Orthodontics Can Help Improve Your Oral Health

Orthodontic treatments can be used to improve problems like crooked teeth, crowded teeth, gaps in the teeth, as well as bite problems. Getting these problems fixed improves the functionality and appearance of the teeth.

Improving your oral health with orthodontics

Having crooked or crowded teeth usually leads to bite problems, which can lead to damage to the teeth as well as tooth decay and gum disease if left untreated. Orthodontists fix the problem and help improve their patients’ oral health using these orthodontic appliances:

• Braces
• Retainers
• Palatial expanders
• Clear aligners

What are braces?

Braces are common orthodontic devices orthodontists use to correct problems like an overbite, crooked teeth or crowded teeth. The process involves having brackets bonded to the surface of the teeth with wires run through them to tighten them and gradually move the teeth into the desired position.

Different types of braces

The different types of braces people can choose from include:

Ceramic braces

These types of braces are just as effective as traditional braces. They are popular with people who want to straighten their teeth without too many people noticing their braces. The ceramic material the braces are made from make them less visible than traditional braces.

Lingual braces

With these braces, the brackets are bonded to the back surface of the teeth, making them virtually invisible. Even though they provide a very effective way to straighten the teeth discreetly, not everyone can get them.

The teeth that the brackets are bonded on need to be long enough to provide enough room to bond the brackets to them, which rules out children and people with small teeth. People with excessive bite problems also cannot get lingual braces.

What are retainers?

Retainers are tools that are used to keep teeth in place after the braces have been removed. They are used because it takes time for teeth to settle into their new position and the retainers can prevent the teeth from shifting back to their previous positions.

What are palatial expanders?

Dentists use expanders to treat crowding and bite problems when the patient is a child. They are used to create more space in the mouth by gradually widening the upper jaw.

What are clear aligners?

Clear aligners have become a very popular orthodontic tool over the years. They are made from a clear plastic material that allows people to straighten their teeth discreetly and they are customized to each client’s need.

Unlike traditional braces, which can only be removed by a dentist, clear aligners are removable. This means people who wear them do not have to worry about the food they eat getting stuck in their aligners since they can take them out before they eat and put it back when they are done.

How do orthodontic appliances improve your oral health?

For those wondering what braces do to improve their oral health, it is important to understand that using them to straighten teeth and fix bite problems do not only improve the appearance of the teeth, it also makes it easier to clean the teeth.

Brushing and flossing straight teeth is much simpler than trying to clean crooked or crowded teeth because the toothbrush can clean the surface of the more effectively than it could when the teeth were crooked. The inability to clean crooked teeth properly can lead to tooth decay and gum disease, which can lead to other health problems.

Conclusion

Orthodontics is used to fix problems that people have with their teeth, improving the appearance of their teeth as well as their oral health. If you have crooked or crowded teeth and want to get them fixed, talk to us to go over your treatment options.

Request an appointment here: https://www.providencefamilydentistry.com or call Providence Family Dentistry at (678) 496-7021 for an appointment in our Mableton office.

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