TRENDS IN ORTHODONTICS

BY JULIE ANN A. LUMAGUE

 Braces have come a long way since the 70s. Gone are the days of the clunky, unattractive headgear that was worn nearly all of ones waking hours, the steel bands individually fitted around each tooth, which led to taunts of metal mouth, railroad tracks and other derogatory names. Even the monotone pink retainers have been replaced with personalized ones that are decorated with sports graphics, flowers, and college-mascot decals to name a few. In addition to aesthetics, innovations in orthodontics have made treatment faster with less discomfort and fewer visits to the orthodontists office.

Modern-day orthodontic care includes evaluations that electronically display for the patient a simulation of how the teeth will be moved, self-ligating brackets, temperaturesensitive wires that use biologically correct forces to move the teeth, clear and ceramic brackets and even a sensor placed inside orthodontic appliances so that the orthodontist can monitor patient compliance.

In general speaking these new developments can be categorized on the following way: New techniques, new appliances with the technological development there are new appliances (e.g. invisible braces, or the Damon self-ligation technique). New standards in costumer care So much developed information sources are available, in addition to this the involvement of the patient in the decision-making process is a must in contemporary orthodontics New paradigm in treatment planning In treatment planning the science pays more attention to the soft tissue and to the facial and smile aesthetics, than it was in the past.

Dec 10 Differential Straight Arching Aligning teeth better Posted on 2010 under General | Comments are off