What is Dentofacial Orthopedics?

Dentofacial orthopaedics is a specialised branch of dentistry which deals with improving the position and dimension of the jaw and other facial bones that houses the teeth. Dentofacial orthopaedics is different from orthodontics which is mostly concerned with straightening of crooked teeth via braces and other means.

Dentofacial orthopaedics can be viewed as a super speciality discipline of the dentist world. It is one of 12 recognized dental specialities which require advanced educated, research and practice.

Dentofacial orthopaedics are often applied on children before braces and other orthodontic treatment, as dentofacial orthopaedic tools can help in correctional jaw development during growth.

What is the significance of jawbones in defining smile? 

The upper jaw is called the maxilla and the lower jaw is called the mandible. Both of these grow in length, breath and width during the growth years of a human. The growth and shape of these bones is a major determining factor in the final positioning of lower and middle face. Jawbones also connect to the sinuses and to the cheekbones. Typically, growth in jawbones stops between 14-16 years in females and between 17-21 years in males.

In some cases, there is a difference in the rate of growth between the upper jaw and lower jaw, thus giving rise to alignment issue between the teeth in both the jaws. Ideally, the upper jaw should be broader and more forward positioned than the lower jaw. Any deviation from this ideal situation could give rise to problems such as overbites, under bites, malocclusion etc.

Therefore, the jawbones are an intrinsic factor in determining the quality of person’s smile, and by the theory of deduction, the overall aesthetics of a person’s face.

What is the most crucial time to look for dentofacial problems?

A health professional can identify malformations in the jaw of a child as early as infancy, the most crucial time to look for such problems in a child is between the age of 7 and 9. A common red flag is mixed dentition. It is a state in which baby teeth are still present but adult teeth begins growing. If you observe this problem in a child, it is advisable you take him to the best dentist in Kolkata, that is Dr. Suranjan Banerjee. A seasoned orthodontist like Dr. Banerjee will take impressions and draw 3-dimensional scans of your child’s face in order to properly diagnose and devise a treatment plan.

What are dentofacial orthopaedic appliances?

If a child is detected with malformations in jaw or other dentofacial problems, an orthodontist will devise a treatment plan. The orthodontist may use various appliances or devices to change the direction or rate of jaw growth. Some of the common appliances used by orthodontist to treat dentofacial problems are as follows:

• Palate expander – Palate expanders are fixed devices. They slowly push the cartilage above the upper jaw to widen the curvature of the maxilla. These appliances are used in cases when the upper jaw is too small to hold the teeth.
• Lower jaw expander – Contrary to the name, lower jaw expanders do not actually stretch the bones in the lower jaw. Instead they gradually move the teeth apart to increase the room in the lower jaw.
• Activators – Activators guide erupting teeth in either the upper or lower jaws forward. They have been in use since 1930s.
• Block – Blocks are fixed appliances that gradually and move teeth and correct malocclusions in a comfortable manner. This is achieved by using the bite force.

Alternatively, before using the aforementioned devices, a dentist may also use normal braces un order to correct the misalignment. At smileline orthodontics decision is taken after thorough examination and after a transparent discussion with the patient.

Is dentofacial orthopaedics only for children?

Broadly speaking, childhood and early adolescence is perhaps the best time to receive dentofacial treatment. Adults who have not had their jaw problems corrected during their childhood, do not experience pain per se, but may have speech difficulties, uneven bite, damage to teeth etc. As compared to the child who is still growing, an adult has fewer options when it comes to dentofacial treatment. Having said, the options that are available for people who want to change their smile at a later stage in their life are quite effective. For an adult, the treatment may include jaw surgery, also known as orthognathic surgery.

How would I know if my child is need of a dentofacial treatment?

It is recommended by most dentists that every parent should take their child to an orthodontist at around the age of seven – which also is the optimum age for dentofacial treatment. But if you notice signs of misalignment or malocclusions, you can pay a visit earlier. Even if you believe that your child has a perfect smile, there is no harm in being a little precautious. Orthodontic treatment cost in Kolkata is not particularly high, and any myth regarding financials of dental treatment should not stop you from getting professional help for your child’s smile. Early diagnosis and treatment can give your child a perfect smile – a healthy jaw – for life.

What is the difference between dentofacial orthopaedics and orthodontics?

Orthodontics is a prominent branch of dentistry which is mostly concerned with the correction of gapped, crooked people crowded teeth by using braces. Orthodontics can help a patient have a better smile, bite and teeth.

Dentofacial orthopaedics on the other hands focuses on fixing issues and with the bone structure in the jaw and face of the patient. Instead of using braces, dentofacial orthopaedics makes use of various appliances which we have discussed earlier. These appliances redirect the growth of the jaw bones to achieve a desired result.

Dentofacial is the generally the first stage of treatment. They are most effective during the childhood of a person and therefore, adults are often prescribed orthodontics instead of dentofacial treatment.

Despite the differences between the two disciplines, orthodontics and dentofacial orthopaedic sometimes work in tandem in order to give the patient the beautiful smile they deserve. In severe case, the treatment plan involves an amalgamation of dentofacial orthopaedics and orthodontics. The initial treatment focusses of the jaw bones, and the latter on the teeth.

What is the cost of dentofacial treatment in Kolkata?

Orthodontic treatment and dentofacial treatment have varied costs depending upon the severity of the misalignment and the physiology of the patient. Children will have a cheaper treatment plan as compared to an adult, whose treatment may also include surgical processes. So you will only get an exact quote after face to face consultation with a professional.

But what is important here is transparency. You should be informed in details about your treatment plan and the steps that will be followed. Moreover, the cost and time frame of each step should be shared with you. Furthermore, you should enquire about the success of the processes that are recommended to you.

As a patient, these are your rights and you should be aware about them.

Dr. Suranjan Banerjee is a top dentist in Kolkata and he follows these principles to the word. Book your appointment now!

What makes Smileline Orthodontics Clinic the Best Dental Clinic In Kolkata for Dental Orthopaedics?

Ever since our inception, we have made a name for ourselves by working only with the top 10 dentists in Kolkata. Our constant endeavour is to erase two things –  firstly, dental problems from life of patients and secondly, fear of dental procedures that most patients have. Some of our salient features are

• We are the only dental clinic in Kolkata to provide painless orthodontic treatment. Even children have commended that they have experienced little to no pain with our treatments. We have achieved this by professional mastery and state of the art equipment.
• We observe 100% transparency pertaining to prices with our treatment. There are no hidden costs and patients pay what they have been quoted for
• Suranjan Banerjee is known to be amongst the best dentist in Kolkata
• We enjoy an extremely high success rate of 100% with all our procedures. There are no postoperative complications, which is reflected in the happy faces of our patients.
• We maintain the highest sanitization level and all our apparatus our cleaned and sanitized after every procedure.
• Our dentofacial treatment have great longevity and can last a lifetime with proper maintenance and care
• Our cordial staff make sure that you enter and leave the clinic with a smile on your face

• So, if your question reads that who is the best dentist in Kolkata near me. The answer is always Smileline Orthodontics