What is Orthodontic Treatment?
Some people are lucky enough to be born with perfectly straight teeth; others, not so much. Having crooked or misaligned teeth is a real problem, and it can cause a lot of discomfort in the long run. Crooked teeth can affect your bite and also alter the way you speak. However, luckily you can correct your bite and straighten your teeth with the help of Katy orthodontics. So, what is orthodontics? In simple words, orthodontics near you is a branch of dentistry that deals with diagnosing and preventing dental irregularities and bad bites.
A specialist known as an orthodontist is responsible for addressing all related problems. Katy orthodontics is something everyone should know about because it can change your life for the better. If you have a crooked bite and you don’t address the issue soon, you will end up causing a lot of problems later on. So, let us talk about some of the different orthodontic treatments in a bit more detail.
Benefits
People usually think that straightening the teeth only has aesthetic benefits, but that is only half the truth. Crooked teeth impact a person’s looks, but that is common knowledge. Something that a lot of people don’t know is that crooked teeth can be harder to clean. When you are unable to clean your teeth properly, bits of food can stick in the gaps.
If these pieces are not dislodged quickly, it can promote the growth of bacteria. As a result, plaque forms between the teeth, leading to tooth decay or any other periodontal disease. Aside from this, crooked teeth can make it harder to chew food, leading to shoulder pain, back pain, headaches, and even temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.
What is the Best Orthodontic Treatment?
If you want to bring all of your teeth to their correct position, there are a few options you have at your disposal. You can either go for traditional braces; they are cost-effective but take a considerable time doing their job. Another option is Invisalign. They are clear aligners that are custom-made according to your needs. The dentist will change your aligners every few weeks to maintain pressure and force your teeth to realign.
What Types of Orthodontic Treatment are Available?
If you wish to fix your crooked teeth or faulty bite, you need to go to orthodontics near you. The different types of orthodontic treatments available are fixed or removable. Let’s discuss them in detail.
The most common type of orthodontic treatment is braces. Braces consist of brackets, wires, and bands, all of which work together to put pressure on the teeth and jawbone to help the teeth fall into the right position. The brackets are attached to the front of the teeth, and wires are used to tighten the brackets so that an adequate amount of pressure is applied.
Sometimes, a child can lose their teeth prematurely. If this happens, the dentist can place space maintainers in the child’s mouth to fill the space so that when the permanent teeth do appear, they grow out straight.
Now, let us talk about removable orthodontic appliances. First, we have aligners, and as the name suggests, they help straighten crooked teeth. However, with aligners, the individual has the option to remove them while eating or brushing.
Removable space maintainers can also be found. They work in the same way as permanent ones. But they are made from plastic branches with an acrylic base. They are placed between the teeth to keep them apart.
How Do You Know You Need Orthodontic Treatment?
If you think that you are in need of orthodontic treatment, there are a couple of ways you can find out. If you are suffering from the following problems, you might need help.
- If you have an overbite, which means that the upper front teeth appear to be sticking out over the lower teeth.
- An underbite is when the lower teeth appear to be ahead of the upper teeth.
- Another case when you might need orthodontic treatment is if you have a crossbite when the upper teeth fit behind the lower teeth.
- If you have an open bite, crowding, spacing or a misplaced midline, you will need orthodontic treatment.