Aesthetic or not, it's easy to see why aligning your teeth could be a concern: the "mal" alignment of teeth (malocclusion) affects as much as 60-75% of the general population. Besides flashing a beautiful, straight smile, aligned teeth could also mean better oral hygiene, better chewing ability, and less risk of future dental complications.
Orthodontics is the specialized area of dentistry related to aligning the teeth and is focused on delivering services to "straighten" teeth and correct “the bite.” Within this post, readers can expect to find all about the different treatment modalities, traditional braces to newer modern braces in the form of aligners (clear plastic molds). The old-style brackets and wires are here to stay – at least for the near future anyway – as they remain the most predictable for severe or complex straightening cases. Most mild to moderate misalignments can be managed with aligners. Other terminologies for clear plastic molds include clear aligners, etc.
What is Orthodontics?
Orthodontics is a specialty in the dental field aimed at diagnosing, preventing, or treating malocclusion—misaligned teeth or jaws. A misaligned smile can extend even beyond aesthetics. Why is alignment important? Poor dental alignment can result in tooth decay, gum disease, and even jaw problems. Orthodontic care seeks to divert your smile from any of these happenstances.
Orthodontists analyse all the traits of your mouth to make a well-developed dental plan. You meet with them over time to get new braces or aligners. Over time, they say that it should do the trick for correcting your dental alignment. Most often, they get the technique right. At that level, going to the orthodontist isn’t harming you. It plays an important role in developing dental health and promoting self-esteem.
Types of Orthodontic Treatments
Orthodontic treatments have come a long way over the years, including options like traditional braces that provide an option for nearly everyone. This treatment involves securing a combination of metal, ceramic, or plastic brackets to the teeth. The braces gradually reposition the teeth through the application of consistent pressure. Understandably, these appliances can be bulky and compromise your appearance.
A clear aligner solution like Invisalign is an acceptable solution for many people. These aligners are comfortable, removable, and transparent. As the name implies, these aligners are truly transparent and nearly invisible. The patient will swap out one tray each week for the following one in the series.
Choosing the Right Orthodontic Treatment
Age, the severity of your malocclusion (misalignment), your lifestyle, and personal taste should all factor into your decision.
Younger patients may need early treatment, and adults will have different requirements based on their oral health and what they’d like to see.
The "worse" your malocclusion, the more difficult it may be to use products like clear aligners.
You should ultimately listen to what an orthodontist thinks about your teeth in relation to a few of the products you’re interested in.
Only you can keep your aligners in the 22 hours per day you’re supposed to wear them. Still, some orthodontists may hesitate to recommend aligners to people who have grinded their teeth at night. You also need to be willing to put in the time to adopt new oral hygiene habits if following your current "routine" led you to have bad oral health.
Conclusion
Treatment options to improve your smile might include traditional metal braces, tooth-colored or ceramic braces, clear aligners (Invisalign is a popular brand), or other options that your orthodontist recommends. Discussing the options with a professional can provide you with insight as to which treatment modality might be best suited for your particular alignment issues. Tackling the alignment of the teeth is often a long-term project, one that might take a year or more to complete, but one that can result in a healthier, more confident smile.