Braces activation – what is it and how is it carried out?
The purpose of the bracket system is to change the bite, including by moving the teeth. Moreover, it is impossible to achieve this goal only by installing braces. The system must be put into action and properly managed. Orthodontists do this by activating the elements of the braces.
Features of life cycle of teeth
In humans, the rudiments of teeth are formed during fetal development. Then the baby’s milk teeth erupt, which over time are replaced by permanent ones. An interesting fact is that in erupted permanent teeth, the process of maturation of the structure lasts from 2 to 4 years.
Tooth enamel throughout the person’s life undergoes the following changes:
- Enamel restoration properties are reduced. Teeth become more sensitive.
- Enamel wears off slowly. Due to such age-related changes, the height of the teeth gradually decreases.
- Microcracks appear on the enamel. Plaque and pigment particles of tea, coffee and various food products penetrate into them.
Enamel microcracks lead to the following consequences:
- yellowness of the teeth – the whiteness of the enamel is gradually lost, a yellowish tint appears, the intensity of which increases with time;
- tarnishing of the enamel – the natural luster is lost.
On yellowed and tarnished teeth, obsolete restorations become visible – fillings and crowns. This defect is especially striking in the smile zone. In dull tooth enamel, the surface looks like of matte colour.
Dental plaque tends to mineralize. When such process occurs with plaque that has penetrated microcracks, the entry of minerals into the enamel structure is blocked. Therefore, people of middle and older age do not observe the same effect from preventive dental measures as in childhood or youth.
Age-related changes in the gums
The condition of the gums directly depends on the amount of collagen in the tissues that surround the teeth. With age, the level of synthesized collagen in the body decreases, therefore, the volume of the gums and the density of their mucous membranes decrease.
Approximately 30% of middle-aged people begin to have development of recession – a pathology in which the gums descend, exposing the roots of the teeth. The disease not only leads to the appearance of aesthetic defect, but can also provoke the loss of all teeth. Older people are at high risk of developing the age-related recession. This occurs due to the development of certain chronic diseases or due to poor hygiene.
How does bite change with age?
The process of erasing teeth, which occurs in people throughout life, leads to violation of their closure. Such change in bite can also be provoked by incorrect prosthetics. With decrease in the bite height, cosmetic defects appear: deep nasolabial folds and purse-string wrinkles.
The bite height also changes due to the age-related decrease in bone density – 0.3-0.5% per year. Moreover, in women with the onset of menopause, on the background of changes in hormonal levels, the rate of loss of bone tissue throughout the body, including in the dental system, increases significantly.
How does bite change with age?
The process of erasing teeth, which occurs in people throughout life, leads to violation of their closure. Such change in bite can also be provoked by incorrect prosthetics. With decrease in the bite height, cosmetic defects appear: deep nasolabial folds and purse-string wrinkles.
The bite height also changes due to the age-related decrease in bone density – 0.3-0.5% per year. Moreover, in women with the onset of menopause, on the background of changes in hormonal levels, the rate of loss of bone tissue throughout the body, including in the dental system, increases significantly.
How to prevent aging gums and teeth
To prevent aging of teeth and gums, you should follow these rules:
- rational balanced nutrition and daily consumption of 1.5-2 liters of pure water;
- regular walks in the fresh air and feasible physical activity;
- eight hours of sleep and reduced stress factors;
- daily two-time dental care and professional hygiene every six months;
- preventive examinations at the dentist at least 2 times a year.
The aging process is irreversible, but the regular implementation of preventive measures and the timely use of the possibilities of anti-aging dentistry will help preserve the beauty of the teeth.
Modern anti-aging dentistry successfully restores the height of teeth and bite, as well as the whiteness of tooth enamel. It returns to the person not only the beauty of smile, but also the correct bite, which affects the health of the whole organism.
