Adverse effects of orthodontic treatment

Improper oral hygiene care during orthodontic treatment may lead to severe periodontal disease, caries and decalcification that jeopardize the health of teeth and supporting tissue.

Root resorption is a common side effect noticed in orthodontic treatment. The typical finding is the root tips become rounded and shortened shown on x-ray. It results from the mechanical pressure and the activity of bone resorbing cells. These cells were induced by the mechanical pressure. Once they are activated, they may remove part of the root tip structure while they degrade the bone tissue. Although root resorption is common and sometimes hard to avoid, fortunately, it rarely becomes significantly enough to affect the teeth health and function.

Occasionally, although rarely, a tooth may loose its vitality (i.e. die) during the orthodontic treatment. The typical sign is the tooth color turns dark. It could be due to the pressure from the orthodontic appliance or biting from the opposing teeth. Sometimes the cause could be hard to identify.