A healthy smile is not just a measurement of beauty; it is an indicator of the overall health of your mouth and dental structures. So while orthodontics is often seen as straightening teeth for improved aesthetics, it goes beyond a simple cosmetic undertaking. Misaligned teeth, improper bites and crowded teeth are certainly an aesthetic concern. If ignored, it will only become more serious oral health-related issues.
Ignoring something associated with oral health will only lead to tooth decay, gum disease, pain in the jaw, and eventually tooth loss. Orthodontic therapy is able to properly identify and treat issues associated with patients’ oral health and limit the long-term consequences of poor oral health.
In this article, we will illustrate how orthodontic treatment can provide corrective and preventative properties for lifelong oral health.
1. Reduces Decay & Gum Disease
Crowded or misaligned teeth are difficult to clean effectively. Food and plaque can become trapped in hard-to-reach spots, and no matter how much you brush and floss, your teeth suffer as a result. Over time, your oral health can suffer in several ways:
- Tooth decay: Plaque creates acid that eats through enamel, resulting in a cavity.
- Gum disease: Plaque that is not removed can irritate the gums and create inflammation and bleeding, and eventually result in periodontal disease.
Orthodontic treatment aligns the teeth so that they don’t have tight spots or overlaps. Therefore, oral hygiene can be performed more effectively, decreasing the likelihood of dental caries and gum disease. Clean teeth and gums are crucial to good long-term oral health.
2. Better for Abnormal Tooth Wear
When the teeth don’t come together properly in alignment, they are unevenly forced. The unevenness can manifest through:
- Overly worn teeth
- Tooth chipping, cracking or flattening of the enamel
- Heightened sensitivity to cold, heat and biting
Having an orthodontic correction achieves a balanced bite or occlusion and prevents excess stress on individual teeth. This prolongs the lifespan of natural teeth and decreases the probability of an individual needing a crown, filling, or veneer in the future.
3. Corrects Bite Problems Which Affect Jaw Health
Malocclusion (a bad bite) can over a long period of time have serious implications for the jaw. The most common bite problems are:
- Overbite: Upper teeth excessively overlap the lower teeth
- Underbite: Lower teeth extend outward beyond the upper teeth
- Crossbite: One or more upper teeth bite in between the lower teeth
- Open bite: The front teeth do not touch when the mouth is in a closed position
If left untreated, jaw issues related to bite problems can result in:
- Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ)
- Jaw pain and headaches
- Clicking or popping sounds with chewing
- Inability to fully open or close the mouth
Orthodontic treatment simply means that the teeth and bite are aligned in a proper position/relationship. The objective of correct orthodontic treatment is to create proper alignment of the teeth that minimizes stress to the complex joint of the jaw, known as the temporomandibular joint. This will help reduce the risk of chronic pain and dysfunction and secondary pain and disruption of normal jaw function.
4. Improves Speech and Chewing
If teeth are not aligned correctly or if you have a poor bite, it can interfere with your ability to speak clearly or chew correctly. Examples are as follows:
- Gaps or overlapping front teeth might produce a lisp or slurred word pronunciation.
- Teeth must contact each other properly or the chewing process cannot happen easily and digestion may occur incorrectly.
- Missing or misaligned molars can produce chewing on one side, impairing proper muscle function and causing fatigue on one side.
Braces, aligners, or other orthodontic appliances can help correct the problems described above. When teeth are straight, speech is clearer, chewing is more efficient, digestion is improved, and nutrition is optimized.
5. Prevents Tooth Trauma
Protrusions of the front teeth, mainly in children, are at a greater risk of trauma especially in sporting activities or an accidental fall. These protrusions, known as “buck teeth,” are usually caused by skeletal or dental misalignment and can be easily chipped, broken, or avulsed.
An early orthodontic appointment can assist in scaling back the protruded teeth to a safer position in the mouth. This could significantly diminish the risk of traumatic injuries and the associated costs of emergency visits and restorative treatments.
6. Protects Bone & Tissue Structures that Support Teeth
Improperly aligned teeth create a chewing surface that imposes uneven pressures on the underlying supporting bone and soft tissue structures. Some effects of this could be:
- Bone Depletion
- Gum Recession
- Mobility of Teeth
Orthodontics has a significant advantage of distributing the forces of biting evenly across the teeth, helping to protect the health and future health of the alveolar bone and the periodontal ligaments – Therefore providing lifelong strength and stability of the structures that hold your teeth in place.
7. Reduces Future Extraction Risks
Early orthodontic treatment, particularly in children and adolescents, can alleviate the risk of removal of a tooth due to crowding or impaction. For example:
- Braces or expanders can encourage teeth that are erupting to erupt in the correct position
- Space can also be saved for incoming permanent teeth
- Proverbs provide guidelines for all tooth alignments, orthodontics can decrease or possibly negate removal for difficult extractions later in life, while evidencing local, embedded hard tissue removal or jaw surgery
8. Encouragement of overall health and well-being
Proven, established research shows many adverse outcomes of poor health in the mouth, such as systemic diseases; ie:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Breathing conditions
- Inflammatory symptoms
Increased oral hygiene associated with orthodontic treatment leads to better overall health. Improved appearance and increased self-esteem can also enhance mental health and quality of life.
9. Long-Term Cost Savings
Orthodontic treatment is an investment, and while the costs may seem high at first, it in the road can save you in the long run. Orthodontics prevents the following treatment needs:
- Fillings and root canals
- Periodontal treatments
- Dentures, bridges, or implants
- Jaw surgery or physical therapy
Investing in a healthy, well-aligned smile today means fewer dental complications and costs down the road.
10. Benefits of Early Orthodontic Evaluation
The American Association of Orthodontists advises that children should undergo their first orthodontic evaluation by age 7. The orthodontist can identify developmental issues early to provide timely intervention.
Examples of common early treatments are:
- Palatal expanders
- Space maintainers
- Functional appliances to guide jaw growth
Early treatment can simplify later treatment and prevent braces altogether! We can also develop an orthodontic plan for adults to give them great results that improve their lives.
How to Choose the Right Orthodontic Provider?
Finding an orthodontic provider who is a qualified and specialized provider is key to getting the best outcome. If you are in search of quality orthodontic care, check out a reputable Orthodontist in Arnold that deals with individualized treatment plans based on the dental needs of their patients. Whether you want traditional braces, clear aligners, or surgical options, having an orthodontist who is dedicated to orthodontics can create a pathway to your oral care and dental health.
Final Thoughts
Orthodontic treatment means more than a cosmetic enhancement. It means obtaining a treatment that will benefit your oral and overall health. Orthodontics involves straightening teeth and fixing bite issues to lower the chances for decay, gum disease, jaw and TMJ disorders, as well as dental trauma. Orthodontics improves function and the ability to digest food properly.
Orthodontic treatment, whether the patient is a parent of a child seeking the treatment or adults seeking to fix misalignment issues, does offer long-term advantages for oral health, improved confidence while smiling, and prevention of many dental health issues in the future.
