Many of us carry the perception or knowledge that the terms dentist and orthodontist Melbourne are similar but that is not correct at all.

Though there are a few similarities, orthodontia is a different type of dental care. Orthodontists are specialized in treating specific types of dental problems like aligning teeth and jaws that are not in proper position. Orthodontic treatment can provide you a healthy mouth, a better appearance, and teeth that will last throughout your life. Here are a few interesting facts that you should know about an Orthodontist.

Who is an Orthodontist?

Dentists who are specialized in orthodontic treatment are known as orthodontists. In that way, we can tell that all orthodontists are dentists but not vice-versa. Orthodontists enroll themselves for a specialized two- or three-years course in addition to their four years regular dental course. As pointed out earlier, orthodontists mainly deal with teeth alignment. They also help in treating occlusions, overbites, and overcrowded mouths.

Cases in which you require Orthodontic Treatment

There are different kinds of bites other than overbites like underbite, cross-bite and open bites and they can cause serious problems if not treated at the right time. A dentist or orthodontist can prescribe orthodontic treatment for you based on proper diagnostic reports like the history of your dental health, special X-rays and plaster models of your teeth. Orthodontic treatment is required for those who have misplaced midline, spacing and crowding problems.

The Appliances used by Orthodontists

An orthodontist Melbourne uses both fixed and removable appliances for treating patients. Some of the fixed appliances are- Braces- It is the most commonly used dental appliance that consists of wires, bands, and brackets. Bands are placed around the teeth or a particular tooth and they act as anchors. Brackets are placed on the front of the tooth in most cases. Braces are needed to be adjusted on a monthly basis for getting optimum results.

Braces can put your teeth in the proper position within a few months or years. These days we get to see braces that are smaller in size and lighter in weight. They are even available in attractive colors for the kids and people can choose them according to their specific preferences.

=> Especially fixed appliances - They are used to control a few habits like tongue thrusting and thumb sucking. They can cause a few problems while having food.

=> Space Maintainers - It is used in cases where a baby tooth falls of at an early stage and space maintainers help in keeping the space open till a permanent tooth grows out.

Some of the removable appliances are -

=> Aligners - There are many people who use aligners in place of braces. Many orthodontists prefer aligners because they do not consist of any metal wires or brackets. Aligners can be removed while brushing or eating.

=> Appliances for Repositioning Jaws- They are also known as splints and people normally wear them on the top or lower jaw. They help in closing the jaw at a proper position. Splints are particularly used to treat Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMJ).

=> Lip and Cheek Bumpers- They are required to maintain a gap between your teeth and the lips or cheeks. The muscles of our lips and cheeks can sometimes put pressure on the teeth and the bumpers can help in keeping a check on that pressure.

=> Palatal Expander- It is used to keep the arch of the upper jaw wide. It is a kind of a plastic plate on which pressure is exerted from outside with the help of screws and this makes the joints in the palate bones to open up.

=> Removable Retainers- They are applied on the roof of the mouth and helps in preventing the teeth from moving into earlier position. You can also customize such retainers to avoid thumb sucking.

=> Headgear- It helps in slowing down the extension of the upper jaw.

So, an orthodontist Melbourne needs to be specialized and experienced to deal with specific dental problems as mentioned above and they must also know how and where to put the appliances. They mostly help in putting your teeth at a proper position and this contributes to enhancing your appearance. You can always visit an orthodontist if you are the victim of specific dental problems. For better quality orthodontist refer Preston Smiles near you.

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