Features and advantages of teeth straightening with plates

Beautiful, straight teeth and a snow-white smile are a gift that nature does not bestow on everyone. Fortunately, today there are several effective techniques that can straighten teeth in childhood and provide a person with a luxurious smile for life. And the most popular way to improve their appearance is to install plates.

Today we will talk about what dental plates are, how long it will take to straighten a child’s teeth and how to choose the right smile helpers.

Plates for teeth: removable and non-removable

In dentistry, doctors work with different types of orthodontic products. At the initial appointment, the orthodontist will tell the young patient and his parents what the plates for straightening teeth are called, how they differ and what they are like. The most popular:

• systems – single-jawed, with a retraction arch, with a pusher, with a hand-shaped process;
• devices – Brückle, Frenkel;
• Andresen-Goipl activator.

Products are divided according to the method of fixation:

• removable – hypoallergenic polymer construction includes wire hooks and arcs for fixing the plate;
• non-removable – they look like metal brackets that put pressure on the teeth from the outside, forming the correct bite.

A removable dental plate is placed on children to correct simple bite defects. The optimal age of a child for correction is 5-12 years. Fixed products can compete in effectiveness with braces; they are usually recommended for teenagers to eliminate serious anomalies of the dentition.

Braces are non-removable orthodontic structures in which a plate is placed on each tooth, and an arch with a “memory effect” is responsible for correcting the bite. Metal braces are the most effective, but sapphire and ceramic braces are almost invisible on the teeth. There are also ligature braces with rubber bands and self-ligating ones, which reduce the treatment period by several months.

What is better: braces or plates?

You can choose dental plates or braces for a course of treatment only after an examination in the orthodontist’s office, following his recommendations. The structures influence the formation of the bite, but the mechanism of their action is different.

Dental plates

There is no lower age limit. They can be used in preschool age, when the child is already able to cooperate with the doctor. These are removable models.

The active element is arches that help the teeth take the correct position in the row. But the effect of the device on molars is limited. The design can prevent further bite deformation. Listen to your dentist's recommendations. Often, timely measures taken during a sensitive period help to avoid problems that will begin in a few years if there is no intervention.

In children, this orthodontic instrument allows you to change the width of the palate or restrain the development of pathological processes. It also prepares the jaw apparatus for the installation of braces in the future in case of a serious anomaly. In difficult cases, plates can be used until the molars appear, and then, in adolescence, braces need to be installed.

Braces

Any brace system is a non-removable structure. Installation and removal of braces is possible only in the office of an orthodontist. The system is capable of correcting complex combined malocclusions. Braces can be installed only from 11-13 years of age if most molars are present.

Properly installed braces:

• eliminate crowding of teeth,
• adjust the gaps between them,
• change the relative position of the jaws - stimulating or inhibiting their development.

When correcting complex anomalies, the child may need to wear a plate or retainer after braces to secure the result.

Adults and children

Dental plates are installed for children with milk units. During this period, the baby’s bite is formed, and the teeth are gradually replaced by permanent ones. Sometimes minor defects begin to progress and timely actions of the orthodontist will prevent the problem or prepare the jaw apparatus for gentle treatment. Dental plates are not used to change the bite of adults. This orthodontic instrument is needed to maintain results after wearing braces.

Does a plate straighten teeth: indications

Children are prescribed plates for the lower teeth and expansion plates for the upper and lower teeth only after a thorough diagnosis. Based on X-ray and panoramic photographs, measurements and study of proportions, the orthodontist decides to place a plate on the child’s teeth.

Treatment is indicated for:

• minor and serious anomalies of dental bite;
• violation of the tone of individual muscles;
• pathologies of tooth growth in the upper or lower jaws;
• incorrect position of incisors and canines;
• disproportionate growth and development of the dentofacial rows.

Orthodontic removable appliances equalize the growth rate of the jaw bones, straighten teeth in given planes, and correct the closure of the jaws.

Differences in indications for installation

Indications for the installation of both devices are violation of jaw closure, curvature of the dentition, displacement of individual dental units. However, they may differ in a number of parameters.

Indications for installing permanent structures:

• single defects of dental units;
• several crooked adjacent incisors;
• large gaps;
• anterior displacement of the incisors;
• various types of closure defects;
• impaired diction associated with malocclusion;
• deformations of the facial skeleton;
• crowding.

Indications for the installation of systems are severe pathologies of the dentofacial system, including in a fully formed jaw.

Indications for correction of anomalies with plates are as follows:

• beginning movement of teeth in the wrong direction;
• high probability of displacement of dental units;
• signs of initial jaw deformation;
• symptoms of pathological changes in the width of the palate.

Indications for the use of corrective plate devices are mild, incipient manifestations of pathology.

What do children's dental plates look like?

A plate made in a pediatric dental laboratory is a standard of aesthetic perfection. Any shades, gradient colors, sparkles and bright decorations inside translucent plastic - children are delighted when they see it for the first time.

Structurally, the plate is:

• the base is strong and quite rigid;
• elastic wire - fasteners, arches and hooks are made from it, and it is this wire that provides the necessary pressure to correct the bite;
• the screw is an activator responsible for pressure and intensity of impact.

The screw is tightened by the doctor with a special key, or this is done by the parents according to the correction plan drawn up.

Soldatenkova Alina

I am often asked how dental plaques are made for children. First, we take impressions of the teeth – it doesn’t hurt, but sometimes it’s a little unpleasant. Then, based on the impressions, the appliance prescribed by the orthodontist is manufactured in a dental laboratory. Then try it on and create a design that is comfortable to wear. And issuing a plate to the patient with recommendations for wearing

Manufacturing and installation

Each of the plates is made exclusively to individual order, based on the specific structure of the dentition of each individual patient. To do this, the specialist makes an impression, which will become the basis for the manufacture of the structure. The patient may first be prescribed a dental x-ray, which will reveal any hidden damage that could also affect the general condition of the jaw.

When the cast is ready, it takes a little time to make a preliminary layout. Next, the patient is given an appointment to try it on. If the design is suitable and the person feels comfortable with it, a real plate is made for him.

The structure is put on the dentition directly at the doctor’s appointment so that the specialist can set the optimal pressure level using a screw. Next, you need to visit a doctor at least once a month to correct the pressure on the dentition.

How to wear dental plates - recommendations for children and parents

Whether dental plates help is the main concern of parents. Much depends on how correctly the young patient wears the orthodontic apparatus.

The main requirements for wearing orthodontic plates:

• duration – up to 20-22 hours daily;
• care - morning and evening cleansing with pastes, gels, weekly deep cleansing in a special solution;
• remove the product when eating;
• Do not play with the orthodontic appliance - remove it and return it to its place in the mouth with your tongue.

The doctor will show you how to put the plate on your teeth at your appointment, but there is nothing complicated about it. Metal arches fix the structure, and the regulatory elements are responsible for gentle correction of the bite while wearing.

It happens that a child takes the product out of his mouth, and then cannot figure out how to put the plate on his teeth - it either falls off or does not fit into place. Such a circumstance may be preceded by the following events:

• the device was in the mouth for less than 12-14 hours a day, and the fixation was broken;
• supporting units have been removed or fallen out – the structure requires orthodontic correction;
• a tooth erupts under the polymer part of the system and prevents it from taking the correct position;
• the plate was not worn for several days in a row - the bite has returned to its original position and you need to see a doctor to adjust the device;
• violation of medical recommendations for wearing removable plates - it is worth coming to an appointment and checking the condition of the product.

Types of plates for teeth

Plates for teeth are divided into two main types:

• removable;
• permanent.

The differences lie in the specifics of wearing the plates. Removable structures can be removed at any convenient time when the patient needs it. For example, for more comfortable chewing of hard food or self-tightening of the adjusting screw. However, dentists do not recommend doing this too often, since the effect of such treatment may be minimal. It is especially important to leave the dental guard in your mouth while you sleep. In general, the period of wearing the structure should be at least 22-23 hours a day.

As for permanent ones, they are installed and removed exclusively by a specialist. Such devices are used for more serious dental defects. They are also often prescribed to young children, who may not listen to the doctor’s recommendations and independently remove the plate for a long time, for example, to go to school.

Until what age can teeth be straightened with a plate?

Until what age do plates be placed on teeth is a question to be decided on an individual basis. Some devices work best during the period of active changes in occlusion, so they are recommended to be worn until 10-11 years of age. Other products perform well until the teeth completely change - up to 12-14 years. But the doctor assesses the situation more fully.

Often, orthodontists use a combined treatment method - changing devices, selecting new ones for the current situation. That is why it is not always necessary to delve into the names of plates for straightening teeth. The result is important, not what the dental plates are called.

It is difficult to answer how long a plate is worn on the teeth. Some patients require full-time braces and additional treatment with braces at age 14. For others, the situation improves in 1-2 years.

During an orthodontic consultation at Aza&Buka, patients will receive complete information about the treatment. The doctor will not just show a photo of an orthodontic children’s dental plate, but will also conduct an initial diagnosis, tell you the features of the planned correction, the approximate duration of treatment, and prospects. While the adults are talking, children can get acquainted with the variety of orthodontic devices - choose the color of the plate for the teeth and the design.

Plate care

Plates for teeth straightening, unlike braces, do not require special care. You don't need to buy any special tools for them. It is enough to remove such a structure during cleaning and also clean it separately. To do this, you can use a regular toothbrush and toothpaste. It is important to do this carefully so as not to damage the parts or change the tension of the screw.

If the patient wears a permanent structure, it should also be cleaned during oral hygiene. You can also use an additional rinse to get rid of bacteria in the spaces between the plate and the teeth.

To extend the life of the structure, it is not recommended to eat too hard foods, such as nuts, without first removing the structure from your mouth. It is also better not to drink very hot drinks or eat sweets with dyes. In this case, stains may appear on the dental plate.

Advantages and disadvantages

Vestibular plates are prescribed to children quite often because they are very effective and have almost no contraindications. The advantages of records are:

• ease of use and maintenance;
• need to be worn overnight and for several hours during the day (does not require use all the time like braces);
• low cost;
• training in a playful way;
• possibility of use from an early age;
• presence of other effects (strengthening speech organs, etc.)

The disadvantages include, first of all, a narrow range of influences. Plates cannot cope with all problems. Also, due to the ability to remove the product, the treatment time is extended.

Pros and cons of orthodontic structures

Let's look at the positive and negative qualities of the two methods of bite correction.

Pros and cons of permanent devices

They have their pros and cons as any method of bite correction.

Braces for children have the following advantages:

• provide rapid correction of anomalies due to continuous, powerful impact;
• corrects complex, congenital defects;
• wide range of application by age;
• easy adaptation;
• do not provoke problems with diction;
• quick repair possible;
• the ability to move dental units in the desired direction.

These devices not only have advantages, they also have disadvantages.

These include:

• low aesthetics of metal devices;
• difficulties in caring for them;
• high price.

Despite the inconvenience of correction systems and other disadvantages, it is widely used among adolescents.

Indications for use

It is recommended to install leveling devices in order to:

• adjust the width of the sky;
• prevent further displacement;
• change the shape of the jaw bones;
• keep the units in the correct position;
• stimulate or, conversely, stop jaw growth.

You can understand that there are orthodontic problems by the following signs:

• molars, incisors or canines are crooked, located at an incorrect angle, protrude in front of their neighbors or are located behind them;
• the lower jaw protrudes strongly forward;
• rows do not close correctly;
• the upper lip protrudes.

Sizes and types. What are they made of?

Most plates are made either from food-safe plastic, which provides a rigid frame, or from soft silicone. The choice of material depends on the doctor's decision. Children's plates are made in two sizes:

• first (I) for children with primary malocclusion. Its radius is 22.5 mm. The product can be distinguished by the characteristic red color of the ring;
• the second (II) for children with mixed dentition. Its radius is 30 mm. She has a dark blue ring.

There are several varieties of vestibular plates . All of them appeared later than the standard one and, in addition to the development of nasal breathing, help to cope with the problems of a “flaccid” tongue, eliminate speech defects, correct swallowing, etc. The three most popular models are: classic, with a bead, with a flap and with a visor.

Model with visor

The visor appeared on vestibular orthodontic plates when doctors realized that it was difficult for children with underdeveloped jaws and protrusion of the upper frontal teeth to hold the classic model in their mouth. For them, it constantly deviated above the sagittal protrusion, and at night it completely fell out. The presence of a visor solves this problem.

The vestibular plate with a soft or hard visor is ideal for the treatment of all class II abnormalities. It also stops the development of class III anomalies if worn with the visor up. Due to the fact that the product pushes the upper jaw forward, wearing it normalizes the position of the jaws relative to each other.

Model with damper

The tongue deflector plate is designed for those children who are accustomed to placing their tongue between their teeth when swallowing and speaking. This habit interferes with the normal growth of teeth and leads to the formation of an “open” bite. The flap pushes the tongue back and forces it into the correct position.

In addition, a vestibular plate with a tongue flap helps:

• eliminate the habit of breathing through your mouth;
• teach the child to correctly position the tongue in the mouth during speech;
• strengthen the circular muscle of the tongue, normalize lip closure.

Because the model is often used with speech therapists to demonstrate proper tongue placement, it is made transparent.

Model with bead

The vestibular bead plate is used primarily to correct speech problems. It helps stimulate “flaccid tongue” in children with speech impediments. The standard plate itself aligns the position of the tongue, teeth, lips, helping to improve diction, and an additional design element enhances the effect.

There are two models of bead plate :

• classical. It has an extended bead that stimulates the root of the tongue. This model helps with dysarthria, increased muscle tone, impaired pronunciation of hard and soft consonants, rhinolalia, tachylalia, as well as in the treatment of stuttering. It helps to train weakened tongue muscles;
• new model. Her bead is moved closer to the plastic base and teeth. This model of plate is recommended for children with reduced tone of the tip of the tongue, various forms of sigmatism, lambdacism, and problems with the pronunciation of the “r” sound.

If for some reason a parent wants to buy a record without a doctor’s recommendation, it is advisable to purchase a standard model. It is universal, easy to use, and there is no negative effect when using it. All specialized models - with a bead, a visor, a flap - must be purchased exclusively on the recommendation of a doctor.

Differences in age indications

The difference between a plate and braces is that they are used in different age groups of patients. Permanent systems are widely used only from the age of 12, when the jaw is already fully formed and all teeth have erupted. From the age of 14, adolescents can have lingual devices installed, this is explained by the difficulty of caring for them. Sometimes special fixed devices are installed starting from the age of seven. If they have severe bite defects that cannot be corrected later.

Plates are installed for children aged six to twelve years, during the replacement of the primary bite with a permanent one and the formation of the jaw bones. In adults, they are less effective, since a significant effect on formed bone structures is required. They use removable devices after treatment with permanent systems.