Having severely misaligned teeth or gaps in one's smile is something that numerous individuals must deal with every single day. Although some may think that this condition is purely cosmetic, it can result in a wide range of serious health problems that every person will want to avoid. For individuals that are ready to start the process of treating this condition, braces are one of the most effective dental appliances that are available. Any person that is wondering if they may be a good candidate for this treatment should understand just how braces work and what health issues may need to be treated previous to the use of braces.
There are several reasons that a patient will be diagnosed with an overbite, underbite, or malocclusion. Most often, the appearance of one's smile is an inherited trait. Much as with the color of one's eyes or the tone of their hair, teeth are considered a genetic problem. This may mean that they mouth is too small and there is overcrowding or that the jaw not quite at the right angle. There may also be problems with gum disease, tooth loss, impacted teeth, or prolonged pressure.
Those that may be considering avoiding treatment should understand that this can turn into a very serious complication if left untreated throughout one's lifetime. At first, there may only be problems with one's bite pattern and how they chew. In the end, the strain that this can place on one's mouth could affect the health of the jaws or even lead to damaged and lost teeth.
For some patients, there are advanced options such as invisible trays that will slowly pull the teeth back into alignment. Regrettably, this will not work for those that are younger or have more severely misaligned teeth. In this situation, conventional metal braces will be the best choice. This dental treatment begins with an initial oral examination at which point the dentist may need to carry out any number of services before the braces are placed in the mouth.
Individuals that have severe tooth decay or gum disease may need to have these conditions worked on previous to the use of metal braces. Many dentists also suggest a very thorough professional cleaning of the teeth as daily hygiene habits will be difficult once the braces have been placed in the mouth.
After these first few steps, posts will be attached to some of the teeth and then linked to one another with metal wires. These two components will put a small amount of pressure on the teeth, slowly bringing them back into position. Over the course of the coming months, individuals will begin to notice their smile transform before their eyes, ultimately ending up with a completely new appearance and a healthy mouth.
Robert Mondavi DDS provides various treatments at his office, Blue Sky Family Dental Group. Dr. Mondavi provides various treatments, such as braces and Invisalign aligners.