Having straight teeth is great for a beautiful smile, but is also very beneficial for your oral health. The need for braces is often diagnosed as a child, but if treatment was never rendered or teeth have shifted back, a consultation with your orthodontist will demonstrate how you can improve your smile as well as your dental health.
The Orthodontic Process
Your family dentist will recommend a child be seen for an orthodontic consultation at around age seven. Baby teeth are going to be replaced by permanent teeth and in some cases, early intervention may make teeth straightening easier.
The reasons dental braces are needed can vary. Lack of space to accommodate all teeth can result in an overbite, underbite, or crossbite. As teeth fight for available space, overcrowding can lead to teeth erupting out of position. In some cases, extracting one or more teeth may be needed before the orthodontic process can begin.
Unwanted gaps between teeth can be treated with braces shifting teeth to make your smile symmetrical and correct the bite.
Whatever the need, correcting your bite and improving your smile can be achieved at any age.
What Type of Braces Are Best For You?
Today’s braces are a far cry from what braces were like years ago. Today, conventional braces still involve placing bands, brackets, and wires on teeth to shift them. However, braces are smaller and can utilize tooth-colored materials making wearing braces much less conspicuous. Colored bands allow children to personalize treatment by using their favorite color.
Teens and adults may opt for ceramic braces that utilize tooth-colored ceramic making their braces less noticeable allowing for inconspicuous teeth straightening at any age.
Treatment times vary depending on the severity of your malocclusion. Periodic visits to the orthodontist are needed to keep teeth moving.
The final step in any orthodontic program involves wearing the retainer provided. Once teeth have been shifted to correct your bite, the bones that hold teeth in place require time to solidify their new position. The retainer performs this function … failure to wear as recommended can allow teeth to return to their earlier location negating all the time and investment made.
Straight teeth help eliminate areas for plaque to form and grow which translates to healthier teeth and gums. The added bonus is a great smile to last a lifetime.
Contact our team at Westside Dental Group today to schedule an orthodontic consultation.