Understanding What Orthodontic Treatment Is

Understanding What Orthodontic Treatment Is

The smile you see in the mirror every day can be great or something you want to change. Orthodontics can change the way your teeth look and function. It can alleviate crooked, crowded, or protruding teeth. It can also do more than just improve the look of your smile. It can actually influence whether you have tooth decay or gum disease. It can actually improve your health and well-being.

The positioning of your teeth influences how you present yourself to the world. Getting orthodontic treatment can enhance your physical appearance and how your jaw works. The process involves wearing braces, retainers, or other orthodontic appliances to move the teeth into the desired position.

Orthodontic problems may be caused by accidents or certain behaviors like thumb sucking or genetics. Orthodontists can treat a number of problems including crowded teeth, overbites, under bites, tooth gaps, missing teeth or crooked teeth.

The exact treatment will differ based on the patient’s needs. Children who go through orthodontic treatment often have problems with alignment, while adults often have crooked or crowded teeth. The orthodontic treatment can focus on teeth placement or the modification of facial structure growth. It can be done completely for aesthetic reasons. The treatment can focus on visual appearance and oral health at the same time.

People who have crowded, crooked, or protruding teeth often have problems with self-confidence in their physical appearance. When the teeth are not properly aligned, it can also make brushing and flossing difficult, which can lead to tooth decay or gum disease. When teeth are out of alignment, it can cause problems with chewing, cause pain and muscle tension. Protruding teeth can often chip or get broken.

The best option is to start orthodontic treatment early. Three out of four teens need some level of orthodontics, even though their faces are still developing. Applying orthodontic treatment early can correct about 79% of the problems before adult teeth present.

Younger patients tend to be more cooperative than older ones which makes orthodontic treatments easier to manage. Younger patients also need to wear braces for less time because their bones are so flexible and still growing.

With five Houston area locations, Texas Orthodontic Specialists is you go-to place for high quality orthodontic care for children and adults.  Go ahead and schedule your free consultation today.

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