Orthodontic Treatments in Costa Rica

Orthodontic treatments in Costa Rica involve various types of devices, fixed and removable, which are used to move teeth, retrain muscles and correct the growth of the jaws. These devices work by applying gentle pressure on the teeth and bones. The severity of the problem will determine the most effective orthodontic approach.

At the Flikier Institute of Dental Rehabilitation, dental tourists often seek placement of the following appliances:

Fixed orthodontic appliances: The most common fixtures consist of a system of bands, wires and brackets. Bands are fixed around the teeth or tooth and used as anchors for the appliance, the brackets are bonded to the front of the tooth. Wires are passed through the brackets and attached to the bands. By adjusting the pressure of wires on the teeth, they can gradually move teeth to the correct position. These fixed appliances may need to be adjusted monthly to achieve the desired results, which may take months or a couple of years. Today’s braces are smaller, lighter and less metallic than in the past. They come in bright colors for children as well as clear styles preferred by adults.

Special orthodontic fixtures: These are used to control the consequences of bad habits such as thumb sucking or tongue thrusting against the teeth. These devices attach to the teeth by means of bands. Because they are very uncomfortable during meals, their use is only recommended as a last resort.

Fixed space retainers: If a baby tooth is lost prematurely, a retainer can be applied to keep the space open until the permanent tooth erupts. A band is attached to the tooth next to the empty space and a wire extends from the tooth to the other end of the space.
Removable appliances include:

Aligners: They are an alternative to traditional braces for adults, a growing number of orthodontists use serial aligners to move teeth in the same way that fixed appliances work, but without metal wires or brackets. They are virtually invisible and are removed for eating, brushing and flossing.

Removable retainers essentially serve the same function as fixed. They are made with an acrylic base that fits over the bone, has branches of plastic and wire extending between specific teeth to keep the space between them.

Jaw repositioning devices sometimes known as dental splints, which are placed on the upper and lower jaw and help train the jaw structure to close in a more favorable position. They can be used to correct disorders of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).
Separators between lips and cheeks: They are designed to keep the lips or cheeks apart from the teeth. Lips and cheek muscles can exert pressure on the teeth and thus these devices can help to relieve that pressure.

Palatal expanders are used to expand the maxillary arch. They are plastic plates that fit over the roof of the mouth. With screws, they apply external pressure on the plate binding palatal bone to widen the palatal area.

Removable retainers: They are used on the roof of the mouth; these devices prevent shifting of the teeth from their original positions. They can be used to avoid the bad habit of thumb sucking.

Face bows are devices that strap around the back of the head and connect to a wire on the front. The caps prevent the growth of the maxilla, retaining the back teeth in position while pulling back the anterior teeth.