The condition of your smile affects a lot more than your confidence. Unfortunately, dental problems can impact how you eat and speak.
Whether you have skew teeth, missing teeth, a bothersome overbite, underbite, or open bite, or you’re simply embarrassed about stubborn yellow stains, here’s how orthodontists like Edwards and Garrett Orthodontists can help.
Traditional And Invisalign Braces
Traditional braces work by applying constant pressure to the teeth and jaw to instigate gradual shifts and ultimately realign teeth. Metal brackets are fixed to teeth, and an archwire applies the pressure. More often than not, braces are worn for 18 to 24 months for optimal results.
On the other hand, Invisalign braces are an alternative that involves wearing clear molds over teeth that instigate gradual shifting of teeth. With these braces, your orthodontist will create a new mold every couple of weeks until a straight smile is achieved. Invisalign braces can also be removed when eating or drinking, making them more appealing to some.
Replace Missing Teeth
Losing a tooth is devastating. Not only will a missing tooth completely ruin your smile and confidence, but neglecting a visit to your orthodontist can result in skewing teeth. Because the surrounding teeth won’t have support, they will loosen and skew over time.
Fortunately, your orthodontist can recommend a fixed bridge, resin-retained bridge, or partial or full dentures, depending on your situation.
Treat Cavities And Tooth Decay
Cavities and tooth decay can be caused by several factors, from lack of oral hygiene to the use of various prescription and over-the-counter medications and even consuming certain foods.
If you have noticed cavities forming, it’s crucial to visit your orthodontist as soon as possible. Cavities can encourage tooth decay and eventual tooth loss. Instead of hoping the problem won’t worsen, fluoride treatments, a root canal, fillings, crowns, or tooth extraction are all treatments that can help.
Professional Teeth Whitening
If you avoid smiling and laughing in an attempt to cover up stubborn yellowing or even brown teeth stains, you are not alone. You might feel tempted by teeth-whitening toothpaste and seemingly promising at-home whitening kits. However, these products often fail to provide the superior results they promise. Moreover, DIY teeth whitening kits can harm oral health.
Instead of sifting through an endless range of products to try, consult your orthodontist for professional teeth cleaning and whitening. During a professional cleaning, plaque build-up and stubborn stains are removed.
Treat Pain And Discomfort
Most dental problems cause pain and discomfort. Skew teeth can cause headaches and jaw pain, while losing a tooth is often excruciatingly painful. Moreover, cavities and gum disease often involve ongoing tooth sensitivity and gum pain.
Expert orthodontists will treat all pain and discomfort associated with dental health. Whether you need to extract a tooth, opt for braces, or treat cavities, consulting your orthodontist is the only effective way to alleviate dental pain and discomfort.
While orthodontists can effectively improve your smile in various ways, booking a consultation at least twice a year is essential, even if you aren’t experiencing dental complaints. Checkups are the most effective way to treat and prevent dental concerns.