Figuring Out If You Need Orthodontics

Orthodontics help straighten improperly aligned teeth. Teeth alignment problems can ruin the appearance of your smile and leave your teeth more vulnerable to issues like tooth decay and gum disease.

Orthodontics uses devices like braces and clear aligners to improve the alignment of teeth by gradually pushing them to better positions over time. Common teeth alignment issues that dentists fix include:

• Overjets
• Overbites
• Crossbites
• Underbites
• Crooked teeth

Understanding when you need orthodontics

Treating orthodontic issues with oral appliances can take up to 36 months. Patients around the ages of 9 to 14 tend to have the shortest treatment times because their jaws and facial structures are still developing.

The signs that a person has teeth alignment issues that need to be corrected with an orthodontic appliance include:

• Noticeably crowded or crooked teeth
• Difficulty brushing and flossing due to misaligned teeth
• Teeth not coming together properly when the mouth is closed
• Regularly biting on the tongue due to the poor positioning of teeth
• The inability to pronounce certain words due to the tongue and teeth not being properly positioned in relation to each other
• Clicking and popping sounds coming from the jaw when chewing
• Sore jawline after chewing

Teeth alignment issues often start early in life, but children typically do not notice such things. It is up to parents to look for signs that their children have teeth alignment issues, such as:

• Breathing with the mouth
• Clicking or other sounds coming from the child’s jaw
• Frequent damage to soft tissues in the mouth
• Thumb sucking past the age of 2
• Late or early loss of baby teeth
• Teeth not coming together properly
• Visibly misaligned teeth

Treatment options

Misaligned teeth often lead to other problems, like gum disease, when left untreated. Fortunately, there are a few options to choose from when it comes to treatment.

1. Braces

Braces were the standard for orthodontic treatments for over a century, and they are still extremely effective at improving teeth alignment issues. The main components of braces are metal brackets cemented to each of the patient’s teeth and wires that connect the brackets on each arch of the jaw.

Braces are fixed appliances, so they stay in for the duration of the patient’s treatment. They can be used to treat a wider range of alignment issues than any of the alternatives.

2. Clear aligners

These are transparent trays that fit tightly over teeth. They work just like braces, gradually pushing the patient’s teeth to better alignment over time. Clear aligners are removable devices, which makes them a more convenient option than braces. They allow the wearer to eat and clean their mouth the same way that they have always done.