What to Know About Orthodontic Treatment - Our Guide

Ever had a problem smiling, biting, or even having speech problems? It may be due to your teeth, which has a larger impact on your lifestyle beyond cosmetic damages. In that regard, orthodontics is there to cater to these problems as it is a branch of dentistry that offers solutions to problems with improper positioning of teeth.

This can include overbite, underbite, overcrowding of teeth, crooked teeth, or even jaw misalignment - all of which can cause eating or speech problems. In that regard, orthodontic treatment is necessary to help realign the teeth and support the positioning of your jaw to sustain the new alignment. Not only will this procedure help possible health problems, but it is also widely popular for its cosmetic purposes as it is a fool-proof way of enhancing a person’s smile.

What are the benefits of Orthodontics?

Misaligned teeth or improper positioning can not only look unpleasant to patients but more importantly, it can increase the risk of tooth decay and gingivitis. For instance, an improper bite may make teeth hard to brush or more painful to floss, while underbite can lead to a negative impact as the upper front set collides with the lower front set. Ultimately, leading to poor oral hygiene and overall dental health. In that regard, orthodontics is an effective treatment can be used to solve problems regarding the following:

●Close gaps between teeth

●Ensure that your teeth and jaw are properly aligned

●Straighten crooked teeth

●Improve oral functions such as eating and speech, which may have been originally impaired due to a bad bite

●Mend improper bites

How do you know if you need an Orthodontic Treatment Plan?

A patient will first need to have a plaster model of their teeth or simply have their X-ray taken for an easier route. You will be recommended to an dentist if you have the following:

●Overbite - also called as buck teeth, wherein the upper front teeth are sticking too far forward over the lower teeth.

●Underbite - also known as a bulldog, this is where the lower teeth are too far forward over the upper teeth.

●Crossbite - this is when the upper front teeth and lower front teeth meet in the middle when biting down. In that regard, the proper positioning should involve the upper front teeth coming down slightly forward the lower front teeth upon biting.

●Open bite - this includes spaces in between the biting surfaces of the front or side teeth upon biting down.

●Misplaced midline - this is a case where the center of your upper front teeth are misaligned from the center of your lower front teeth.

●Spacing - this means that there are gaps or spaces in between your teeth

●Crowding - the opposite of spacing, this is a case where there are too many teeth for the dental ridge to handle

Once the dentist determines what condition you have, they will lead you to an orthodontic treatment plant that would best suit what your teeth needs. Examples of such plans are braces, aligners, retainers, headgear, or Invisalign, all of which are tools that require regular maintenance to produce optimal results.

If you’re looking to for a local dentist, get in touch today to see how we can help.