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If you’re hoping to improve your smile and get straight teeth, getting orthodontic treatment with braces or Invisalign is the way to go. Many patients seek out braces when they want a straighter smile, but this is far from the only reason to get braces. In fact, your smile could look straight but still have lots of issues you can’t see. Here are the many issues braces can fix.
Misalignment of Teeth Fixed by Braces or Invisalign
Starting with purely cosmetic reasons, braces and clear aligners can fix issues of misalignments in your teeth to give you a smile that looks bright and beautiful by the time your treatment is finished. Generally speaking, crooked teeth are caused by crowding, which is when the teeth don’t have enough space within the jaw. When crowding occurs, teeth are pressed up against each other and can be positioned unevenly. While crowding is the main culprit of crooked teeth, having a smile that doesn’t look straight isn’t the only consequence of crowding.
Tooth Decay
When teeth are crowded and pushed close together, it becomes easier for food particles to get trapped in hard to reach places. This makes it difficult or even impossible to fully clean your teeth on your own. As food particles and residue build up, plaque and tartar can form. These bacterial substances cause tooth decay, leading to cavities and gum disease.
When you straighten your teeth with braces or Invisalign, the teeth are spaced out more evenly, allowing you to more easily clean your teeth. As a result, your teeth will both look better and be positioned for optimal oral health in the future.
Bite Problems
When you have crowding, some teeth may be positioned higher than others. These higher teeth are on the receiving end of most of the pressure when you bite down. Not only does this cause discomfort and difficulties eating and speaking, but this can cause these teeth to wear down over time.
As part of the orthodontic correction process, these teeth are moved to be at the same level as the rest of your teeth, allowing you to bite down with comfort while preventing tooth wear.
Underbites and Overbites
Another type of bite problem that can occur has to do with the alignment of your jaw. An underbite occurs when the lower jaw sticks out too far, sometimes even past the upper jaw. On the other hand, an overbite happens when the upper jaw bites completely over the lower jaw due to sticking out too far. Both issues can result in difficulties in eating and speaking and cause discomfort.
Both clear aligners and braces can fix these issues by adding interarch bands that pull the jaw into correct alignment over the course of your treatment. By the time your treatment is done, you should be able to bite down with ease while enjoying a beautiful new smile.
To learn more about the benefits of orthodontic treatment and to see if braces could be right for you, conact Charleston Orthodontic Specialists today
