MC20 is the dentist specializing in orthodontic treatments for adolescents, i.e. for people between 8 and 16 years of age. In this life phase, the body develops and passes from mixed dentition to definitive dentition, undergoing the growth of the jaws and the face aesthetics change. What are the most popular orthodontic treatments?
MC20 orthodontists recommend that the adolescent undergo an orthodontic examination to solve any problems involving the functionality and aesthetics of the mouth.
Teenage orthodontic treatments: crowded teeth
With crowded or crooked teeth, we mean the teeth overlap, and this causes the difference in the size of the teeth (necessary space) and arches (available space).
The consequences of crooked teeth are a non-harmonious smile, but also functional problems such as incorrect chewing and hygiene, with the greatest risk of cavities and periodontal problems. The treatment for crowded teeth recommended by MC20 is orthodontic appliances that can be fixed or mobile, including the invisible Invisalign appliance.
The space is created with procedures of expansion, distalization, and extraction of dental parts, to be chosen after careful specialist study since each face and each patient have different characteristics.
Teeth sticking out and protruding: what to do?
Another cause of orthodontic intervention is given by the protruding upper teeth and in this case, the dentists talk of class II malocclusion, in which there is an increase in the distance between the upper and lower part of the mouth. This defect has skeletal causes and mandibular, dental, or dento-skeletal problems and is a complex malocclusion in terms of diagnosis and treatment.
The dentist must carefully evaluate the space available to propose an orthodontic solution for adolescents that involves the use of elastic springs, distalizing appliances, or the extraction of some dental elements.
In addition to the orthodontic solution, a surgical solution is envisaged for the most severe cases to position the bones of the mouth into the optimal position.
A frequent problem: the gum smile
Among adolescents, there may be cases of gum smile, in which the exposure of the gum exceeds 2 mm. In this case, we speak of two types of a gummy smile:
- True gummy smile: with incisive exposure due to vertical excess of the upper jaw, and in this case, the cause is skeletal and requires orthodontic-surgical intervention;
- Fake gummy smile: in this case, the cause is of dental and gingival origin and includes the incisive protrusion and/or extrusion for which the upper incisor and its gum are excessively forward and/or too low. In this case, orthodontic brackets are used to bring the teeth and gums into the correct position. In other cases, the cause is poor oral hygiene, with the gum growing from inflammation or a lip that is hypertonic and excessively bares the teeth and gums.
In any case, MC20 advises parents to have the adolescent make a thorough orthodontic and dental examination to promptly intervene in case of dental crowding, malocclusion, gummy smile, or other problems involving teeth and mouth. Book an appointment now!