Orthodontics at Dr. Raineri Orthodontics
How Does Orthodontic Treatment Work?
The word “orthodontics” comes from the Greek words for “straight” and “tooth.” When you get orthodontic treatment from Dr. Raineri, orthodontic appliances like braces or invisible aligners gradually move your teeth into their ideal alignment. You’ll be able to say goodbye to the overbite and crowded teeth at last!
What makes the orthodontics process possible is the amazing biology of our mouths. The pressure from the orthodontic appliance on the jaw bone activates specialized cells called osteoblasts and osteoclasts, which actually rebuild the bone tissue around the new position of your teeth!
Why Are Straight Teeth So Important?
Most of us know that properly aligned teeth look nicer than crooked ones, and knowing your smile looks good is great for your confidence, but did you know that it’s also better for your health? Having straight teeth and a good bite makes it easier to chew your food thoroughly (which is crucial for good digestion), it’s better for your jaw, it makes it easier to clean your teeth, and it also makes it easier to enunciate when you speak!
Another thing straight teeth help with is your ability to comfortably close your mouth while resting, which means you can breathe the healthy way: through your nose. These are just a few of the reasons to consider getting orthodontic treatment with Dr. Raineri.
The Anatomy of Braces
Why do braces consist of brackets, O-rings (also called bands or ligatures), and archwires? Because each of those parts plays an important role in orthodontics. Sometimes there are additional parts and appliances depending on the patient’s specific treatment plan, but everyone who has traditional wire braces has these three parts.
Brackets: Anchor Points
If you look closely, you can tell if someone is closer to the beginning of their orthodontic treatment than the end because their brackets aren’t in a straight line. For some patients, the brackets might even emphasize the crookedness of their teeth. The placement of the brackets is very deliberate. It’s what allows braces to move teeth to where they need to be. The colorful o-rings then go on top of the brackets to hold the archwires in place.
Archwires: The Guiderails
Running through the brackets is the archwire, which varies in material and thickness depending on the treatment plan. Archwires provide steady, gradual pressure in the right direction as they try to straighten back to their original shape. Once the archwire is in place, the colorful O-rings go on top, holding brackets and archwire together.
Elastics for a Bad Bite
In orthodontics, elastics are the most common addition to the main three braces ingredients. They’re used to correct a malocclusion (bad bite) or misaligned jaw by applying pressure towards the proper alignment. However, the only way they can do their job is if the patient wears them EXACTLY as instructed. You cannot speed up your treatment by wearing extra rubber bands. In fact, you will probably only make it take longer.
Why Retainers Matter in Orthodontics
The bone-reshaping process takes time, and our teeth still remember their old position after the braces come off. This is why it’s so important to wear retainers. They help the teeth and jaws get used to the new position, and they also prevent separate shifting that happens to most people’s teeth as they get older.
We Care About Your Smile at Dr. Raineri Orthodontics
If you’ve been living with tooth crowding, a bad bite, or other oral alignment problems, schedule an initial consultation with us today by calling us at (315) 457-4900 or sending us an email. And orthodontics aren’t just for teenagers! Adults can get the smiles they’ve always wanted too! Here at Dr. Raineri Orthodontics, we’re excited to help you get the healthy, beautiful smile you deserve!