How Can Orthodontic Treatment Help You?

You've heard about orthodontic treatment. You have a marginal idea as to what it is.

However, you might be curious: How can orthodontic treatment help you, specifically?

Orthodontics can be used to treat a variety of conditions, the majority of which have to do with malocclusion. Let's discuss the most prominent of these conditions.

Crowded Teeth

In some cases, when a person's jaw is too small, the teeth don't have enough space in which to grow. As a result, they become overcrowded, thus growing crooked and tilted.

Fortunately, orthodontic braces can be used to solve this problem.

Spaced Teeth

The opposite of crowded teeth, spaced teeth grow too far apart due to either small tooth size or large jaw size. The good thing, however, is that they can be treated with orthodontics.

Overbite/Underbite

In some cases, either the bottom teeth overlap the top teeth, or the top teeth greatly protrude from the bottom teeth. This can create an unpleasant aesthetic as well as pain and chewing difficulties.

The good thing is that orthodontics can be used to treat both overbites and underbites.

Asymmetrical Bite

Overbites and underbites are horizontal asymmetries of the teeth and jaws. Asymmetrical bites generally describe vertical symmetries of the teeth and jaws. In other words, they describe when the teeth on the bottom row don't line up with the teeth on the top row.

Do you suffer from an asymmetrical bite? Orthodontics will help.

Impacted Teeth

Some adults suffer from the problem of impacted teeth. This happens when teeth don't appear in the early stages of adulthood but instead remain in the jawbone and gums.

Fortunately, orthodontic treatment can help to deal with such teeth.

Orthodontic braces come in a few different types. Here are some of the most common ones.

Metal Braces

Perhaps the most common of orthodontic braces are metal braces. These fit directly to the front of the teeth and are connected by a single metal wire.

Though effective, they're not necessarily the most aesthetically pleasing. That said, they're so common that they're readily accepted in society.

Lingual Braces

Lingual braces are metal braces that are worn on the backs of the teeth as opposed to the fronts. Though they're appropriate for mild orthodontic issues, they're not the best choice for severe alignment problems.

Aesthetically, of course, they're fantastic. Because they're on the backs of the teeth, they're invisible to the outside world.

Ceramic Braces

Ceramic braces fit in exactly the same way as metal braces. The only difference is that they're made out of ceramic instead of metal.

Because of this, they do a much better job of blending in with the teeth, creating a less extreme aesthetic distraction.

The downsides to ceramic braces? They're expensive and maintenance-intensive. If you fail to maintain yours, they'll end up stained.

Invisalign

The last type of braces we'll discuss is Invisalign braces.

There is no color to Invisalign, meaning that they appear invisible on your teeth. Capable of being taken off during meals and tooth brushing sessions, they fit on the teeth like mouthguards.

Invisalign braces are usually the most expensive option. They also struggle to fix severe orthodontic issues. But if you suffer from mildly crooked teeth, they could be the right option for you.

There are a number of benefits that go along with receiving orthodontic treatment. Some of the benefits you can reap include:

A More Beautiful Smile

First and foremost, orthodontic treatment will provide you with a more beautiful smile.

Orthodontic braces straighten the teeth and jaws, providing proper symmetry. This allows for a more inviting aesthetic overall.

Reduced Pain

Oftentimes, crooked teeth and misaligned jaws lead to pain. This is particularly true after chewing or sleeping.

By aligning the teeth and jaws properly, orthodontic braces ensure that they sit in a calm, relaxed state. As such, they don't become strained and don't lead to pain.

Clearer Speech

In some cases, crooked teeth and/or jaws will lead to speech impediments. By using orthodontics to set the teeth and jaws in their proper positions, you can do away with such impediments, leading to clearer speech overall.

Reduced Risk of Tooth Chipping

One of the problems you'll come across when you have crooked teeth is the problem of tooth chipping. Your teeth will come down in strange positions, causing rough friction against one another and leading to the loss of small bits of tooth.

Orthodontics can help by aligning the teeth and jaws properly. The more properly they're aligned, the less chance there will be of them coming down into one another inappropriately.

Starting orthodontic treatment begins with a call to your local orthodontist. Your orthodontist will schedule an appointment with you at which he or she will assess the state of your teeth.

From there, he or she will create a plan of action. This includes determining what types of orthodontic entities will be needed and just how long the process will take.

You will, of course, get some input on this too. For instance, you'll most likely get to choose the types of braces that you'll wear.

Then, you'll schedule another appointment. At this appointment, the braces will be fit to your teeth and the treatment will begin.

What do you think? Can you benefit from orthodontic treatment?

If so and if you're seeking an orthodontist in Salem, NH , Dental Arts of Salem is waiting to meet you.

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