Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that focuses on correcting crooked, misaligned or misshaped teeth and jaws. This can help improve a person’s bite, which is important for chewing and speaking. This helps to reduce the risk of gum disease, tooth decay and other oral health problems.

Straight teeth and a healthy bite are key to a beautiful smile. They also improve your overall dental health, which in turn can benefit your quality of life.

There are many reasons to see an Orthodontics alexandria la, such as crooked teeth, gaps and other misalignment issues that may not be visible. Some of these conditions can be caused by poor dental care or by prolonged habits, such as thumb sucking.

Treatment – braces, retainers and other appliances that move the teeth into a more desirable position.

Oral appliance therapy – this includes braces and clear aligners such as Invisalign that are designed to shift the teeth into their correct positions. These can be fixed (adhesive bonded) or removable appliances, depending on the specific issue.

Retainers – these are plastic trays that are worn over the teeth after orthodontic treatment to hold the teeth in their new position until the surrounding gum and bone have settled down.

Other types of orthodontic appliances – these are sometimes used in addition to braces to move the teeth, such as headgear which is worn on the back of the head and can help with malocclusion or misalignment.

Extraction – when there is no other way to correct a problem, orthodontists may remove teeth so that the overall mouth is better positioned and can be improved by orthodontic treatment.

Paediatric treatments – some orthodontist alexandria la recommend treating children as young as seven, because their facial bones are still growing and easier to move and manipulate. They can also use palatal expanders to widen the roof of the mouth and create space for the lower jaw.

The most common form of orthodontic treatment is with fixed braces that are bonded to the teeth. They can be made of metal, ceramic or plastic.

They are often uncomfortable at first, but the teeth will settle down after a few weeks. Adjustments are usually needed every four to six weeks.

Some patients need to wear a retainer at night, while others need to wear them for a few hours each day. It is important to maintain good oral hygiene in the area where the braces are, as this can prevent relapse.

Retainers are recommended for the lifetime of a patient that has undergone orthodontic treatment as they can help to prevent teeth from drifting out of position over time, which can cause future problems and potential oral health issues.

Orthodontics alexandria la can also treat a number of other problems, such as painful or misaligned bites, some forms of sleep apnoea and certain conditions that occur due to tooth movement during childhood such as thumb sucking.

Orthodontics is a specialty in dentistry that requires extensive training and education. Once a dentist has obtained a degree in dentistry, they then undergo a further 5,000 hours of specialist training to become an orthodontist. This is an essential part of their training in order to obtain the most advanced knowledge and skill for the treatment of a specific type of condition.