Bad Bites and Good Orthodontics

PRESENTED BY TOWNSVILLE ORTHODONTIC SPECIALISTS

What is a bite?

A bite describes how the upper and lower teeth fit together. There are ideal, acceptable and bad bites. An orthodontist is an expert in diagnosing bites, teeth and facial form in young, growing and adult patients.

Bad Bites

Bad bites can include deep bites, protrusions, asymmetries, underbites and crossbites. A common bite problem is a deep overbite. Ideally, the upper teeth will only cover the lower teeth by 2mm. A deep overbite is an excessive vertical overlap of the upper and lower front teeth, resulting in the front teeth spending too much time hitting each other. This contact often leads to increased chipping and wearing down (which is irreversible), thus compromising both cosmetics and longevity of the front teeth. Orthodontic treatment should therefore correct bad bites, where possible.

Quick Treatment…Ideal?

Patients with crowding request treatment to align their teeth – they’re after a nice smile. If they also have bad bites, their treatment should also address these. Although bite correction is not always simple, a specialist orthodontist has the knowledge, training and experience to provide predictable and pleasing results. Without bite correction, your opportunity is wasted. Quick treatment will often come at the expense of ideal aesthetics and can compromise the stability and longevity of the teeth. If offered a quick orthodontic treatment, do not quickly commit! Don’t be lured. Exercise due diligence and seek an expert opinion. Only a specialist orthodontist can fully explain all of the treatment options, which is essential for informed consent. You will be pleasantly surprised that good orthodontics does not always cost more, or take much longer. At the very least, find out and make the choice! Even if you do choose the ‘faster’ option, an orthodontist is still the best person for the job.

Be Sceptical

Don’t believe the advertising hype. There is nothing magical or revolutionary about quick treatment. Essentially, ‘quick’ treatment results from a decision made by the practitioner (usually not an orthodontist) to cease treatment early. Once the front teeth appear straight, the treatment stops. In this ‘quick’ time, the results are often ‘under-done’, meaning that really important things like bite correction and long-term stability are compromised. If the deep bite remains uncorrected, retainer wires may break more often and teeth can continue to chip and wear. ‘Quick’ treatment is neither ‘quick’ nor ‘cheap’ if it needs to be re-done!

Good Orthodontics

Good orthodontics delivers beautiful smiles along with bite correction and improved function. Even when accepting a less-than-perfect bite, the treatment should still be ‘finished’ to a high standard, which takes time. But not all good orthodontics is slow. When considering orthodontic treatment for yourself or your family, please seek the advice of a specialist orthodontist. Good advice and good treatment can avoid disappointment and ensure that your expectations are met. Good treatment once in your life is the goal.

An Orthodontist

All orthodontists have completed a 5-year dentistry degree AND 3 years of fulltime specialist university training (i.e. over 5000 hours of supervised training under specialist orthodontists). After finishing, they restrict their practice to orthodontics only, meaning that they are true experts in their field and understand what constitutes good orthodontic treatment. When it comes to your family’s orthodontic needs, look to the right people.

Linda Ton

Orthodontist

Linda graduated as a dentist from the University of QLD in 2000, with first class honours, and as an Orthodontist in 2006. She takes pride in providing evidence-based care and loves nothing more than having a good belly-laugh with her patients.

Dr Paul Hanrahan | Dr Linda Ton | Dr Geoff Stanton | Dr Desmond Ong

17 Martinez Avenue The Lakes Townsville 4775 4433 admin@tsvortho.com.au

www.tsvortho.com.au