Orthodontic treatments applied by orthodontists (orthodontics specialist) ensure that the jawbone and teeth are placed in the correct place and position. Correcting crooked teeth not only provides an important aesthetic gain, but also contributes to oral and dental health.

Why Orthodontics?

It is more difficult to maintain oral hygiene with crooked teeth, and therefore gum diseases and cavities occur more easily. When the joints are crowded and the joint relationship is broken, chewing cannot be done properly and some problems begin in the digestive system. In cases where the upper and lower teeth are not fully compatible with each other, excessive load may be placed on the jaw joint or a single tooth, causing painful and difficult-to-treat problems. Aesthetically, incredible changes can be made, especially in some cases.

What are Orthodontic Treatments?

• Fixed Orthodontic Appliances
• Removable Orthodontic Appliances
• Habit breaking devices
• Screw apparatus
• Functional appliances

Transparent plaques Jaw Orthopedics Orthognathic Surgery Fixed Orthodontic Appliances Fixed appliances consist of small metal and ceramic brackets that are glued to your teeth. The teeth move through orthodontic wires placed between these brackets. These wires are initially flexible, but are gradually switched to harder and thicker ones throughout the treatment process. Ceramic Braces Metal Braces Current Approaches Lingual Braces (Invisible, worn by the tongue); Lingual brackets are not noticeable because they are glued to the back surfaces of your teeth, but they can cause irritation of your tongue because they are located at the back. However, newly produced high-tech brackets have eliminated this problem and increased patient comfort to a very good level. These brackets are a little more costly than other bracket types, but they are very aesthetically advantageous. Lingual (Invisible) Brackets

Will This Treatment Cause Discomfort?

Although not very common, especially at the beginning of treatment, braces may cause discomfort in the mouth and pain in the teeth. Especially after the braces are replaced, a soft diet and painkillers (except aspirin) are recommended.

How Long Will I Wear Braces?

Orthodontic treatment lasts approximately 18 – 24 months, some treatments may rarely take longer. Fixed appliances give very good results in straightening the teeth, but sometimes placing the roots in the correct positions prolongs the treatment time. Premature removal of brackets results in inadequate treatment and increases the likelihood of relapse (teeth returning to their initial state).

How Do My Teeth Maintain Their Straightened State After Treatment?

Your teeth need a certain period of time to get used to their new positions, and you will need to wear the Reinforcement appliance during this time.

Will My Teeth Stay Straightened Throughout My Life?

Unfortunately, as we get older, our teeth begin to become crooked as a result of the natural tendency. This tendency is especially observed in the lower front 6 teeth. The only way to avoid this situation is to use the reinforcement device for a long time.

How Do I Clean My Brackets?

The bracket is stuck to the tooth, so it is very important to spend extra time cleaning the area around the bracket, as well as the teeth and gums. Along with the toothbrush (manual or electric) you use in your routine, the brushes we call small interface brushes, especially designed for the areas around the brackets and under the wires, are the brushes we recommend you to use throughout orthodontic treatment. Using fluoride-containing toothpaste is also very important to protect your teeth from decay. In connection with all this, a healthy diet with low sugar amount and frequency of intake is recommended for your dental health. It is beneficial to see your dentist regularly for professional dental stone and plaque cleaning.

What Happens If My Bracket Breaks?

You call your orthodontist and make an extra appointment for repair. If there is little time left for the next appointment, there is no need to make another appointment, you can come at your normal appointment. If the broken bracket causes pain, report the situation to your orthodontist and make an urgent appointment. So what about sports? Braces may damage your lips and teeth during sports. In this case, it is recommended to use a mouth guard.

What are the Risks of Orthodontic Treatment?

Orthodontic decalcification: As a result of insufficient tooth brushing and excessive sugar consumption, caries formation is observed around the bracket and on the teeth. It initially appears as a white spot (decalcification), then turns brown and becomes irreversible with cavitation within 8 weeks. Inadequate tooth brushing also causes bleeding, pain and inflammation in the gums. If no precautions are taken, this inflammatory condition spreads to the deep tissues and causes bone loss around the teeth and the teeth begin to shake. Sometimes, when we see white spot lesions, that is, decalcification, on the teeth, the brackets are temporarily removed and the treatment is interrupted in order to avoid further damage to the teeth. Once the patient maintains proper oral hygiene, the treatment is continued; if not, the treatment is terminated to avoid damaging the teeth. Decalcification, discoloration and caries appearance seen in cases where adequate oral hygiene is not provided. Root Resorption: This phenomenon occurs throughout the entire orthodontic treatment and does not affect dental health because it is generally in very small amounts. However, in some cases, in cases of severe root resorption, which is rarely observed, the orthodontic treatment method can be changed or the treatment is interrupted until the situation improves in order to avoid further damage to the tooth. Prior trauma or any damage to the tooth can aggravate the resorption seen during orthodontic treatment. If you have previously traumatized your teeth or have previously received orthodontic treatment, please inform your orthodontist.

Jaw Joint Problems / Pain Worldwide studies have found no evidence that orthodontic treatment causes jaw joint problems. However, in patients with pre-existing jaw joint problems, orthodontic treatment may aggravate the situation. Therefore, if you are experiencing pain, clicking noises, or opening and closing problems in your joint, you should definitely inform your orthodontist about the situation before treatment. Success and Course of Treatment The success and course of treatment largely depends on you. Not breaking the brackets, using the appliances, and keeping your mouth and brackets clean are very important in the success of this treatment. Additionally, it is very important to follow what your orthodontist recommends, especially when using elastic.

What are Removable Orthodontic Appliances?

These are devices that the patient can put on and remove himself. They are applied in simpler cases.

Habit Breaking Appliances

Malocclusions in children can be seen due to various etiological factors or harmful habits acquired since birth. The most common harmful habits in children are; It is the habit of thumb sucking, mouth breathing and tongue thrusting. The most common malocclusions due to these habits are reported to be open and crossbite problems.

Habit-breaking appliances used in the primary and mixed dentition periods help the pediatric patient to have a healthy occlusion in the permanent dentition period, thus reducing the need for advanced orthodontic treatment. Position Trainer Appliance Quad-Helix Appliance Palatal Crib Appliance Screw Appliances Transparent Plates In some simple cases, distortions can now be corrected by using transparent molds without using brackets. It is necessary to wear these patient-specific molds, which will be changed every two weeks, for approximately 20 hours a day. Each treatment requires an average of 60 pairs of different corrective molds (upper and lower jaw). The treatment time is close to the treatment time with braces. It varies between 6 months and 24 months depending on the case.

Functional Appliances

Functional appliances are removable appliances that are applied to the upper and lower teeth simultaneously. Twin – Block functional appliance Jaw Orthopedics is a field of orthodontics that aims to correct the deteriorated relations of the lower and upper jaw relative to each other with special appliances attached to the face at an early age. Most of the time, orthopedic treatment (the harmony of the jaws is ensured) and orthodontic treatment (the harmony of the teeth is ensured) are carried out together. Orthognathic Surgery Orthognathic surgery is used in cases that cannot be corrected by orthodontic or orthopedic treatment. Defects in the jaw and face can occur congenitally or later due to accidents and diseases. The incompatibility of the jaws with each other and with respect to the face causes both aesthetic and functional discomfort in patients. These disorders can be corrected with advanced technology and surgical techniques.

What are Orthodontic Disorders?

• Dental Disorders
• Skeletal Disorders

Dental disorders; Disorders that concern only teeth, such as crowding, gaps, impacted teeth, missing or extra teeth. Treatment is possible at any age. In case of missing teeth, it is possible to close the gaps with orthodontic treatment. Thus, there is no need to close the gap with a prosthesis.

Skeletal disorders; These are disorders involving the jaws, such as the lower or upper jaw being forward or backward, or having an open bite in the front. Treatments are more comprehensive and long-term, and the age of the patient is very important. The ages when growth continues are the most suitable period for treatment. Surgery-supported orthodontic treatments called orthognathic surgery may be considered for these problems in adulthood.

What are the Causes of Orthodontic Disorders?

• hereditary problems
• Acquired problems

Hereditary problems; It has a genetic origin, such as small jaw structure from the mother and crowding due to large teeth from the father.

Acquired problems; Disorders caused by environmental factors such as lack of treatment for primary tooth decay, early loss of primary teeth, using a pacifier or bottle for a long time, or thumb sucking.

In order to prevent orthodontic disorders, milk teeth should be treated and should not be neglected with the thought that they will change anyway. A space retainer should be made to replace milk teeth that fall out too early. If there are habits such as thumb sucking or tongue thrusting, habit breaking devices should be used. Cleft lip and palate disorder, also known as ‘rabbit lip’ among the public, is caused by the fact that the tissues forming the palate and lip structures do not fully overlap as a result of a disorder that occurs in the embryological period (in the womb). The formation of these areas occurs between the 4th and 12th weeks of pregnancy. It happens between weeks. Any disorder that occurs at this stage determines the size and location of the cleft according to its severity and time.

If we roughly classify these clefts;

• cleft lip
• cleft palate
• Total cleft palate (covers the entire lip and palate)
• One-sided slits
• Double sided slits
• midline clefts

Although the frequency of DDY varies from race to race, it occurs in roughly one in every thousand pregnancies. Although the cause of this disease is not fully known, it is thought that both genetic and environmental factors play a role. Environmental factors include smoking during pregnancy, malnutrition, deficiency of some folic acid and vitamins, diabetes and maternal age. Cleft lip and palate is a disorder that can also be diagnosed in the womb. In some cases, especially cleft lips, can be diagnosed with ultrasound. In this case, there is nothing to do before birth. Detection of the situation is important in planning the postnatal treatment of these babies. What should be done in babies born with cleft lip and palate? DDY is not a fatal disorder, but some precautions must be taken, especially for the normal development of feeding and swallowing functions. The swallowing reflex in babies occurs in the first 24 hours. In case of cleft palate, the sucked milk comes from the nose and can escape into the respiratory tract. The most important problem in these babies is infections that develop in the respiratory tract. Cleft lip could be overlooked at the birth of these babies, especially after home birth. For this reason, babies should be examined very carefully after birth. Heart diseases and various anomalies can sometimes be seen in these babies. In this respect, it is necessary to pay close attention to the general examination. Babies born with DDY should be referred to an orthodontist within the first 24 hours.

The orthodontist makes a feeding plate by taking measurements from these babies. With this plate, the baby regains the sucking function. The orthodontist renews these plates at regular intervals and guides the palate tissues. At this stage, babies should be fed in an upright position and care should be taken about aspiration. After the nutritional function, which is the main problem in these babies, is achieved, the repair of the cleft begins. First, the lip and then the palate operation is performed by the plastic surgeon. Dental anomalies are also frequently encountered in babies born with a diagnosis of cleft palate. Since the oral and nasal cavities are connected, speech is also impaired. In this case, treatment may last until almost all teeth are erupted and corrected. This may take up to 18 years of age in some cases. DDY treatment is a very complex treatment in this sense and it needs to be done as a team.

FDI teams, which have existed in European countries for many years, have been established in our country in recent years. These teams, which mostly emerge in universities where dentistry faculties are located, can provide much more effective treatments. The DDY team should include an orthodontist, plastic surgeon, speech therapist, ENT specialist and psychologist. Parents who have encountered DDY should know that this is not the end of life and that their child will not be different from other children with correctly applied treatments. Adult Orthodontics With developing technology and treatment techniques, orthodontic treatment has become widespread in older ages. It is possible to minimize aesthetic concerns, especially by using ceramic materials and invisible brackets. Orthodontic treatment at older ages not only provides good aesthetics but also contributes to the solution of gum problems. Sometimes, in order to make better prostheses, orthodontic treatments can be performed to prepare for the prosthesis, and the teeth are made most suitable for the prosthesis.