Teeth Straightening Options
Trying to achieve your dream smile? Having straight teeth is easily achievable with the expertise of your dental professionals, and there are many options. Regardless of age, orthodontic treatment can be a great start to straightening your teeth, correcting your bite, and reinventing your smile. When teeth aren’t in their ideal positions, dental cavities, plaque build-up, and gum disease can be more prevalent.
Orthodontics is a specialty of dentistry that focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of misaligned teeth. Braces are typically the most well-known form of orthodontic treatment. Orthodontic treatment not only improves the beauty of your smile, but also can help improve your overall health.
Clear Aligners:
Looking to be inconspicuous when transforming your smile? Clear aligners may be a great option to helping you improve your smile. Brands such as Invisalign are one of the newest and most trending techniques for straightening teeth. This method involves a set of custom-made removable aligner trays that are designed specifically for your teeth based on your individual treatment plan. Your dentist or orthodontist take an impression of your smile to determine the necessary prescription for the tooth movements necessary via a digital software. Tooth-colored attachments that stick to your teeth and allow the trays to grasp to move the teeth may be warranted depending on your specific treatment plan. Overtime, the trays will gradually shift your teeth to their desired positions. Unlike traditional braces, the aligners are removable and there are often less frequent visits for check-ups and maintenance. However, this option requires extensive compliance in wearing the trays regularly, typically 22 hours a day, for the best treatment outcomes.
Traditional Metal Braces:
Traditional metal braces are often the most popular method for straightening teeth. It involves brackets that are temporarily bonded to the teeth that contain a slot in which different types of archwires can be inserted (i.e. stainless steel, and nitinol wires). These archwires are held into the slot by ligatures including stainless steel or elastic ties. The latter of which comes in a range of colors that you can choose from during each adjustment visit. Braces exert a gentle pressure on the teeth to move them in a specific direction over time. Typically, monthly visits are required in which your dental professional will adjust the wires to help guide your teeth into their correct positions. Braces require stellar oral hygiene, as dental bacterial plaque can easily build-up around the brackets and lead to tooth decay if you are not practicing proper oral habits daily. This option tends to be less expensive compared to other teeth straightening options like clear aligners and ceramic braces. Treatment with braces lasts an average of two years, but this will depend on your specific treatment plan determined by your dental professional.
Ceramic Braces:
Brackets can also come in a tooth-colored ceramic material for those looking for a less conspicuous method of braces. Ceramic braces are designed to function similarly to metal braces. With both ceramic and metal braces, hard and sticky foods should be avoided to prevent damaging your braces and prolonging your treatment time.
Cosmetic Tooth Recontouring:
Tooth recontouring is commonly recommended for individuals needing minor adjustments to improve the appearance of a smile. Small crowding, irregularly shaped teeth, or small fractures can be managed by your dentist by carefully shaping the teeth using the proper dental materials.
Jaw Surgery:
In some cases, orthodontic treatment combined with corrective jaw surgery may be indicated to align teeth into the correct position. An oral surgeon will perform this procedure to help repair both functional and cosmetic abnormalities.
No need to wait any longer! Aligning your teeth can be relatively simple and affordable. Speak with your dental professionals today to see what options are best for your smile.
References:
https://www.webmd.com/connect-to-care/teeth-straightening/teeth-straightening-guide-for-adults
