Many dentists offer teeth straightening treatments, but this does not mean they are orthodontists. An orthodontist completes a two to three-year residency after dental school that focuses on treating malocclusions and other alignment issues of the teeth and jaws. Their additional years of study and regular daily practice in this specialty make them best suited to assist patients with teeth straightening. Orthodontists use braces, clear aligners, and various other orthodontic therapies to help patients obtain a healthy and properly aligned smile.
What usually brings someone to seek orthodontic treatment is unhappiness with how their teeth look. While orthodontic treatment can address these cosmetic concerns, the benefits do not stop there. Here is a closer look at the four key benefits of orthodontic treatment.
The alignment of someone’s smile can affect their self-esteem. Whether teeth are crooked, crowded, or unevenly spaced, an orthodontist can bring the smile back into balance. Other orthodontic issues, such as underbites and overbites, can even impact how a person looks when not smiling because it can affect the shape of the bottom half of their face. An orthodontist can match the patient with a customized treatment plan to address their concerns and help them achieve a straight smile they are excited about showing off.
Just as tooth and jaw alignment issues can affect appearance, they can also affect how someone eats and speaks. Many speech impediments can result from or worsen by a misaligned bite or crooked teeth. In addition, a properly aligned bite and smile are optimal for chewing function. Therefore, improving the alignment can, as a result, improve the way the person chews and speaks.
What not everyone realizes is that straighter teeth are easier to keep healthier. When crowding and crookedness are eliminated, the toothbrush can clean more thoroughly and make it easier to floss. This helps to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. In addition, a properly aligned smile creates fewer places for plaque and bacteria to become trapped. The result is a cleaner smile, fresher breath, and less risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health problems.
A great deal of discomfort can be relieved with a straighter smile. A misaligned jaw or teeth can put unnecessary pressure on the person’s jaw and muscles. This can result in jaw pain and even headaches. Tooth alignment issues can even aggravate teeth grinding and other issues that put extra wear on tooth enamel. When tooth enamel wears down, the teeth can become more sensitive and vulnerable to decay, leading to painful toothaches.
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This is just a short overview of how teeth straightening can improve your smile and oral health. To learn more about how to find an orthodontist, call our team today. We look forward to helping you.
Request an appointment or call Precision Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry at 703-391-8800 for an appointment in our Reston office.
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