Age-related start | Orthodontics

Age-related start

In general, regulation is not started until the permanent lateral teeth have broken through. This is the case at the age of 9 to 11 years. In exceptional cases, however, it may be necessary to start treatment earlier.

At this age it is still possible to regulate not only the teeth but also the growing jaw. Later, there are no age-related limits to regulation. Even in adults it is still possible, but here only a movement of the teeth, no jaw regulation.

In the early days of orthodontics, removable appliances were used almost exclusively to regulate malpositioned teeth. These had to be worn mostly during the night, since speaking and eating was difficult due to the voluminous appliances. Unfortunately, with the help of the children, things were not always going well.

They often left the appliance in the bedside drawer. This of course reduced the success of the treatment. The activator was such a removable orthodontic appliance.

It was a plastic plate with a gap in the middle. The two halves were connected by an expansion screw. The activator was held in place with a labial bow and clasps.

By turning the screw at intervals of about 2 to 4 weeks, the two halves were pushed apart, thus widening the jaw to make room for the teeth to be moved. A modification of the activator was the so-called Y-plate, in which the plate was cut into 3 parts, mainly to make room for the canine. Since removable appliances were often not worn long enough, their use has decreased considerably today.

Invisible rails

The fixed appliances are so-called brackets. These consist of metal or, more recently, ceramic. They are usually glued to the outer tooth surface with composite.

A wire is pulled through so-called locks, which regulates the teeth. The brackets can also be used to attach additional wires or springs, depending on individual requirements. The great advantage of fixed appliances is that they are worn constantly, which shortens the time of regulation.

A disadvantage is that they are visible, but experience shows that the children are to a large extent even proud to wear an adjustment. Since the brackets create good starting points for plaque, careful oral hygiene is essential to prevent the development of caries. After successful treatment, the brackets are removed again. The enamel under the brackets may have decalcified, so fluoridation will provide remineralization again.