List Of Some Top Misconceptions About Orthodontic Braces

Here are some of the top misconceptions a lot of people have about orthodontic braces and teeth alignment in general:

- First, there is the myth that only braces can straighten my teeth. This is not necessarily the case. It is now possible to have straight teeth without ever having to wear braces with the newest technology. Invisalign clear aligners are the most popular way to straighten teeth without braces, nowadays. Although, Invisalign does have limitations. To cite an example, Invisalign may not be the best option for severely crooked teeth or for fixing some bite problems. The best way to see if Invisalign can straighten your teeth is to find an Invisalign specialist and schedule a consultation.

- Second one on this list is the misconception that braces have to hurt or feel tight to work. After all, "No pain no gain" right? Not exactly true in this case. While it may be true in the old days, since only stiff wires were available. These wires exerted heavy forces leading to more pain and discomfort for the patient. Now, with the new available technologies like the flexible wires, there is significantly less discomfort associated with tooth movement. Nowadays, you can have straight teeth with little discomfort. Though, there will always be some people who complain about not having any pain because they think that pain is an indication that their teeth are actually moving. just remember the fact that it really does not have to hurt for it to work.

- In relation to the previous point, Some people even tell their dentists to make the braces tighter for it to be more effective and so they can remove the braces faster. You may think that tighter adjustments and heavier forces will move your teeth faster. In actuality, while a certain level of force is necessary to move the teeth, a force level that is too high may start to damage the bone and surrounding tissues. Orthodontics is a delicate balance of forces. Too much force may cause some teeth to move the wrong way and therefore increase the overall time you may need to wear braces. In short, having them tighter may actually even do you more harm than good.

- Another pretty common misconception is that it is rather easy to transfer or switch orthodontists that will take care of your braces. Actually, though it may just look like braces and wires to you, every orthodontist uses slightly different wires, brackets, and kinds of equipments or appliances. For example, sometimes, the wires that one orthodontist uses would not even fit in the braces that another orthodontist uses. Each orthodontist also has his or her own technique in treating each case. You can try proving this yourself by going to different orthodontists for a check up. It is almost a certainty that they will recommend different solutions to a certain problem you have with your teeth. So it is highly recommended that you stick with one specialist as much as possible to avoid unnecessary problems from springing up.