Should I correct my teeth?

In fact, many people are concerned about orthodontic treatment. Some people believe that orthodontic treatment is only for children, and that if it is done by adults, their teeth may easily become loose. In fact, many people hesitate whether to undergo orthodontic treatment, mainly because of their incorrect understanding of orthodontic treatment. Today we are going to talk about the main misunderstandings people have about orthodontics.

Myth 1: Only children can receive orthodontic treatment

There is no age limit for orthodontics. Of course, teenagers have a fast metabolism and strong adaptability, so the time required for orthodontic treatment is relatively short. But this is by no means to say that orthodontics is limited to minors. Adult patients can fully undergo orthodontic treatment as long as the periodontal condition of their teeth allows.

Myth 2: Teeth that have undergone orthodontic treatment tend to become loose and fall off as you age.

This misconception confuses orthodontics and periodontal disease. The main reason for loose and falling teeth is that the oral environment is not maintained well. The plaque around the teeth caused by eating is not cleaned in time, and further reacts with minerals in saliva to form tartar, which slowly accumulates over time and infects the surrounding tissues, causing periodontitis. The tissues supporting the teeth, such as the alveolar bone, are absorbed due to periodontitis. The area of ​​the tooth root surrounded by the alveolar bone decreases as the alveolar bone is absorbed, and eventually the tooth root becomes loose and falls off. It is undeniable that the degree of looseness of teeth will increase due to the force and alveolar bone reconstruction during the correction process, but when the orthodontic treatment is over and the teeth are no longer under force, they will recover on their own. As long as the oral environment is well maintained and periodontitis is avoided, there will be no problem of loose and falling teeth in the future.

Misconception 3: Orthodontics requires tooth extraction, which will affect your health.

Tooth extraction is a very common and mature treatment method. Tooth extraction will not cause any adverse effects on the patient's function and health. It should be said that tooth extraction treatment is to coordinate the inconsistency between tooth volume and bone volume. In the absence of obvious bony imbalance of the upper and lower jaws, the root cause of malocclusion is that the alveolar bone space is insufficient to accommodate all existing teeth. Tooth extraction treatment can not only better match tooth volume with bone volume, but also make the treatment results more stable. In addition, the facial features of Orientals are that their noses are not straight enough, their lips are more protruding, and their chins are not as well developed as those of Westerners. Therefore, in order to achieve a better facial shape, many patients (60%) need tooth extraction and correction.

Misconception 4: Orthodontic treatment takes a long time and is expensive, while porcelain crown restoration takes a short time and is a one-time solution.

Teeth are different from machines. Tooth movement itself is a physiological process, and the speed of treatment is limited by normal physiology. Adult correction usually takes one and a half to two years. Although the treatment course of porcelain crowns is short, dentures are dentures after all. The removed tooth tissue cannot regenerate, and the subsequent maintenance and long-term prognosis (it is generally recommended that porcelain crowns be replaced every five to ten years) cannot be ignored. It is not a lifelong restoration as some doctors claim. There are many unscrupulous businesses in the market who have stolen the concept of porcelain crowns and come up with the so-called cosmetic crowns that can provide quick correction in 7 days. In fact, there is no such thing as a cosmetic crown in the world. Cosmetic crown is neither a term used by professionals nor something done by professional doctors. Such institutions take advantage of patients' eagerness to see results and, regardless of the consequences, grind off a large amount of healthy tooth tissue and then place a crown on it, which is called a cosmetic crown. In fact, patients will have to face irrecoverable teeth and damaged periodontal tissues for a long time to come. There is no such thing as fast orthodontics in this world. The movement of teeth is a scientific and slow process. Professional treatment ensures the efficacy while maintaining the health of teeth and periodontal tissues

Misconception 5: Brackets are unsightly and affect work and life.

Modern orthodontic technology is highly developed, and there are more and more types of brackets. According to different aesthetic needs, there are many correction methods to choose from, including ceramic brackets, lingual brackets and bracketless invisible brackets, etc., which can achieve varying degrees of aesthetic effects. After a period of adaptation, there is almost no impact on work and life.