Dr Rahul Krishan Sharma
Orthodontist and Dentofacialorthopedician is a dental professional whois trained and equipped in dealing with the irregular placements of teeth in the jaw or the jaw itself by various means of which braces are well known to the layman . It’s a post-graduation clinical programme of three years.
There was a time when majority of the patients coming for orthodontic treatment were children because there was a perception that adults could not enjoy the benefits of comprehensive orthodontic treatment. Lack of awareness was the prime reason for this. Over the past decade, however there has been a sharp surge in the number of adults who opt for such treatment.
Having well aligned teeth makes one feel more confident and less self-conscious but there are some other reasons why adults should consider getting an orthodontic treatment done. Irregularly placed teeth into the jaw bone when approaches the teeth in the opposite jaw, dissipates the force of mastication or makes chewing harmful. This may result into various dental, muscular and joint problems. The chief problems which one may encounter are chipping of teeth or gums losing its attachment with the bone and falling down, gingival recession we call it as, or severe pain in the joint. All such problems are expensive and difficult to treat later in life. So stich in time saves nine fits well in this scenario.
According to the journal of periodontology, problem of gums if left untreated may increase the risk of atherosclerosis induced conditions like Coronary Heart disease and stroke, complications of diabetes, adverse pregnancy outcomes and respiratory diseases. Apart from the influence of functional problems, a large part of adult population seeking orthodontic treatment these days do so hoping to improve their appearance.
Recognising the signs is the first step towards correcting the problem. The conformable nature of human body allows most people to ignore dental problems until it becomes unbearable. Adult patients are generally considered as a better candidate for orthodontic treatment because they are meticulous about sticking to their appointments, maintain good oral hygiene, and understand and follow the orthodontist’s instructions.
In today’s world we are inundated with the images how one should look and conduct oneself in order to succeed. With the entertainment industry churning out beautiful faces and brilliant smiles, there is a new found interest among the public in their smiles and its appearances. Dr K Dion points out that attractive people derive benefits because of physical stereotyping. This often convinces the adult patient to take the final leap of faith. And since appearances of braces may put the adult patient psychologically in a back seat owing their active social life, the options of invisible orthodontics like lingual braces and clear aligners are well practiced these days.
There is no upper age limit to the orthodontic treatment as long as the underlying bone and the fibres that anchor the tooth are healthy and capable of withstanding the gentle pressure of the braces. Unlike in children, where the average treatment duration is of two years, in adults it’s less because of the limited correction required in most situations. The minor problems which may arise are insignificant compared with the vastly improved change in aesthetics, function and psychological outlook.
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