ortho treatment or braces

When it comes to straightening teeth, closing gaps, fixing overbites or correcting under-bites, metal braces are simple, effective and produce fantastic results. However, many patients really don’t know what to expect from orthodontic treatment, or what the differences are in the options they may have to choose from.

If you are considering having orthodontic treatments and are unsure about what to expect, and what the overall treatment process will be like, then this article will provide clarity and insights in to what the experience of having braces will mean for you.

There are many reasons that people choose to undergo orthodontic treatment, and there are also some instances where they may be required for specific medical or dental health concerns. Let’s take a look at some of the most common reasons that patients get braces.

Why do people need braces?

The most common reasons that people get braces is to straighten, align, and adjust gaps in their teeth. Braces are used to alter the position and alignment of teeth within the jaw, gradually closing gaps that are too big and repositioning teeth that may be too close together or crowded.

Braces are also commonly used to correct overbites or under-bites. These conditions result in the top and bottom jaws not aligning when biting down, which can have effects on speech and potentially result in discomfort when chewing.

For young patients whose teeth are growing in to spaces that are too small, braces can be used to open up the areas where new teeth are growing in. The purpose of this is to avoid more serious tooth alignment problems in the future once the full set of adult teeth are in place.

Other patients may be recommended to have braces as part of a treatment process intended to correct other oral health issues such as clenching or grinding of teeth. Often, misaligned teeth can be one of the contributing factors to these issues, and therefore should be corrected as part of the efforts to prevent the conditions from progressing.

Benefits of Orthodontic Treatment

Regardless of the underlying reason for having orthodontic treatment, whether it be for aesthetics or for medical necessity, you can look forward to many of the same advantages as a result. Obviously, one of the most prominent benefits to having braces is a straighter and more beautiful smile that will give you greater confidence and self-assurance in your appearance.

In addition, straighter teeth and a properly aligned bite pattern has a significant impact in the comfort and ease of chewing and may even allow you to enjoy certain foods that perhaps were awkward or uncomfortable to eat before your treatment. This improved alignment of the teeth can also result in a cessation of tooth grinding or clenching that would cause soreness in the jaw or recurring headaches.

A Closer Look at Metal Braces

Standard Metal Braces

These are the most common type of braces that you are likely familiar with and are easily recognizable. Metal braces consist of just a few main components, namely the brackets, bands, wires, ligatures, and elastics.

Fast Braces

Although very similar in visual appearance to standard metal braces, Fast Braces (also known as Accelerated Braces), are specially engineered and are used in conjunction with additional therapeutic procedures to perform the desired orthodontic adjustments in a shorter timeframe.

What about headgear?

Many patients inquire about the possible need for external headgear in order to achieve the necessary adjustments, especially in cases where the misalignment of the teeth is more substantial. While these cases are becoming increasingly rare due to advancements in orthodontic technology and treatment methods, there are still situations where an external appliance may be needed to produce the necessary tooth movement. For patients that do require a set of external headgear to aid in the effectiveness of their orthodontic treatment, it’s important to know that modern headgear appliances are comfortable to wear and easy to remove and attach. In any case, the use of headgear is usually only for a short period of the overall treatment.

Conclusion

If you’ve experienced frustration, discomfort, or lack of confidence due to misaligned teeth, then a set of braces may be just what you need to get your smile back in style. They’re also ideal for solving a broad range of oral health conditions that are causing negative impacts on your overall well-being, so it’s important to have an open discussion with your dentist about what the best treatment options may be for your particular case. Modern braces are able to achieve great results in less time, and for a much wider range of cases than ever before.