Improving teeth alignment with orthodontics provides patients with many benefits, like improving their ability to properly clean their teeth, which protects them against common oral issues like tooth decay and gum disease. Orthodontics can also straighten the patient’s smile, improving its aesthetics.
Common teeth alignment issues include: Overbites, crossbites, underbites, and overjets.
Oral appliances, like braces and clear aligners, are often used to improve the alignment of teeth. Treatment times can be anywhere from 12 to 36 months, depending on the specific issues affecting the patient’s teeth and jaw.
Here are a few benefits that patients can gain from treatment.
Food particles and other debris are more likely to get stuck on poorly aligned teeth that overlap each other. Such teeth are also harder to clean because the bristles of a toothbrush or dental floss may not be able to get into these spaces.
As a result, plaque and tartar build up in these hard-to-reach areas created by misaligned teeth, leading to tooth decay and gum disease. Tooth decay damages teeth structures, while gum disease weakens bone structures in the mouth, leading to teeth becoming loose and falling out if left unaddressed. The bacteria that cause gum disease can also get into the lungs or bloodstream, leading to a host of other issues, like premature births, respiratory issues, and heart disease.
People with misaligned teeth are more likely to develop problems with their temporomandibular joints (TMJs). These are the sliding, hinge-like joints that connect the upper and lower parts of the skull. TMJ issues often lead to symptoms like headaches, pain, and discomfort. Fixing poorly aligned teeth can help alleviate TMJ issues because it reduces the pressure and tension being placed on the TMJs.
Feeling good about the way their teeth look gives people a confidence boost. It can be impossible to have an aesthetically pleasing smile with crooked teeth, however, regardless of how white or healthy the teeth are.
People with misaligned teeth often find themselves hiding their smiles during interactions to avoid being judged because of the condition of their teeth. Orthodontic treatment allows such people to go back to proudly displaying their smiles.
Poorly aligned teeth can lead to teeth structures being damaged by the stress created. This is partly due to the person’s upper and lower sets of teeth not coming together properly when the mouth is closed. As a result, some teeth are exposed to stress when the mouth is closed, which can lead to damaged enamel over time. Teeth can also be damaged as they try to erupt if there is not enough space on the jaw due to misalignment.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Orthodontics in Brooklyn, NY
Not happy with the alignment of your teeth? Our dentist can help. Call or visit our Brooklyn clinic to learn more about orthodontics.
Request an appointment or call Brooklyn Heights Orthodontics: Susan Liebman, DMD at 718-416-6368 for an appointment in our Brooklyn office.
Orthodontics can fix almost all teeth alignment issues. Poorly aligned teeth can ruin the way that your smile looks, and they can also leave you more vulnerable to a variety of oral issues, like tooth decay and gum disease, because it is harder to remove plaque from teeth surfaces.Improperly aligned teeth can also make simple…
Traditional metal braces have served as the foundation for orthodontics for over a century. These metal appliances are not the most aesthetically pleasing oral appliances, but getting braces is still the most effective way to correct severe orthodontic issues.Traditional braces are permanently fixed in place once attached by a dentist, and they apply constant force…
Consulting with a dentist about using orthodontics like braces is the first step toward getting straighter teeth. Orthodontic devices move teeth to a more optimal alignment by applying constant force on them. Treatment times vary for each patient based on their unique condition, but it is typically somewhere between 12 to 36 months.Misaligned teeth can…
When a patient tries to find an orthodontist, specific questions can help narrow the search and match the patient to the right provider. Whether you are searching for a new orthodontist in the same town or there is an urgent need to find an orthodontist after a move to continue treatment, these questions help narrow…
Anyone who wants to correct teeth misalignment and bite issues first must find an experienced and trustworthy orthodontist. Establishing orthodontic care early on can help prevent the need for more extensive procedures down the road. Patients already established with an orthodontist can schedule appointments for ongoing treatment more quickly and easily. Although many people choose…