Gangnam Station Orthodontic Clinic :: One Thing You Must Know Before Starting Front Tooth Orthodontics!

Hello,

I am Director Park Yeol, a specialist in orthodontics,

and I have been providing orthodontic treatment at Gangnam Station for over 20 years. 😊

When you start orthodontic treatment,

it is common to attach braces to

all of the teeth.

However, depending on the case, there are times when

braces are not attached to one or two teeth from the start.

A typical example is

a front tooth that is tucked inward (an upper front tooth or a lower front tooth),

and today I will explain in detail the reason and the process.

Why braces are not attached to

all teeth when orthodontic treatment begins

❓Why are braces not attached

to some teeth right away?

A small upper front tooth that is tucked far inward

As you can see in the photo above,

it is difficult to attach braces from the start

to a small upper front tooth that is tucked far inward.

When attaching braces to a tooth,

there is a precise position where they need to be placed;

it is not something that can be attached anywhere on the tooth.

So if the conditions allow braces to be attached in that position,

they are attached, but if not,

the attachment is postponed until later.

As shown in the photo above,

even in the case of a tucked-in front tooth,

the brace must be placed at the center position from side to side on the tooth.

However, in a complex situation with no space like this,

it is difficult to place it at the center of the tooth,

and even if it is attached, the distance from adjacent teeth is too close,

so excessive force is placed on the adjacent tooth

and the small front tooth.

Because this can be harmful to the teeth,

the braces are not attached to front teeth in this situation at first.

❓When are the braces attached?

The timing for attaching braces to a tucked-in front tooth

depends on the patient’s tooth alignment.

For some patients,

other teeth can be arranged after 3 to 4 months,

making it possible to attach them,

while for others,

it takes about 6 months to 1 year

before space is created.

The process of gradually widening the space between the teeth

to create room for the tucked-in tooth

In this process, a spring is used

to widen the space for the front tooth,

and only when enough room has been created

are the braces finally attached.

❓It looks like the front tooth without braces

is getting more tucked in...

And when using a spring

to create space for the front tooth,

another thing patients often find puzzling is,

“Even though braces haven’t been attached to the front tooth, it seems like the front tooth is going further inward as treatment progresses.”

Yes, it can actually look that way.

As the rest of the teeth are aligned evenly,

there is a temporary tendency for the remaining teeth

to extend slightly forward.

Of course, everything is properly realigned later,

but because this tendency appears temporarily,

the front tooth without braces may seem to be

even more tucked inward during that period.

So if we do not explain this,

patients may wonder, “Why is this happening?” and become worried.

This is a process that happens normally.

After that period passes,

when braces are attached to the front tooth as well,

that symptom also disappears quickly,

and the alignment of the tucked-in front tooth

and the rest of the teeth improves together into a neat arrangement.

✅To summarize-

Front teeth that are tucked far inward are not fitted with braces from the start,
Braces are attached after the alignment of the other teeth has been sorted out and space has been secured.
It is natural for the front teeth to look even more tucked in during that time, and in the end, the alignment is improved into a neat arrangement.

For more details,

please refer to the video below

for easier understanding. 😃

Quick reservations and consultations ⬇️

I am your lifelong doctor, Director Park Yeol 🩺

Based on 20 years of experience,

I provide trustworthy dental information. 😃