and plastic has been directly bonded with metal for braces. While plastic is preferred because it is aesthetically pleasing, it will not be as effective as metal.
What is being used in orthodontics more commonly nowadays is a device known as the laminagraph. This device is capable not only of taking an Xray of the entired dentofacial region in a single shot, but also does this without using much radiation. Laminagraphy is a useful broad diagnostic tool, but it will not supersede individual X rays as decay locators.
