Treatment possibilities

In Riga Stradins University Institute of Stomatology department of orthodontics are working certified doctors – orthodontists offering treatment which meets the highest world standards in orthodontics.

Possible treatment methods:

Braces
Removable appliances
 Functional appliances
 Other fixed appliances

 


Braces. Braces are the most useful appliances in orthodontics. With braces it is possible to control the tooth movement in all 3 dimensions producing superior results. Each tooth to be aligned has a bracket cemented to the enamel surface. Flexible wires are placed into the slots on the brackets and the teeth are gradually pulled into good alignment. As the teeth move towards the correct position, the wires are changed for more steadily ones that produce a better and better arrangement. Ones have to remember that treatment is time consuming and takes approximately 18-30 months and patient has to visit orthodontist on average every 6 weeks.
In Institute of Stomatology there are various types of braces for patient to choose:

• Metal braces. Less aesthetic, mostly favored by younger patients.

 

• Aesthetic braces (either ceramic material or glass reinforced plastic). Archwire is fixed in with translucent elastics. These braces are particulary popular with adults or ones who are concerned with aesthetics.

 

• Self-ligating braces (metalic or ceramic). One of the most significant differences from conventional dental braces is the absence of elastic bands, because self-ligating braces uses a slide mechanism to hold the archwire. Interval between appointments is longer, approximately 2-3 months.

 

• Lingual braces. Lingual braces are attached to the back side of the teeth, which makes them completely non-visible. This advanced method makes lingual orthodontics particularly well-suited for adults, who often want to improve the look and function of their teeth without letting anyone else know about their treatment. They are manufactured individually for each patient using gold alloy and that accordingly increases the costs.

        





Removable appliances – Removable appliances are used in primary and mixed dentitions. These appliances are used to move teeth with wire springs. These springs do not move teeth as accurately as braces do, so the use of removable appliances is limited to simple tooth movements. The wire springs are attached to a smooth, pink, plastic supporting plate which is held securely in the mouth by wire clasps.

• Removable appliances can be used for:
  
  • Simple tooth movements
  • Maintaining space or aesthetic reasons
  • Correction of malocclusion , for example, appliance with expansion screw or biteplane
    

   


Functional appliances – Functional appliances are devices used to correct a significant disharmony in the relationship between the upper and lower jaws. They work by influencing the growth and development of a growing patient. The most common use of a functional appliance is to encourage the forward growth of a retrusive or "under-developed" lower jaw. The functional appliance holds the lower jaw forward over a period until the teeth, jaws and joints have "adapted" and the desired jaw position has been obtained. Generally they are used during the rapid growth of early teenage years. Functional appliances can be removable (has to be worn during the night or whole time depending on the type of appliance) or fixed (appliance is cemented to the teeth). Functional appliances align the jaws not the teeth, so they are usually used as a first stage of treatment (in a growing patient with a significant jaw disharmony) prior to the alignment of the teeth with fixed appliances (braces).

Removable functional appliances (For example, Activator and Twin Block).

     
Fixed functional appliances (For example, Herbst appliance).



Other types of fixed appliances – In some clinical situations, doctor may choose to use other types of fixed appliances. For example, appliance with expansion screw that widens upper jaw in cases when it is too narrow.

     

In some occasions orthodontist may use TAD (temporary anchorage devices), for example, as mini-screws to aid in treatment progress.