Dental braces, also known as orthodontic braces, are used to straighten and move your teeth. Dental braces are also used to improve how they look and how they work. In the year 1728, the father of modern dentistry and the French physician Pierre Fauchard made the first set of braces. The braces were made out of a flat metal material, and thread was used to connect it to the teeth. Two hundred years later, a dentist named Edward Angle made improvements and advancements to fix the loopholes of the said braces and to make it more effective. The thread which connects to the teeth was changed to brackets in 1915.
Braces aim not just to straighten one’s teeth. Aside from having perfectly aligned teeth, fixing the wearer’s bite is also one of its main benefits. It may correct your bite, but it can also alleviate any health problems like difficulty of speaking, breathing issues and difficulties in chewing and swallowing.
Putting dental braces has no age limit. Adolescents often use braces, but the number of adults getting corrective dental braces is higher. The reason behind putting dental braces are crowding and crooked teeth, and misalignment of the jaw also known as malocclusion. Dental braces also have side effects like mild discomfort, irritation, jaw pain, having difficulties when eating, allergic reactions, etc.
The used of dental braces may lead to some risks, problems, and complications such as:
- Relapse – occurs when the teeth move or shifts positions
- Root resorption- when the roots of the teeth shorten
- Decalcification-when cavities form on the teeth
- Ankylosis- the fusion of tooth root to the bone
- Periodontal problems- occur when the braces are not properly maintained.