Most people want a beautiful smile, and many turn to orthodontics for the solution. This field of dentistry focuses on correcting teeth and jaw placement to provide patients with straighter smiles. If smiling makes someone feel uncomfortable because of crooked or otherwise misaligned teeth, visiting an orthodontist may be in order.
Before going to an appointment, understand that there are several different treatments that can be used to create a more beautiful smile. Many people assume braces are the only method to straightening teeth and creating the desired appearance for a smile. However, there are multiple methods that may be recommended or required for the desired result.
This is perhaps the most well-known method for improving a person’s smile and the one that comes to mind when people consider orthodontics. People who want a straighter smile often wear braces. Today, there are many different kinds of braces, including both the traditional wire and bracket braces and invisible models.
Some believe that braces are only for children. However, this is not true. In fact, the American Association of Orthodontists states that one-fourth of people who wear braces are adults, proving that this treatment is suitable for all ages.
Sometimes, a person's bite can alter the appearance of their smile. The bite refers to the way the jaws are aligned. For example, if the lower jaw sticks out further, it is an underbite. The reverse is an overbite.
Orthodontics can help correct a person’s bite and enhance an individual’s smile. Sometimes headgear devices may be recommended to help slow down the growth of the upper jaw to help readjust a person’s jaw structure and bite.
When too many teeth are crammed together in a small space, it can lead to crooked teeth. This overcrowding comes from the teeth being too close together. Often, the solution is to remove some of the teeth to allow the others to naturally shift into a straighter smile. An orthodontist may combine extraction with braces to help guide the less-crowded teeth into an even line for a straighter smile.
Another way orthodontics deals with crowding or making more room between teeth is with a small device called a spacer that can be inserted between the teeth. This can help to make room for teeth as the braces adjust the positioning and straighten the teeth.
At the end of orthodontic treatment, a retainer is typically given to patients after the braces and other appliances are removed. These devices hold teeth in place and help the teeth retain the new shape and alignment the braces created. If these are not worn diligently, the hard work of the braces and other devices can be undone and lead to a person’s smile reverting back to how it was before treatment.
Orthodontics can be an effective way to go for a naturally beautiful smile. To find out the kind of treatment needed for the smile of your dreams, make an appointment and speak with an orthodontist.
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