Orthodontic problems and treatment

If you are unsatisfied with the way your teeth look or function, orthodontic treatment may help. Crooked, overcrowded, or protruding teeth affect more than your appearance. The positioning of your teeth can affect your susceptibility to tooth decay and gum disease, the way your teeth fit together, and your overall dental health.

Orthodontic treatment changes the positioning of your teeth and in so doing improves their appearance and function. It may also enhance facial appearance and how your jaw muscles and joints function. Using braces, retainers, or other devices to apply a gentle pressure over a period of months or years, your teeth can be moved into the desired position.

Orthodontic problems may be caused by accidents or behaviors, such as finger- and thumb-sucking or tongue-thrusting.

Your dentist or orthodontist can treat the following orthodontic problems:

crowded and/or crooked teeth, overbite, underbite, open bite (when the back teeth touch but the front do not), too little or too much space between teeth, extra or missing teeth. All orthodontic problems are unique, but the most common orthodontic problems dealth with for kids are usually poor alignment, while for adults it is crooked and crowding teeth.

Orthodontic treatment may focus on dental displacement only, or orthodontic treatment can also deal with the control and modification of facial growth. Orthodontic treatment can be carried out for purely aesthetic reasons to improving the general appearance of a patient's teeth.

Orthodontic treatment not only improves your appearance, but your dental health as well. Crowded, crooked and protruding teeth influence appearance and can affect self confidence. Your teeth are also more likely to decay and develop gum disease because they are more difficult to brush and floss thoroughly. Some people are reluctant to smile because of their teeth. Misaligned teeth affect your bite, possibly causing difficulty in chewing some foods and unnatural wearing of your teeth. Protruding teeth are more easily chipped or broken. Crooked teeth may affect the alignment of jaw bones, possibly causing muscle tension and discomfort.

Early Detection

75% of 12 year olds need orthodontic treatment, yet 90% of a child's face has already developed by this age. By guiding facial development earlier through the use of functional appliances, 80% of the treatment can be corrected before the adult teeth are present. Younger children between the ages of 8 and 11 are often much more cooperative than children 12 to 14.

Another advantage of early treatment is that children will need to wear fixed braces on their adult teeth for less time.

See your dentist professional for an evaluation.