Orthopedics and orthodontics, two concepts that are confused

In the world of dentistry is important to distinguish the concept of orthodontics and orthopedics, as many patients tend to confuse. Most orthodontic patients call whatever is placing a device in the mouth, and is not. There are specific devices used when the child is growing, that is, when the objective is to mobilize the bone. This is what we call orthopedics.

If the patient has the jaw rearmost position the upper jaw (Class II bone), it is necessary that he carry an orthopedic appliance mandibular advancement to achieve harmony between the two bones (maxilla and mandible), and so correct that imbalance .

If, however, this decompensation the rearmost maxilla occurs while the jaw (class III bone), for these patients apparatus orthopedics be required whose function is to pull forward the maxilla, so as to achieve balance between the two bones (upper and lower).

However, orthodontics is a treatment that can be performed at any age, since its purpose is to move teeth and in this case it is not necessary that the patient is growing. It is therefore in the traditional treatment with brackets.

Most of the time, children often go through a preliminary stage of orthopedics and once completed it, is placed orthodontics (braces). At other times, the treatment is only necessary multibrackets, so there would hurry when starting treatment.

Orthopedics for Class III malocclusion bone

Patients with Class III is important to diagnose and treat them at an early age, particularly before 6-8 years, which is when the jaws are closed sutures.

Early treatment of these children has a great success rate, achieving spectacular results. This treatment involves placing a facial mask.

The face mask consists of:

• A rod with two pads, one on the front and one on the chin through the midline of the face, connected together with an iron cross.
• A maxillary splint that may be a rigid unit above or an expansion screw Hass or Hyrax type, anchored in the maxillary first molars, made of stainless steel wire with an adjustable anterior arch and hooks at the level of the canines to pull the jaw.
• Elastics are changed every day for the full treatment. They must be at least 12 hours a day, although the ideal is to take as much as possible.

In each review the displacement of the maxilla and force exerting controls ranging gums. You need to bring the child to their regular reviews and go controlling each case individually.

Orthopedics Class II malocclusion for bone

These patients, which in most cases have a delay of the mandibular position, it is important to treat orthopedically growth phase.

The treatment of children at its peak growth is ideal, and mandibular advancement devices are used, such as the Twin-Block, which redirects the jaw to a more forward position.

Twin-Block is composed of two devices that are linked by a ramp of 70 °. It is a removable device, to exercise its proper function, it is best not remove them in 24 hours a day, except only and exclusively when brushing teeth.

At first children have a hard getting used to, but after the days get to it without any problems. It usually takes six months if the timing of growth is chosen by carpal radiography (hand).

Significantly , it is always necessary to bring the child to a specialist in dentistry to make their periodic reviews and be controlling each case individually.