You can have a perfect set of teeth after 30
Nov 08, 2009
A GOOD smile melts the heart. It can win you that secret love, the seven digit-pay job, and even turn around a monster mother-in-law. Many adults have been denied this pleasing smile because they think orthodontic treatment, particularly braces, are for k
Last week in our article ‘Brace yourself for a beautiful smile’, we implied that braces are only for children. However, Dr. Aisha Bantarigaya Sekalala, a consultant orthodontist sheds more light on use of braces by adults, Irene Nabusoba writes.
A GOOD smile melts the heart. It can win you that secret love, the seven digit-pay job, and even turn around a monster mother-in-law. Many adults have been denied this pleasing smile because they think orthodontic treatment, particularly braces, are for kids.
“Braces are not just for children,†says Dr. Bataringaya, a consultant orthodontist and lecturer, department of dentistry, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University.
“Teeth can be straightened at any age because the biological process involved in tooth movement is the same in adults and children,†Bataringaya says.
She says there is no particular time when orthodontic treatment should begin because each orthodontic problem determines its own best starting time.
“It is recommended that every child first visits an orthodontist at around the age of seven or earlier if a problem is detected,†she explains.
“There is no viable treatment that can be done in a three-year-old or younger since only primary (milk) teeth are in the mouth.â€
She says it is illogical to treat milk teeth that will be lost completely from the mouth only to be replaced by permanent dentition that may require treatment.
Early or late loss of teeth, difficulty in chewing or biting, mouth breathing, finger sucking or other oral habits are signs that your child needs an orthodontic examination.
Among many patients, early treatment achieves results that are unattainable once the face and jaws have finished growing and it makes the completion of treatment at a later age easier and less time-consuming.
“It is not true that orthodontic treatment cannot be done beyond 30 years. Adults are being successfully treated into their 40s, 50s and even 60s,†she adds.
Bataringaya says the health of an individual’s teeth, gums and supporting bone is what is important in determining the prospects for improving one’s smile and dental health, hence certain corrections cannot be accomplished with braces alone among adults because their facial bones are no longer growing.
She says dramatic facial changes are being achieved with a combined approach of surgery and orthodontics for individuals who choose to receive this type of treatment.
Treatment by a specialist to correct the original problem is often less costly than the additional dental care required to treat more serious problems that can develop in later years.
“Improving your smile is always a change for the better; it is also good for your health. Crooked teeth and bad bites can affect general oral health and contributes to jaw joints problems,†she says.
Bataringaya observes that orthodontic specialists have not only greatly reduced the discomfort of wearing braces but also decreased the frequency of office visits and overall treatment time.
After treatment, one’s mouth amay be a little tender, but one will adjust and wear a “tin grin†with pride.
A GOOD smile melts the heart. It can win you that secret love, the seven digit-pay job, and even turn around a monster mother-in-law. Many adults have been denied this pleasing smile because they think orthodontic treatment, particularly braces, are for kids.
“Braces are not just for children,†says Dr. Bataringaya, a consultant orthodontist and lecturer, department of dentistry, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University.
“Teeth can be straightened at any age because the biological process involved in tooth movement is the same in adults and children,†Bataringaya says.
She says there is no particular time when orthodontic treatment should begin because each orthodontic problem determines its own best starting time.
“It is recommended that every child first visits an orthodontist at around the age of seven or earlier if a problem is detected,†she explains.
“There is no viable treatment that can be done in a three-year-old or younger since only primary (milk) teeth are in the mouth.â€
She says it is illogical to treat milk teeth that will be lost completely from the mouth only to be replaced by permanent dentition that may require treatment.
Early or late loss of teeth, difficulty in chewing or biting, mouth breathing, finger sucking or other oral habits are signs that your child needs an orthodontic examination.
Among many patients, early treatment achieves results that are unattainable once the face and jaws have finished growing and it makes the completion of treatment at a later age easier and less time-consuming.
“It is not true that orthodontic treatment cannot be done beyond 30 years. Adults are being successfully treated into their 40s, 50s and even 60s,†she adds.
Bataringaya says the health of an individual’s teeth, gums and supporting bone is what is important in determining the prospects for improving one’s smile and dental health, hence certain corrections cannot be accomplished with braces alone among adults because their facial bones are no longer growing.
She says dramatic facial changes are being achieved with a combined approach of surgery and orthodontics for individuals who choose to receive this type of treatment.
Treatment by a specialist to correct the original problem is often less costly than the additional dental care required to treat more serious problems that can develop in later years.
“Improving your smile is always a change for the better; it is also good for your health. Crooked teeth and bad bites can affect general oral health and contributes to jaw joints problems,†she says.
Bataringaya observes that orthodontic specialists have not only greatly reduced the discomfort of wearing braces but also decreased the frequency of office visits and overall treatment time.
After treatment, one’s mouth amay be a little tender, but one will adjust and wear a “tin grin†with pride.