Twenty misunderstandings about adult orthodontics （First Part）

There are still many people who have great doubts about orthodontics. These common questions are summarized here for you~ There are 20 questions in total, and I will ask you whether they are comprehensive or not! ! !

Summarize and analyze here to truly eliminate people's misunderstandings about orthodontics. Only when everyone knows about it can the success of medicine be achieved.

Misconception 1 You Can’t Correct It When You’re Old

Tooth movement is a bone remodeling process that exists in the living body, so orthodontics is suitable for all ages. However, different individuals have different problems, and the timing of starting correction is also different. 

Children as young as three or four years old, and elderly people as high as eighty or ninety years old, may become the target group of correction. You should seek answers from a professional orthodontist if you are able to correct.

Misconception  2: Teeth will become loose after orthodontic treatment

The tooth itself cannot stay in place for a lifetime, but is in a balance of stability and movement. Orthodontics is to temporarily break this balance through external force and move the teeth. 

The bone remodeling caused by orthodontics brings about physiological movement of the teeth, and it is normal to have a certain degree of temporary loosening during the movement. When the tooth moves to a new position, 

nature returns to balance and stabilizes again.

Misunderstanding 3: Orthodontics will lose teeth when you get old

Many people think that tooth loss is a normal physiological phenomenon, but it is not. Healthy teeth should accompany people for life. At present, in our country, periodontitis has become the primary cause of adult tooth loss, that is to say, the so-called old teeth are mainly caused by periodontitis leading to loose teeth, and the key pathogenic factor of periodontitis is the plaque microorganisms in the oral cavity. Whether you suffer from periodontitis has nothing to do with whether you have done orthodontic treatment.

Misunderstanding 4 Buck teeth or misaligned teeth, seek quick correction within seven days

The so-called rapid correction of cosmetic crowns, known as the emerging technology of tooth beauty, is essentially to grind the teeth to make porcelain crowns, which damages the health of the teeth for the sake of beauty. 

To change the alignment of healthy teeth, 

the correct solution is to wear braces, usually for about two years. The physiological movement of teeth is a slow process. Correction must pay a price of time, and there is no shortcut.

Misunderstanding  5 Correction is just for aesthetics

Many young people undergo orthodontics to improve the appearance of their teeth and even their appearance, but the effect of orthodontics is not limited to this. Most middle-aged and elderly people seek correction for health and function. Neat teeth are easier to clean, 

which is beneficial to the health of teeth and periodontal tissue. After correction, an ideal occlusal relationship can be obtained, which can improve chewing function. A perfect correction is the harmonious unity of health, function, aesthetics and long-term stability.

Misunderstanding 6 Correction must be tooth extraction

This is also one of the reasons why many people are hesitant to correct. Tooth extraction is a common but not the only means of providing clearance. In addition to tooth extraction that can create space and effectively solve dentition crowding and tooth protrusion, 

there are also many clinical methods such as expanding the dental arch forward and backward or left and right, slice cutting (moderately narrowing the teeth), etc. Which method is more suitable must be checked by a professional orthodontist before deciding.

Misunderstanding 7 There will be gaps between teeth after tooth extraction

Orthodontics is to move the teeth from their original position to a new one, while extraction orthodontics needs to use the space created by the extraction to align the dentition or recover the protruding teeth. Therefore, as long as it is a standard orthodontic treatment, 

under normal circumstances, the teeth can be arranged tightly and the normal adjacency of the teeth can be restored without leaving gaps between the teeth.

Misunderstanding 8. The teeth cannot be corrected until the teeth are replaced

Not only patients think so, but many non-orthodontic dentists also think so. The specific problems of different individuals are different. Considering the growth and development of teeth and jaws, the timing of starting orthodontics will be different for each person. 

There are early orthodontics in the deciduous and replacement dentition period, and comprehensive orthodontics after tooth replacement and adulthood. What kind of situation you belong to should be judged by a professional orthodontist.

Misunderstanding  9 Orthodontics must be painful

The fear of pain makes many people dare not to correct their teeth. In fact, orthodontics is not terrible, and the braces worn for orthodontics are not a magic spell. Nowadays, the development of orthodontic technology is more and more inclined to light-force orthodontics. 

Many technologies can provide safe and comfortable orthodontics, allowing patients to feel no pain or only slight discomfort. During the treatment, the teeth will feel soreness and occlusal weakness are also temporary phenomena. Occasionally, there will be pain caused 

by mucosal ulcers, which are generally tolerable.

Misunderstanding 10 Correction can only be done with braces, which affects the appearance

Orthodontic methods are flexible and diverse. The current mainstream technology is a fixed appliance that is stuck on the teeth and cannot be removed by the patient, commonly known as braces, including steel braces made of metal and beautiful ceramic 

braces that are close to the color of teeth. In addition, there are lingual orthodontics that are placed on the inside of the teeth and invisible orthodontics without brackets that patients can freely remove and wear, without affecting the appearance. 

Patients can make choices according to their needs.