Using traditional braces or removable aligners involves more than attaching these appliances to your teeth and waiting for the perfect smile to appear. There’s a lot of science behind what your Melbourne orthodontist is doing! Orthodontics shifts the teeth over time until they are aligned and fit correctly in your mouth. They can realign your jaw, fix bite problems, and make it easier to brush and floss your teeth. How does this happen? Let’s look at the science.

How Teeth Can Move in the First Place

All of your teeth are surrounded by gum tissue at the base. They have roots that extend into the upper or lower jawbone, which hold them in place. This is how the teeth remain fixed and don’t move around due to normal processes like chewing and eating. They’re rooted in place.

Underneath the gumline, there’s a membrane called the periodontal ligament. This ligament is a tissue that connects the tooth roots and the surrounding jawbone. The ligament holds every tooth firmly in place. However, when constant pressure is applied to the teeth, the periodontal ligament allows them to be moved to a new position.

What Causes Teeth to be Crooked?

Wouldn’t it be great if all our teeth grew perfectly straight? No one would ever need treatment. Unfortunately, that’s not what happens. Most parents start to notice that teeth really can move around when something starts to go wrong with their child’s smile. This can occur as early as the thumb-sucking or pacifier stage when the child is very young.

The teeth can come in crooked if a child’s jaw is too small or narrow when they start erupting. Overbites or underbites can develop at an early age. Sometimes, kids end up having too many teeth before they’ve grown big enough, or there can be a problem with the development of the palate. All these issues and more can lead to crooked teeth. We should also note that the teeth can shift at any age. Ask any adult who has lost a tooth. The ones next to the missing tooth will start moving to fill that space in the jawline unless an implant fills the gap.

Applied Pressure to Achieve the Goal

Braces and clear aligners are applied constantly, with gentle pressure on the teeth throughout treatment. This pressure gradually shifts the teeth into their new positions. The malleability of the periodontal ligament allows the teeth to move and helps keep them in the proper place once the journey is complete. Every patient is unique, so your orthodontist will devise an individualized plan to move the teeth where they need to go.

Shifting Teeth with Braces

Braces utilize brackets, bands, and elastics that fit together perfectly in the mouth and work to move the teeth in specific ways. They apply specific, gentle pressure that causes the teeth to shift in the periodontal ligament. At a certain point, the braces will become less effective, and the pressure will be relieved. Each time the teeth reach this point, you will have another appointment with your orthodontist to tighten the braces and keep the pressure on.

Shifting Teeth with Aligners

Clear aligners like Invisalign work in much the same way. Aligners, however, fit over the teeth and can be removed for meals, brushing, and flossing. You receive a new pair of custom aligners that fit your teeth every two weeks.

Remember the Retainer!

Once the braces or aligners come off, the teeth want to return to their original positions. This is when you will start wearing a custom-fitted retainer. The retainer helps hold the teeth in position until the periodontal ligament adjusts, and some new bone tissue will grow until it ultimately has the teeth in place.

If you have any questions about how braces or aligners can help you achieve the perfect smile, contact us at Reddick Orthodontics to schedule an appointment.