What is orthodontics?

Invisalign is an invisible method of orthodontic treatment that uses thin, transparent, removable braces. It promises and has proven to correct certain orthodontic anomalies and spectacularly improve the smile that many hide out of embarrassment.

And all this without the orthodontic procedure being noticed and without any physical or aesthetic discomfort. It is a method that helps patients maintain a high level of oral hygiene, as it allows their removal during brushing and easier application of interdental cleaning.

The braces are made with the help of high-tech digital software and advanced materials, and are attached to the teeth by gradually moving them into the desired position.

Teeth whitening is a simple, conservative (non-invasive) cosmetic procedure that is virtually painless, absolutely gentle on periodontal tissues and enamel, and provides amazing results by improving the colour of teeth depending on the needs of the individual.

Depending on the method used, the whitening effect gives up to 5 degrees whiter teeth compared to their original colour!

It is easy to use and poses no risk to dental and periodontal tissues, provided it is performed with appropriate whitening materials and under the supervision of a dentist. Slight tooth sensitivity is rare and temporary.

It is important for the patient to know that some restorations and white fillings do not change colour during bleaching. Therefore, if teeth whitening is part of a broader dental treatment plan, it must be placed in such a time frame that we achieve the best possible result for the entire treatment.

Maintaining the whitening effect

We must emphasize that bleaching is a semi-permanent technique of color improvement.

Depending on a person’s dietary habits and whether they are smokers or not, teeth can darken faster if they are exposed too often to coffee, red wine, tobacco or tea too often.

What is certain is that teeth remain white for a long time after the whitening treatment and, depending on the patient’s individual habits, a booster treatment may be necessary.

Thanks to new scientific advances, orthodontic treatment is now accessible to adult patients as well, as the modern, discrete mechanisms overcome the aesthetic limitations that existed in past years.

Treatment of adult patients can now be performed with aesthetically acceptable methods, such as:

• Aesthetic ceramic bracketsand braces.
• Lingual orthodontics.
• Invisible aligners (clear aligners, Invisalign).

It is important to emphasize that adult orthodontic treatment requires an individualized treatment plan that is tailored to each orthodontic problem and the specific needs of each adult.

At the same time, orthodontic tooth movement may be part of a broader dental treatment plan that prepares the ground for a complex restoration (e.g. placement of an implant, prosthesis, etc.).

Adolescents are the largest group of orthodontic patients with 60-70%.

The appropriate time to start orthodontic treatment in adolescents is just before the last young teeth fall out, at the end of the mixed dentition, around the age of 11-12 years.

The orthodontic problems of adolescents are divided into two main categories:

• Skeletal orthodontic problems, which involve disharmonies in the relationship of the jaws and facial bones.
• Orthodontic problems, which mainly involve the position of the teeth in the dental arches.

For orthodontic problems, due to their diversity, there is no general rule for their correction, and parents should be aware that it is a misconception that orthodontic treatment should not be started until the replacement of the primary dentition is complete.

Orthodontic treatment of adolescent patients includes welding of fixed mechanisms (braces) on all permanent teeth with the aim of placing them in the most functional and aesthetic position, both in terms of smile and harmonious profile of the face.

The patient’s cooperation both during the treatment and in the phase of maintaining the therapeutic effect is considered necessary in order to achieve the best possible result in the shortest possible time and to maintain the therapeutic effect in the long term.

The first evaluation by an orthodontist should be done at age seven.

If necessary, a “first phase” of orthodontic treatment is performed, which lasts about a year and is usually done with movable appliances rather than fixed braces.

It is called preventive orthodontics and aims to correct functional problems that may develop into skeletal problems in the future, as well as problems with the arrangement of erupting permanent teeth in the dental arch.

This makes the second phase of treatment, if necessary, faster and easier and costs less.

Do not forget that a beautiful smile with perfectly straight teeth can “hide” very serious functional orthodontic problems.