When it comes to our overall health and well-being, it’s safe to say that many of us perhaps don’t take the best possible care of ourselves. We sometimes allow ourselves to become unhealthy, or to pick up injuries and ailments and simply live with them as opposed to seeing a specialist and getting them seen to once and for all. Take our teeth for instance. All over the world, people suffer from tooth related health issues on a daily basis, some of which can literally be pure agony. Rather than see a specialist however, a specialist such as a fully trained orthodontist, many people would rather suffer in silence, and we’re really not sure why. One theory is that people don’t truly understand what orthodontists do, and how they can help them, which is where we come in. In this article, we’ll be looking at what orthodontists do, the treatments they offer, why people need to see them in the first place, and much more on top of that.
What is orthodontics?
In simply terms, orthodontics is basically a special category of dentistry, which specialises in improper positioning of people’s teeth when their mouths are closed. Sometimes known as improper biting, these special cases are dealt with by specially trained orthodontists. The word orthodontists is actually derived from the Greek word ‘Orthos’, which translates as straight, and the word ‘dontos’ which translates as teeth.
So what is an orthodontist?
An orthodontist is a dentist which specialises in dealing with patent’s suffering from improper placement of their teeth. Just like specialist doctors and surgeons who choose to focus on certain areas, cardiologists dealing with heart issues for example, orthodontists are dentists which choose to deal with irregularities in the placement of teeth in their patients.
Why do people require orthodontic treatment?
There are a number of reasons as to why patients may require orthodontic treatment. One of which is the fact that due to the fact that their teeth may be situated irregularly in their mouths, it can make even the most trivial of tasks such as chewing their food, extremely painful and uncomfortable indeed. As people requiring orthodontic treatment often have irregularities in their teeth and jaw development, they can also suffer a great deal with various psychological issues too, such as a lack of confidence, especially in younger patients. In England in particular, orthodontic treatment is proving to be especially beneficial, due to the fact that around 33% of all young children under the age of 13, could benefit from and require orthodontic treatment.
What are the various treatments?
The treatments involved with orthodontics are pretty straightforward and common. An orthodontist will first conduct various examinations and x-rays, before then making a diagnosis and deciding which option to pursue next. Common treatments include:
- Dental braces fitted to the teeth to help slowly realign and straighten them.
- Retainers, which are used after braces have been fitted for a prolonged period of time, and work in much the same way, only that they’re actually removable, so the patient will often simply slip them into their mouths in an evening before bed perhaps.
- Facemasks are perhaps the most extreme method of treatment and although unsightly, they work extremely effective indeed. These are large mask like devices that fit over the face and head, whilst being attached to a patient’s braces.
How much are treatments?
In the UK, braces are actually available on the NHS for people under the age of 18, who actually require them. For over 18’s, private treatment is available, costs varying from £2,000 upwards.
If you are looking for a local orthodontist, visit http://findorthodontists.co.uk
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