Cosmetic dentistry has developed a handful of solutions for those individuals who are plagued with crooked teeth or jaw lines.
Whether for looks or comfort,
at least 70% of all Americans would benefit from orthodontic treatment according to Orthodontic-Center.com. Many Americans experience dental situations like overbite, under bite, cross bite, open bite, misplaced midline, spacing issues, or crowding that cause physical discomfort and an embarrassing smile.
Overview of Orthodontic Dentistry
Orthodontics is a specialized form of cosmetic dentistry focused on correcting crooked, crowded or misaligned teeth and jaws. These common problems can cause intense physical discomfort including headaches as well as back, shoulder or neck pain because of the stress placed on the chewing muscles. Crooked teeth also make it very hard for an individual to clean all his teeth thoroughly, resulting in a greater risk of tooth decay and gingivitis leading to periodontal disease.
Orthodontists attend an additional two-year of dental school in order to specialize in modern treatment options such as braces, spacers, retainers, and other devices used in orthodontics. An orthodontist can provide a healthier mouth, beautiful smile, and strong teeth.
Conditions Requiring Orthodontic Dentistry
The orthodontic branch of cosmetic dentistry corrects these common dental problems, which create problems with a patient's bite. Your dentist will help you decide when you should visit the orthodontist and who to visit.
An overbite, also known as "buck teeth" causes the front teeth of the upper jaw overlap the front teeth of the bottom jaw. The opposite, an under bite causes the lower front teeth to overlap the top front teeth, also referred to as the "bulldog" appearance. A cross bite causes the upper and lower front teeth meet instead of the upper front teeth falling slightly in front of the lower front teeth. The opposite condition is the open bite where the back teeth meet before the front teeth can close causing a gap in the front. Finally, a misplaced midline skews the teeth as they meet. The front teeth don't line up.
Other problems orthodontists correct are spacing problems where gaps occur between the teeth when teeth don't fill the entire jaw. The opposite problem is crowded teeth where too many teeth are trying to fit in the jaw line.
Solutions Developed by Orthodontic Dentistry
The most common corrective device used in the orthodontic world of cosmetic dentistry is braces. Brackets are cemented to each tooth then an arch wire is attached and secured with rubber bands. Typically the wire is adjusted every month as the teeth move to their new locations.
Some adults opt for nearly invisible aligners, which realign teeth much the same way as braces, but are practically invisible to friends and family. Aligners are removed while eating, brushing and flossing, so they pose less cleaning problems too.
If potential problems are caught early enough a palatal expander can be used to widen the top palate and prevent some future dental issues. A palate spreader is typically used in early childhood in an attempt to prevent braces later on, but braces are still needed at times.
For spacing problems, spacers prevent teeth from moving in to fill a space reserved for a tooth. A fixed spacer is a wire that extends from the tooth on one side of the space to the tooth on the other side. Removable spacers use an acrylic base, which fits over the jaw with either wire or plastic branches which keep spaces open.
If you feel that you could benefit from cosmetic dentistry such as orthodontics, consult your dentist at your next visit.
