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Date:2021-04-11 10:40:26
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Some say you're too old for orthodontic treatment, others say you'll lose your teeth when you're older if you get braces... How many of these myths about teeth straightening do you believe?
Orthodontic Myth1 : You're Too Old for Treatment
Tooth movement is a bone remodeling process that occurs in all living beings, so orthodontic treatment is suitable for all ages. From children as young as three or four to adults in their eighties and nineties, anyone can be a candidate for treatment. Whether you can undergo treatment should be determined by a professional orthodontist. Teeth don't stay in one place forever; they exist in a balance between stability and movement. Orthodontic treatment uses external force to temporarily disrupt this balance to move teeth. The bone remodeling from treatment causes physiological tooth movement, and some temporary looseness during the process is completely normal. When teeth move to their new positions, they naturally return to balance and become stable again.

Orthodontic Myth2 : Braces Cause Tooth Loss in Old Age
During treatment, teeth may feel slightly loose as they move under pressure, but after treatment is complete and after a period of retention, the alveolar bone around the teeth remodels and teeth become as firm as before. So there's no need to worry about losing teeth later in life. However, it's important to maintain good oral hygiene—if you develop cavities or tooth loss after completing orthodontic treatment, that would be a real shame.
Orthodontic Myth3 : Braces Are Only for Aesthetics
In general, orthodontic treatment has two goals: correcting dental function and improving aesthetics. Most middle-aged and older patients seek treatment for health and functional reasons. Straight teeth are easier to clean, which benefits the health of teeth and periodontal tissues. Achieving an ideal bite relationship improves chewing function. Proper orthodontic treatment is a harmonious balance of health, function, aesthetics, and long-term stability.
Orthodontic Myth4 : Braces Always Require Tooth Extraction
Many people fear orthodontic treatment because they're afraid of tooth extraction. Extraction is a common method to create space, but it's not the only one. Besides extraction, there are other methods such as expanding the dental arch in the front-to-back or side-to-side directions, and interproximal reduction(slightly narrowing the teeth). Which method is most suitable must be determined by a professional orthodontist after a thorough examination.
Orthodontic Myth5 : Extraction Leaves Gaps Between Teeth
Gaps between teeth are actually one of the problems that orthodontic treatment aims to fix. In most cases, teeth can be aligned tightly together, restoring normal contact points without leaving gaps. Orthodontic treatment is essentially moving teeth from their original positions to new ones, and extraction-based treatment uses the space created by extraction to align crowded teeth or retract protruding front teeth.
Orthodontic Myth6 : Treatment Can't Start Until All Baby Teeth Are Gone
Patients of different ages with different types of malocclusion require different treatment plans, so it can't be generalized. The type of malocclusion must first be determined. There are early treatments during the primary and mixed dentition stages, as well as comprehensive treatment after all permanent teeth have erupted or in adulthood. Which category you fall into should be determined by a professional orthodontist.
Orthodontic Myth7 : Braces Are Always Painful
Fear of pain stops many people from getting treatment, but orthodontic treatment isn't scary, and braces aren't a torture device. Modern orthodontic technology is increasingly moving toward lighter forces. Many techniques provide safe and comfortable treatment, allowing patients to feel no pain or only mild discomfort. The soreness and weak bite sensation when teeth are under pressure are temporary, and occasional pain from mouth ulcers is generally tolerable.