Although in rare cases, but wearing braces is undesirable and even contraindicated. Check yourself to see if one of these cases applies to you.
The orthodontist today has a solid arsenal of tools that can correct the bite of a patient of any age, thereby minimizing the possibility of a number of quite serious diseases. But like any medical procedure, orthodontic treatment has its contraindications. Traditionally, it is accepted to subdivide them into absolute, completely excluding the possibility of treatment, and relative, requiring the special attention of the treating physician.
Three Types of Absolute Contraindications to Braces
- These include immune, cardiovascular, endocrine and hematopoietic systems, oncology, tuberculosis and HIV.
- Diseases with impaired healing and repair of bone tissue – from osteoporosis and dysplasia to congenital osteopathy and osteonecrosis.
- Nervo-psychic illnesses in which the patient is not able to cooperate with the orthodontist because he or she cannot perceive the manipulation being performed and cannot comply with the recommendations given to him or her.
Fortunately, absolute contraindications are rare for dentists, but if a patient has such health problems, the possibility of prescribing orthodontic treatment is nullified.
Relative Contraindications: When the Impossible Is Possible
Relative contraindications can be internal or external. In most cases, they can be minimized with the help of a competent doctor’s approach and will not affect the patient’s health. They include:
- Patient’s allergic reaction to the material of the braces – most often to metal; it is easy to eliminate the manifestation of allergies by choosing affordable braces made of hypoallergenic material;
- Severe degrees of periodontal disease and periodontitis, when treatment may accelerate the resorption of bone tissue; the professional approach in many cases allows not only to avoid this, but even to stabilize the situation;
- The patient’s habitual low level of oral hygiene; this factor seriously complicates orthodontic treatment and increases the probability of complications, but if the patient consulted the orthodontist, then we can talk about improving self-discipline and expect the situation to normalize.
Can Braces Be Used With Crowns, Fillings and Implants
The compatibility of braces with crowns, bridges and other prosthetic constructions is determined case by case. Use of classical systems in these cases may lead to certain problems. For example, it is more difficult to secure the brace to the crown than to the natural tooth. Therefore, instead of fixed metal braces, the patient may be offered a removable Invisalign mouth guard.
If there are bridges and implants in the mouth, there is not much tooth mobility to speak of. Therefore, it is difficult to move the bridge (which may result in damage) and change the position of the implant. But an experienced professional has methods at their disposal that allow even in such cases, correcting the bite with the help of a bracket system without negative consequences – of course, if it is really necessary.
Can Pregnant Women Wear Braces?
Moving the teeth caused by the braces leads to changes in the bone surrounding the teeth. The need for regular doctor visits during orthodontic treatment is to constantly monitor this process, called resorption, which is bone remodeling.
Pregnancy, as we know, is accompanied by hormonal changes in the female body, which, in particular, changes the composition of bone tissue. It is not for nothing that pregnant women are prescribed a course of special vitamins containing, in particular, increased doses of calcium to restore lost micronutrients. What will happen in this case with the continuation of orthodontic treatment? The additional load on the bone with a lack of vital elements can lead to a loss of control over the clinical situation, when the doctor becomes an observer of the process of bite correction.
Therefore, the decision to continue treatment is made by the doctor based on the stage at which the patient becomes pregnant. If there is not much time left before the braces are removed, it makes sense to complete the treatment. If the patient becomes pregnant at the initial stage, the braces may have to be removed and the minimal result achieved may have to be maintained with retention devices.
