2023-04-28 16:27:31
Today, society and the people who make it up realize the importance of oral health. Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry that focuses on correcting irregularities in the alignment and position of the teeth, which not only improves the appearance of the smile, but also helps prevent and treat dental health problems.
Through it, more serious situations can be prevented in the future, since crooked or crowded teeth can be difficult to clean properly, which increases the risk of cavities and gum disease. In addition, an incorrect bite can generate tension in the muscles and alterations in the temporomandibular joint, bringing with it headaches, sleep problems and other uncomfortable symptoms.
With treatment, patients with bite problems can experience significant improvements in their quality of life, this may include an improvement in the ability to chew and speak, a reduction in the feeling of tiredness in the jaw and face, and a improvement in general dental aesthetics.
It should be noted that a high percentage of patients consult for aesthetic reasons, but it is necessary to understand that orthodontics is not only to align teeth, but also solves problems of a functional nature.
Another point to note is that there is no age limit for orthodontic treatment. Both children or young people and adults can access it as long as they have a healthy mouth.
In patients of growing age, there are situations that require procedures that we call orthopedic, whose objective is to redirect and balance the growth of the maxilla and/or mandible in any plane of space. If these situations occur in an adult patient, it often forces us to a combined orthodontic-surgical treatment.
Resources and skills
There is an arsenal of orthodontic resources, including conventional metal brackets, aesthetic sapphire brackets, invisible lingual brackets that are glued behind the teeth, and finally, transparent aligner plates.
Not all problems can be solved with the same resources, each one has pros and cons. This is where the competent professional must understand which one is indicated for each patient, regardless of what the patient chooses.
There are no standardized treatments, you have to know how to adapt the treatment to the patient and not the patient to the treatment.
Currently, digital technology is playing a leading role in Orthodontics, giving greater diagnostic precision and predictability in our treatments. There are different Software that allow generating the dental movements that the patient needs and see how they will affect their face and smile. This undoubtedly facilitates the way of communicating with the patient and explaining her needs.
Duration of orthodontic treatments
All efforts are focused on trying to shorten the time that orthodontic treatment takes. Appliance manufacturers invest a large part of their resources in designing appliances that allow teeth to move faster, so that the results are efficient.
On average, comprehensive orthodontic treatment lasts approximately one and a half to two years, and for this reason it is one of the great challenges of the future. It should be clarified that there are other variables that condition the treatment time and that have to do with the severity of the case, the patient’s collaboration and the capacity and competence of the professional who assists him.
Access or accessibility to treatment
The economic possibility is an obstacle to be able to access an orthodontic treatment, if we take into account that a high percentage of inputs is imported material: Brackets, arches, ligatures, etc.
This conditions the patient who cannot afford these costs. In the same sense, professionals are affected by this, since, to maintain the infrastructure, buy equipment, work items, supplies, we are conditioned by the situation in the country.
To deal with this situation, in many cases we design different financing options, so that the patient can afford it. This requires resilience and adaptability.
Vocational training
Access to training through postgraduate courses is not alien to the socioeconomic reality of the country. In any case, reality requires training and specialization, that is the way. Young people need to think long term. If one is not well trained, in the medium and long term the professional reality is complex.
I am convinced that science is a set of transitory truths, you have to learn, unlearn and relearn, in our profession and in all aspects of life. What limits a person is pride, so you have to put that aside and study constantly.
* Javier Baiocco (MP 4809). Specialist in orthodontics and dento-maxillo-facial orthopedics. Professor of the UNC School of Dentistry and postgraduate professor at Fundación CREO.
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#Orthodontics #health #aesthetics #ages