Orthodontic treatment is a way of straightening or moving teeth, to improve the appearance of the teeth and how they work. It can also help to look after the long-term health of the teeth, gums and jaw joints, by spreading the biting pressure over all the teeth.
Many people have crowded or crooked teeth. Orthodontic treatment will straighten the teeth or move them into a better position. This can not only improve their appearance but also the way the teeth bite together, while also making them easier to clean.
In some patients the upper front teeth can stick out and look unsightly. These 'prominent' teeth are more likely to be damaged, but orthodontic treatment can move them back into line. In others, the way the upper and lower jaws meet can cause teeth to look unsightly and lead to an incorrect bite. Orthodontic treatment may be able to correct both.
When the teeth don't meet correctly, this can put strain on the muscles of the jaw, causing jaw and joint problems and in some cases headaches. Orthodontic treatment can help you to bite more evenly and reduce the strain.
For the 5 million in the United States and Canada who wear braces, better oral health, an attractive smile and enhanced self-image are just a few of the benefits. Yet, many orthodontic patients particularly the one in five who are adults testify that the much-anticipated date their braces are to be removed is a day they wish would arrive sooner.
A team of orthodontists at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio hopes to speed up and improve orthodontic treatment using a new device called the AcceleDent.
Dubravko Pavlin, D.M.D., M.S.D., Ph.D., an associate professor in the Department of Orthodontics at the Health Science Center, worked with a team of investigators from OrthoAccel Technologies, Inc. of Houston to help develop the device.
His colleagues Ravikumar Anthony, B.D.S., M.D.S., M.S., clinical instructor of orthodontics, and Peter Gakunga, B.D.S., M.S., Ph.D., assistant professor of orthodontics at the Health Science Center, are now incorporating the device in an investigational study at the university.
Dr. Anthony is the lead investigator of this study, which is the largest study of its kind launched this spring.
Brent Tarver, vice president for clinical affairs and technology development at OrthoAccel, is optimistic about the research potential.
"We are excited about this particular investigation because we expect it could lead to U.S. regulatory approval," Tarver said.
