Straight Talk on Straight Teeth: When To Consider Teeth Straightening
There’s something magnetic about a beautiful smile. When most people picture an ideal smile, they imagine straight teeth. A symmetrical, well-aligned smile has many benefits, including more confidence in how you look.
Still, there are other important benefits of straight teeth. Better alignment offers functional advantages, too. In many cases, a straighter smile reduces pain and makes it easier to speak and eat.
Let’s take a closer look at the reasons why you should consider teeth straightening, options to achieve a straighter smile, and what you should know about the process.
There are many valid reasons to pursue a straighter smile. For some people, it’s a desire to feel proud of their smile, while others are targeting a specific functional concern. Straightening your teeth can offer the following advantages:
Crooked or overlapping teeth are often hard to brush and floss, leading to long-term dental issues. Likewise, a misaligned smile can cause uneven wear on some teeth, contributing to discomfort and impaired function. Teeth straightening can address all of these issues while improving the look of your smile.
Wondering if teeth straightening is for you? The following signs and symptoms are good indicators that it might be time to pursue a straighter smile.
Teeth that overlap or are positioned at an angle may be harder to keep clean. Food and bacteria can get trapped between teeth, making brushing and flossing correctly difficult. Over time, this problem can result in decay and infection, requiring dental treatment. Straightening your teeth can be a helpful way to prevent long-term hygiene issues, while also making your smile more aesthetically pleasing.
When your top and bottom teeth don’t come together correctly, dentists call it malocclusion. Examples include having an overbite, crossbite, or underbite. Sometimes, a slight misalignment isn’t an issue, but people with a misaligned bite may experience pain or reduced function. Malocclusion can lead to jaw pain, uneven wear on the teeth, or difficulty chewing.
For young children, spaces between primary teeth are normal to make room for larger, permanent teeth. In adults, however, gapped teeth can be a cosmetic concern. Likewise, missing teeth or gaps in your smile can lead to bite misalignment or increase your risk of gum disease. Depending on the reason for the gaps, teeth straightening treatments can correct spacing issues and improve the look and function of your smile.
Crooked or misaligned teeth can put unnecessary strain on your jaw. Over time, this strain can cause frequent or constant pain in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Teeth straightening solutions can correct the underlying issues creating jaw pain and realign the jaw to a more comfortable position.
Pronouncing certain sounds can be difficult if your teeth are not in alignment. A crooked smile can lead to a lisp, slurred speech, and a whistling sound while speaking due to gaps in the teeth. Often, straightening your teeth can address these challenges, reducing vocal strain and making it easier to pronounce words correctly.
If you’re experiencing any of the issues that teeth straightening can address, consider that many may worsen with time. Taking action sooner rather than later may be the best choice for better results. Always ask your dentist about your specific smile goals and the options for achieving them.
Teeth straightening isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. The right teeth straightening option for you will balance your aesthetic priorities with your treatment goals.
Metal Braces: Traditional braces are common for a reason. They can address a wide range of alignment and bite issues in a relatively short amount of time. Unlike other options, metal braces are more visible, which can be a downside for some patients.
Tooth-Colored Braces: This more understated alternative to traditional braces works the same way, but uses a ceramic bracket that blends with the color of the teeth instead of metal brackets for a more discreet look. Tooth-colored braces offer all the advantages of regular braces, with a more seamless look, similar to clear aligners.
Clear Aligners: Clear aligners, like SureSmile or Invisalign, use a series of custom-made trays that click into tooth colored attachments to gradually move the teeth into alignment. While they are less noticeable than braces, clear aligners can result in longer treatment times and aren’t suitable for every case.
Lingual Braces: Like braces on the back side of the teeth, lingual appliances are virtually invisible, making them a preferred option for some cases. Lingual braces can, however, be more uncomfortable and make it difficult to speak clearly. Hygiene can also be challenging for patients who choose this route to straighter teeth.
Most people aren’t born with naturally straight teeth. In some cases, parents may choose to pursue treatment for their children to correct alignment issues early. Because kids’ teeth and jaws are still developing, orthodontic treatment tends to be faster and more effective at a young age. That’s especially true for significant changes, like palate expansion.
Still, our teeth shift as we age. Straightening is still an option for adults, even those who didn’t receive any orthodontic treatment as a child. Many adults successfully achieve a straight smile later in life with braces, clear aligners, or some combination of treatment. In fact, one in four people with braces is an adult!
Six Month Smiles® is a teeth straightening treatment to correct mild misalignment. The system is designed for patients who want to fix gaps, crooked teeth, and misaligned teeth in an average treatment time of six months.
Our patients can choose from Six Month Smiles® two treatment options: clear aligners or clear braces. For the aligner method, your dentist will work directly with a company representative who will plan your case from day one to the end goal. You’ll receive a series of custom-fitted trays that gradually move your teeth.
Alternatively, some patients choose clear braces. Like traditional braces, this solution uses hard-to-see clear brackets and tooth-colored wire for barely noticeable teeth straightening. Patients will receive several wire and bracket adjustments throughout their treatment to shift their teeth into alignment.
Not every teeth straightening case is well-suited to Six Month Smiles®, and some treatment plans take longer than six months. We recommend this option for patients who are after a minor adjustment to their smile, rather than significant shifts and repositioning.
An open conversation with your dentist is always the best place to start for any dental concerns, including teeth straightening. If you’re worried about issues related to crooked, overlapping, or misaligned teeth, let your doctor know. Likewise, if you want to upgrade the way your smile looks, we’re always happy to help you understand the best options for your goals. Call our office to schedule your next appointment and learn more about Six Month Smiles ® and other ways to improve your smile.
There’s something magnetic about a beautiful smile. When most people picture an ideal smile, they imagine straight teeth. A symmetrical, well-aligned smile has many benefits, including more confidence in how you look. Still, there are other important benefits of straight teeth. Better alignment offers functional advantages, too. In many cases, a straighter smile reduces pain and makes it easier to speak and eat. Let’s take a closer look at the reasons why you should consider teeth straightening, options to achieve a straighter smile, and what you should know about the process.
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