302 322
HEALTH&FITNESS
302
July14
Which Braces?
DR CATHERINE LEE believes that major
orthodontic work can be avoided, or
at least minimised, by treatment at an
early age, before the facial bones and
jaws have fully developed. What’s more,
problems often run in families, so if you
needed orthodontic work, it’s more likely
that your children will, too. In line with the
American Association of Orthodontists,
she recommends an initial assessment
between the ages of five and seven.
Dr Lee identifies two phases of
orthodontic care for children:
Phase I – 5 to 10 years old
By monitoring and modifying jaw growth
with early interceptive care, when their
first permanent teeth start to appear.
you’re taking advantage of a child’s
natural development in order to improve
his or her smile, facial shape and even
profile. Early intervention reduces the
need to remove good, permanent teeth
duringPhase Two, the teenage years, and
brings down the overall cost, especially in
complicated or difficult cases.
Phase II – the teenage years
The purpose of orthodontic treatment is
not merely to straighten the teeth – which
may be relatively easy to do – but also
to achieve a good, functional occlusion,
Early Does It!
or “bite”. Repositioning bones, jaw and
teeth will improve facial balance and help
ensure that teeth last a lifetime.
Smile! Wearing braces should be
a happy experience, Dr Lee believes.
They don’t need to hurt in order to work
properly. You can choose between silver,
tooth-coloured, or “invisible” braces (like
Invisalign Teen), and even add vibrant
colours if you like.
For adults, says Dr Lee, the phrase
"healthy mouth, healthy you" really
is true, and it’s backed by growing
scientific evidence. If you’ve had
orthodontic treatment in the past, but
have found that your teeth have drifted
over the years, you can have some
refinement done to perfect your teeth
again. Invisible braces like Invisalign
easily fit into a busy lifestyle.
Many adults choose to have their
teeth corrected, not because their teeth
aren’t straight, but also to correct a “bad
bite” that is causing early wear and
decay. It’s never too late for orthodontic
braces – one of Dr Lee’s patients was
71 years old at the time of treatment.
Dr Catherine Lee Orthodontics
#06-05 Camden Medical Centre
1 Orchard Boulevard
6835 9571 |
drcatherineleeorthodontics.com
Michael Pettigrew | Dreamstime.com
Traditional metallic, self-ligating,
ceramic or even invisible – the type
of brace you choose should suit
your needs and lifestyle, believes
orthodontist DR VICPEARLYWONG.
In the end, they all work to move
teeth into their ideal positions by
applying steady pressure over time.
Traditional braces
comprise
three main components: the bracket
(placed on the tooth), the archwire
that runs through the brackets and
applies the required pressure, and
elastic or metal ties (ligatures) that
connect the brackets to the archwire.
Self-ligating braces
don’t
have ties; they use a permanently
installed, moveable component
to trap the archwire. Not only are
they smaller and more aesthetic,
but they’re more comfortable than
traditional metal braces. Food is far
less likely to be trapped in them, so
patients find it easier to maintain
good oral hygiene during treatment.
Ceramic braces
have an obvious
aesthetic appeal, as they match the
colour of your own teeth. This is
orthodontic treatment “minus the
metal look”, as Dr Wong puts it.
They’re both made from aluminium
oxide, and you can choose between
polycrystalline and monocrystalline;
the latter are noticeably clearer.
Within these options, you can
choose between two systems:
modular ligation (Radiance Plus), or
self-ligation (Empower Clear).
Invisalign
, or invisible braces, is
a modern approach to straightening
teeth, says VicPearly – and it really
is almost invisible.
•
A computer software program
projects the required movement
of the teeth to achieve the desired
results, after which a custom-
made series of aligner trays
is created especially for each
patient.
•
Wearing the aligners gradually
and gently shifts your teeth into