The modern population holds high regard for beauty and aesthetics in all aspects of their bodies. One of the areas that have seen a gradual but significant increase in consideration is facial beauty. Facial beauty depends considerably on the dental structures of the body. In this regard, orthodontic treatment has gained quite a massive popularity, with everyone craving perfect-looking dentation. We want to have the perfect smile, and this can’t be possible without having a seemingly perfect dental structure. To achieve this dental practitioners adopted the use of braces to help in the correction of defective teeth alignment. If you live in or near Nairobi, Kenya and are in dire need of correction for the misalignment of your teeth, Sterling dental clinic offers fitting braces, at affordable costs.
Braces are an important tool, used in orthodontic treatment. Orthodontic treatment is used in the diagnosis, prevention, interception and correction of teeth malocclusion. Malocclusion is a condition that is caused by misalignment of teeth and bite issues. Bite is described as how the upper and lower jaws fit together. Orthodontic treatment is done by orthodontists. These are dental specialists who have specialised in the correction of irregular alignments in teeth, or bites. One requires to go for normal dental training, and advance in studies for a further two more years to become an orthodontist. Contrary to popular belief, orthodontists are not just your normal dentists, rather, they are specialist dentists. They also have more knowledge and experience in malocclusion treatment.
At the Sterling Dental Clinic, we have a large number of orthodontists, all ready and available to tend to our clients. Our specialists have undergone the required training in reputable institutions and have surplus knowledge of their speciality. This is coupled with years of experience in orthodontic treatment from our clinic or other related dental clinics. Moreover, we ensure that they’re of sound mind and character with a humane demeanour and elicit professionalism in their conduct. I don’t know about you, but I’d say nothing spells out proficiency and efficiency better than this. You can trust our specialist to help you out with your defects.
Why is orthodontic treatment important?
Having crooked, crowded teeth may pose several problems, which include:
- Tooth decay – overlapping and crowded teeth make it hard to clean them properly. This leads to a collection of plaque that leads to infection and tooth decay.
- Gum diseases- Accumulation of plaque on teeth due to poor dental hygiene may lead to gum diseases, especially where the teeth are crowded or overgrown.
- ·Injuries in the mouth- Bite issues or teeth that stick out may hurt the jaws or other parts of the mouth, causing internal injuries.
- Wear and tear- Teeth that don’t come together properly during chewing, wear out eventually, damaging the teeth.
- Insecurities and low self-confidence- Teeth-related problems may make people feel embarrassed and lower their esteem.
Braces offer the best form of correction for these types of defects. They are dental tools made of metal and ceramic, wires and binding material that attach them to the teeth. Braces work by creating pressure on the tooth over a long period and moving them along the jaw into spaces. The shape of the jaw gradually adapts to accommodate this alteration in pressure and the changes that result from it.
When we think about our teeth, we visualize them as being directly connected to the jawbone, and we may think that they can’t be moved at all. On the contrary, the reality is that they are very much movable. Underneath the gums, there is a membrane surrounded by the bones, which roots the teeth to the jaw. The membrane is responsible for the control of the positioning of the teeth in the mouth. Once the pressure is mounted on the tooth by the braces, the membrane responds to this pressure by allowing the adjustment in the positions of the teeth. As the teeth move, the bone also changes in shape to accommodate the new positions, and as a response to the pressure exerted also. The process is gradual and takes quite some time before a perfect positioning is obtained.
Braces can be used by anyone, regardless of age or gender. They are however more effective on young people around 12-13 years or teenagers. This is because, at this age, the jawline and underlying tissues are still moving around as the teen almost turns into an adult. Their jawline may have more flexibility and the teeth are more responsive to movement. This makes them easier to manage and they take less time as compared to braces on adults, They are, however, fitted much earlier or much later after teenage, and they will still be effective.
Types of braces.
There are several types of braces, which include:
- Metal or traditional braces- are made of metallic material. They have a bracket attached to the front side of teeth or bands that fit around each tooth. They also have flexible wires or archwires to hold the brackets or bands together and into position. Some may also include a rubber band to link the brackets to the wire, while also increasing the pressure on the teeth.
- Ceramic braces- They are a special form of traditional braces, only that they are made of ceramic that matches tooth colour. This helps lower the conspicuousness of the braces and make them less noticeable. Apart from ceramics, they can be made from steel or clear material.
- Lingual braces- These are braces whose brackets are fitted on the back side of teeth, facing the tongue. They are less noticeable as compared to other types, but more uncomfortable and harder to maintain.
- Clear aligners- They are also called invisible braces. These are clear plastic trays that fit snugly onto teeth. They are removable and should be taken off when eating, brushing, or dental flossing. We advise our clients to wear them for at least 22 hours a day for them to work well.
At the sterling dental clinic, our wide range of services covers all of these types of braces. We recommend consultations with the experts to choose the best and most effective type, and which suits the client’s needs. During the consultation, the medics will enquire about the medical history of the clients, and conduct a physical examination of the mouth to assess the defects and other conditions. We use a digital dental X-ray machine at our clinic to get images of the teeth and come up with a model of the dental structures using our specialised software. These help the medics to form a clinical summary and come up with the most appropriate type of braces to use. This decision, however, also depends on the client’s preferences.
The procedure.
Braces are fitted on an outpatient basis, at the orthodontist’s office. The procedure begins with cleaning and drying of teeth. The orthodontist then applies an adhesive material on the surface of the teeth to attach the brackets. He/she then installs the archwire into the brackets and uses elastics to attach them. The entire process takes around 1-2 hours to complete. It is not painful though some people may find it uncomfortable. It also takes some time to adjust to the presence of braces in the mouth. The teeth are extra sensitive and they may feel sore. It takes about 2 years for the correct alignment of teeth to be realized, and one may have to stay with them for the whole period. It may take longer or shorter, depending on how one takes care of the teeth and the age of the patient. We schedule regular check-ups, within 4-8 weeks apart, for our clients to check on the state and the progress achieved.
Taking care of the braces.
The most crucial part about having braces is how well one maintains them. The orthodontist will provide the patient with care and precaution measures that should be adhered to. This will help increase the effectiveness of the braces to achieve the best results possible. We advise our clients to maintain practices such as brushing or flossing of teeth after every meal. We also advise against eating sugary foods since they may lead to the build-up of excess plaque around the teeth, causing tooth decay or discolouration. Patients should also avoid other foods such as popcorn, caramel and gummy candy. These can get wedged on the braces and are difficult to brush. We provide our clients with an interdental cleaning instrument that helps to clean the spaces under the braces and in between the orthodontic wires.
Benefits.
Having your braces fit at the sterling dental clinic may present a variety of benefits for you. They help you look more beautiful, giving you a well-aligned dentition. This will help you realize your perfect smile. In addition to this, they help prevents gum diseases and tooth decay since they help correct malocclusion which makes brushing and maintaining dental hygiene difficult. They help in aiding digestion since teeth with malocclusion make it hard to chew properly and trigger digestive defects. They also help prevent bone erosion that may occur due to the accumulation of germs and bacteria that may then wear out the bone underneath the teeth. Braces promote good dental hygiene which helps eradicate the bacteria that may be responsible for this. Braces Shape not only the teeth themselves, but also help in jaw alignment, giving you the ideal jawbone structure and improving your facial orientation. Braces make one look and feel nice, which boosts confidence and self-esteem, making them more appreciative of themselves.
Your dental structure plays a massive role in the making of an ideal smile. At Sterling dental clinic, we can help reform your crooked smile into a perfect smile, that will help boost your confidence and redeem the glow in your life. We are located at the Park Suit building in Parklands, Nairobi- Kenya We offer a variety of services, and are open to all people. As one of the best dental clinics in the country, promise to offer the best quality treatment. Visit us today for a consultation or contact us to book an appointment with our highly educated and prurience specialists, for a chance to change our life for the better.