The evolution of orthodontics in the last 20 years
Orthodontics has evolved a lot, especially in the last 20 years, with the emergence of new techniques and types of appliances, such as self-ligating orthodontic appliances, aesthetic appliances, and invisible appliances.
Nowadays there are even tools that allow the virtual planning of orthodontic treatment. This allows the dentist and the patient to see the sequence of dental movements that will occur and how your smile will look after the treatment.
Solutions available at Clínica Arriaga
At Clínica Arriaga, we have a specialized and differentiated team in the different areas of Dental Medicine.
About Orthodontics, the existing solutions range from the well-known metallic brackets, to tooth-colored ceramic brackets (both can be with or without elastics) and also to the most recent innovation: INVISIBLE ALIGNERS, in which is not necessary the placement of brackets for performing orthodontic treatment. Appliance types differ in aesthetics, comfort, treatment time and number of check-ups, and cost. However, very positive and predictable results have been obtained with all of them.
We all dream of having a beautiful smile, but having a “metallic smile” and the use of braces could be a deterrent for some people, so invisible aligners could be a good alternative given their aesthetics and comfort.
Our offer
At Clínica Arriaga we offer our patients the best solutions through the teamwork of dentists from various specialties, from orthodontics and oral rehabilitation to aesthetics, to provide you with the best possible result, making your dream smile come true.
Are you thinking about wearing orthodontic braces? – 7 main steps of orthodontic treatment
- 1st orthodontic consultation (molds are taken, bite registration, intra and extra oral photographs and radiographs);
- Orthodontic study (after cephalometric and model analysis, photographic record, and X-rays);
- Delivery and approval of the budget and treatment plan;
- Placement of the device(s) necessary for the treatment;
- Control consultations (number varies depending on the type of device and treatment complexity);
- Removal of the device(s);
- Manufacture of fixed and/or removable containment device(s) to maintain the results obtained and to prevent treatment recurrence.
Note: It is important that, before the orthodontic consultation, a screening of other dental problems (such as dental caries, gingivitis, and fractured teeth) is carried out before the placement of orthodontic appliances.
Importance of timing in orthodontic treatment – children and adolescents
Chronological age does not always coincide with the degree of development and physical maturation of the patient, which is why determining the biological age is very important, that is, it is necessary to pay more attention to sexual, bone, and dental maturation than the age of the patient itself as well as when the growth spurt occurs.
Since approximately 95% of the population would ideally need orthodontic treatment, it is very important to act at the right time. In Orthodontics, the ideal is to act before the growth peak, before the “jump”, in children. It is for this reason that more predictable and faster results are obtained in children than in adults. Through panoramic radiographs, it is possible to see which teeth are present/absent as well as their development. In turn, through radiographs of the hand/wrist or the vertebrae, it is possible to predict when the growth peak will occur (or if it has already occurred).
For this reason, parents should bring their children to the orthodontic consultation from an early age for evaluation. This way, they will be accompanied by the orthodontist who will decide when and if it is necessary to act. This allows us to carry out orthodontic and orthopedic treatments. In specific cases, it may even avoid the need to carry out a maxillofacial orthognathic surgery in the future.
Wearing braces is not just about aligning your teeth
In addition to aligning teeth, current techniques in dentofacial orthopedics also make it possible to change the profile and face of patients when it comes to bone structure, to obtain more harmonious results. Combining these two aspects helps both to obtain more aesthetically pleasing results as well as to avoid tooth extractions.
In addition to the aesthetics associated with a smile with white teeth, there has been an increasing demand for a functional and healthy smile. Thus, if the teeth are well aligned and occlude, the chewing is effective, that is, the forces of chewing are well distributed over the teeth. This also prevents the jaw joint from overloading or developing any disease or dysfunction.
