Being born with crooked dentition does not mean you have to grow up without your definition of a perfect smile.
Thanks to advancements in orthodontic medicine, it is possible to treat all forms of crooked teeth. The process of teeth straightening involves a corrective procedure aimed at moving the teeth into the right position.
There are several alternatives available for dental treatment, so it is best to speak with a dentist about the best option for you. And if you have a dental emergency, be sure to fix painful oral issues with the family dentist turlock.
Before I let you in on some of the teeth straightening options available, let me first answer some of the questions you might when shopping for an improved smile.
Is it Safe to Straighten Adult Teeth?
It is common to be wary about getting your teeth fixed in adulthood, but in sincerity, there is no age when you can’t make changes to your dentition.
There are braces for adults that can be worn for a while to help straighten the jaw and get your tooth back in place.
You can check this page https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/braces-and-orthodontics/ to learn more about braces.
While it is best to make corrections early when the mouth is still getting in shape, it could still be okay to make changes later in life.
If you were wondering the right age range to go for a dental straightening procedure, I would say between 10 and 16.
What are the Benefits of Teeth Straightening?
The obvious one is that you get to enjoy a better-improved smile, but that’s not the only good thing that comes with correcting a dental anomaly.
Growing up with a spaced tooth or some form of disease of the gum and dentition could significantly affect a child’s life.
Being taunted at school by their peers to feel different from the other kids could take a toll on them psychologically, so it is recommended to fix the problem at a young age. That being said, some of the benefits of teeth straightening include.
- Improves the health of gum
- Prevents the chances of disease infection
- Improves facial appearance
- Improves self-confidence as a result of better smile and dentition
- It makes it easier to chew food and eliminates the discomfort associated with eating.
- Fixing misaligned teeth could help prevent psychological traumas that may arise due to the condition.
Many people who have opted for a corrective dental procedure always claim it was the best decision they ever made.
There is no harm in trying, as there is a higher chance that it will turn out better, especially if you get the best treatments.
You can check here for more about the benefits of having your teeth straightened. So what are the best treatment options available?
You can find out more in the section below.
What are the Best Teeth Straightening Options Available?
You want to discuss with your dentist, who is better positioned to tell you which option is best for your condition.
A test will have to be conducted, and the results used to determine the most effective method for you. Some of the likely procedures your dentist will fit you in for are.
Dental Braces
Braces are the most common and effective way to straighten the teeth. They are usually employed to correct a misaligned or crooked tooth or to fit the jaw back in position.
You can find options for kids and adults, so you can get one installed even if you are a senior citizen. They work by exerting slight pressure on the teeth, which helps get them in the right position when worn for an extended period.
Braces are to stay on for up to two years in some cases more. You don’t have to worry about having to move around with metal gears in your mouth.
There are options such as Invisalign that are transparent and barely noticeable when worn. The common types of braces include:
- Metal braces
- Ceramic braces
- Lingual braces
- Damon braces
Most traditional braces come with a fixed bracket with a mesh/wire and an elastic band that allows movement in the mouth.
Older brands use to be a lot heavy in the mouth, but you can find metal and ceramic braces that are lightweight and fit perfectly. The Damon braces use a slider instead of an elastic band to hold the teeth in place.
The upside to this type is that it takes lesser time to treat than other models, but you should expect to pay more for this procedure.
Lingual braces are hidden inside the teeth, which makes them less visible. These types are custom orders and are best if you don’t want to appear with a bracket in the mouth. They are made according to your dentition, so you can expect they will be more expensive than the traditional type.
Aligners
Another popular tooth straightening procedure is the use of dental aligners. They are likened to braces but are different as they are designed to be transparent and easily slipped on and out of the mouth.
An example of such is the popular Invisalign. Another type is the Clearcorrect, which is also useful in restoring your smile over time. The benefit of aligners over the traditional brackets is that they can be taken out when the need arises, while braces are a more fixed type of alignment.
Retainers
Your dentist could equally fit you in for retainers to help with dental alignment. They are wire fixtures put together to be worn overnight where there is less movement in the mouth.
It is mostly prescribed for use after a dental procedure to keep the teeth from falling. This option is only used for a specific condition and is usually a form of adult treatment for gum-related diseases.
Final Note
There are several ways to straighten the tooth, and your dentist is the best person to prescribe the best form of treatment for you.
If you opt for brackets for kids, you want to educate them on keeping them fitted. Lastly, it would cost you to get braces, or an Invisalign installed, so you want to work out the finances and budget accordingly.
The good thing is that you may find dental policies that cover the cost, so you may want to find out which ones are available to you.
About The Author:
Stefan Savevski: web content writer/WordPress editor/web researcher. Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies.
