What are dental braces?

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Dental braces are a type of orthodontic treatment used to correct teeth that are crowded, crooked, protruding, out of alignment or have irregular spacing. By moving the teeth into the ideal position, dental braces help to create a more attractive and healthier smile for both children and adults.

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Are Dental Braces (and Straight Teeth) Necessary?

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When teeth are crooked and crowded, keeping them clean becomes very difficult. If brushing and flossing cannot be completed properly, tooth decay, gum disease and possible tooth loss can occur.
An improper bite can interfere with your ability to chew and speak properly, as well as cause abnormal wear to the enamel of your teeth. If your teeth are protruding and/or your upper and lower teeth don’t come together comfortably (called malocclusion, or a bad bite), jaw problems also may arise.
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Therefore, by keeping your teeth in the proper alignment and allowing better oral hygiene, dental braces do more than keep your smile looking good.

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What’s Behind a Bite?

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The most common oral health issue prompting orthodontic treatment is a bad bite (malocclusion). A malocclusion may be The most common oral health issue prompting orthodontic treatment is a bad bite (malocclusion). A malocclusion may be caused by one or more factors:-
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Small Mouth: A small mouth can result in a limited amount of space for the teeth to grow. This can foster crowding once the permanent teeth erupt.
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Tongue Thrusting: Some children thrust their tongue forward, pressing it against the lips with a force that can result in the protrusion of teeth, or “open bite,” among other problems.
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Extra Teeth or Not Enough: Sometimes, a person can have extra teeth develop and/or protrude, or certain teeth that do not develop or protrude at all.  In addition, the untimely loss of baby teeth or traumatic injury to the face, mouth or jaw can also affect the bite.
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Misaligned Jaw and Bone Structure: A misaligned jaw or supporting bone structure can affect the bite and create malocclusion. Malocclusion may result in difficulty chewing and speaking, or otherwise impact the functionality of the teeth. Furthermore, malocclusion may contribute to other oral health conditions such as TMJ (TMD) and teeth grinding (bruxing).
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Poor Muscular Functional Habits: Malocclusion may be caused by poor muscular functional habits such as thumb sucking during and beyond infancy. Some adults still suck their fingers or thumbs, resulting in tongue thrust habits that can be a detriment to dental and facial development.
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The Right Age for Dental Braces

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A person typically inherits tooth spacing, malocclusion, crowding, misalignment or similar problems from their parents. However, these conditions also may be caused by habits such as thumb-sucking, tongue thrusting, lip wedging, mouth breathing due to allergies or large tonsils and adenoids, premature loss of teeth or trauma, and generally begin to appear between the ages of six and 12 years old — the time when the permanent teeth start to erupt.
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Therefore, orthodontic treatment with dental braces should begin between the ages of 8 yrs and 14 yrs in order to achieve optimal results. It is generally considered ideal to have an orthodontic evaluation no later than the age of 7 yrs, since this is when there is a good mix of primary (baby) and adult teeth in the mouth.

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Adults and Dental Braces

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Children are not the only ones who may benefit from dental braces. Adults also can undergo orthodontic treatment with dental braces to correct alignment, spacing, crowding and malocclusion problems. The process for moving teeth is basically the same at any age, but the treatment may take longer for adults. This is due to the fact that adult facial bones are no longer growing, and certain corrections may not be possible utilizing braces alone. Depending on the specific type and severity of your alignment or malocclusion problem, tooth extraction or maxillofacial surgery may be required.
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Habit Breaking Appliances
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Some deleterious habits like THUMB SUCKING, TONGUE THRUSTING, MOUTH BREATHING & LIP BITING has to be corrected at an early stage of life which will enhance the growth of jaws also the facial appearance of the persons.

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Types of Dental Braces
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Today’s brackets have come a long way from those of the past. 
Patients now can choose different bracket shapes and different color elastics.
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Today’s brackets are much smaller than their predecessors and sometimes may be attached to the back of the teeth to make them less noticeable. Some do not require the old fashioned wire or elastic ties to hold the wires in place.

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Brackets: Brackets may be composed of metal, ceramic, composite or a combination of these materials. 
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The Latest Lingual And Invisalign Appliances Make The Treatment Patient Friendly.