Why do people wear dental braces?

Sometimes, a child’s teeth and jaw do not develop in the normal way, when the adult teeth begins to grow. The medical term for teeth that are out of position is malocclusion.

A dentist or specialist who helps people with malocclusion is called and Orthodontist. This comes from a greek word which means ‘to straighten teeth’. It is a type of dental treatment that aims to improve the appearance, position and function of crooked or abnormally arranged teeth.

Orthodontics uses mechanical devices, such as a brace, over a certain period of time (usually 18 months to 2 years) to correct the position of the teeth.

Dental braces (orthodontic braces) are devices used in orthodontics to align and straighten teeth and help to position them.

Some cases of malocclusion occur for no obvious reason. Other cases are the result of certain behaviours, such as frequent thumb sucking, or an injury to the teeth or bones of the face.

It is important that malocclusion is treated early (teenage years), because it can easily change the way you look, and even affect your confidence and self-esteem. In sever cases, it can even affect your eating, teeth cleaning and cause problems eating. It can also make your teeth vulnerable to damage

In many poor communities, people (parents) cannot afford to take their children to see the dentists, even when malocclusion is very evident. Sadly, there is not much one can do to prevent it.