Orthodontics

A malocclusion is a misalignment or incorrect relation between the teeth of the two dental arches when they approach each other as the jaws closes. It may result from heredity or bad oral habits, like mouth breathing, tongue thrusting, a soft diet, or sleeping posture. Malocclusion can adversely affect the following:

Fixed Appliances

Fixed appliances are attached to the teeth. Not only does the attachment on the tooth surface (called a bracket) allow the tooth to be moved vertically or tilted, but also a force couple can be generated by the interaction between the bracket and an archwire running through the bracket metal (self-ligating brackets and ceramic self-ligating brackets).

Removable Appliances

Removable appliances are fabricated mainly in acrylic and wire, and can be removed from the mouth by the patient. The removable appliance is only capable of producing tilting movements of individual teeth, which can be used to a patient’s advantage where simple tipping movements are required.

Functional appliances

Functional appliances utilize, eliminate, or guide the forces of muscle function, tooth eruption and growth to correct a malocclusion. They are most effective at changing the anteroposterior occlusion between the upper and lower arches.

Clear Aligner Therapy

Clear Aligner Therapy use CAD-CAM technology combined with laboratory techniques to fabricate a series of custom appliances that are esthetic and removable, and can move teeth from beginning to end. It is becoming more and more popular among patients and dentists for its esthetics, comfort and easy to clean feature.