Orthodontics for adult patients using the world’s most advanced methods!
Orthodontics for adult patients has become common over the years. Today there is greater awareness of esthetics, and technology has advanced as well. People want to look younger to succeed in the workplace and in social and romantic spheres. The new treatment methods, which place greater emphasis on esthetics, allow adults to enjoy this possibility too.
Why are we witnessing more people who opt for orthodontics for adults?
When practicing orthodontics on adults, it is important to remember that in adults, bone growth has ended. In children, stronger forces can be applied, influencing the bone growth direction. In adults, we must reduce the forces applied in order not to damage bone, and it is impossible to influence bone growth. In children, a properly done orthodontic intervention (by a specialist orthodontist) takes advantage of growth for directing and expediting the treatment. In adults, this growth does not exist, so treatment will usually take longer.
Application of force in adults is also problematic due to gingival recession, in which, within the treatment, we can undoubtedly also improve bone loss and loss of the soft tissue (gums) surrounding the teeth.
In fact, the only limitation is the patient’s health condition and degree of cooperation. It is first necessary to remove causes of gingivitis (gum inflammation) and treat carious lesions (cavities) and broken restorations. Because orthodontics in adults is part of a comprehensive oral rehabilitation plan in some cases, coordination between all parties is necessary for scheduling. An adult opting to undergo orthodontic procedures is usually more motivated than a child and willing to invest in the process based on the understanding of its importance, meaning that the results are usually excellent. Restorations, crowns and other treatments performed over the years do not pose a problem and in some cases may actually serve as anchoring points.
In addition, it is always worth paying attention to the major advantage offered by short term, partial orthodontic care before a major restorative work, significantly improving the quality and lifetime of the final restoration.
Classic orthodontics in which braces and metal rings are bonded to the teeth may be a deterrent, and therefore, methods were developed that permit not just esthetic results at the end of the process, but also throughout the treatment process itself. For example, bracket-free orthodontics does not cause a patient to look childish, thus facilitating the coping with the process.
