Straight teeth not only improve your appearance but also promote self-esteem and provide confidence in social settings. There are also several health benefits to straight teeth. They are easier to clean, causing fewer cavities, less gum disease, and slower decay rates. Straight teeth are also less likely to cause temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.
Whether your reasons for seeking straighter teeth are cosmetic or health-driven, there are two options for teeth straightening: Clear aligners or orthodontic braces. At Dental Spot, we offer both types of teeth straightening options to help you improve your smile.
Teeth Straightening Options: Invisalign
Invisalign trays are made from flexible thermoplastic, enabling them to fit comfortably over your teeth. Because the aligners are clear, they are discrete and less noticeable than metal braces. This makes them popular among older teens and adults looking for subtle teeth straightening options.
1. Advantages of Invisalign treatment
There are several advantages to Invisalign treatment, such as:
- Clear aligners look almost invisible
- They are removable
- Brushing and flossing is easy once the aligner is removed
- Few orthodontic injuries when compared to metal braces
- No need to modify your diet
- Invisalign trays are more comfortable than traditional braces
- Faster treatment than conventional braces
2. Who is a good candidate for Invisalign?
Invisalign is a fantastic orthodontic option for patients with the following oral conditions:
- Overbite: where the upper front teeth protrude beyond the lower front teeth
- Underbite: bite misalignment where the lower teeth protrude and overlap the upper teeth
- Crossbite: malocclusion where groups of the upper teeth fit behind the lower teeth when the mouth is closed
- Gaps: spaces between teeth
- Open bite: where teeth on the upper dental arch don’t touch those on the bottom
- Dental crowding: misaligned teeth that have grown closer together and overlap
3. The Invisalign procedure
The first step of the Invisalign process is to schedule a smile scan. This is a consultation with one of our dentists to determine what teeth straightening options are right for you. We take 3D images of the teeth, gums, and jawbone to fabricate custom aligners.
Once the clear aligners are made, the patient can begin treatment. Depending on the severity of the malocclusions, we typically recommend that patients wear their aligners for 12 to 18 months.
Invisalign aligners are designed to be worn 22 hours per day for two weeks. Then, you change to a new set of trays, gradually repositioning the teeth to achieve your desired smile.
Once treatment is finished, you will be fitted for a fixed or removable retainer. This helps maintain the positioning of the teeth and allows the jawbone to adjust to the new alignment.
Teeth Straightening Options: Orthodontic Braces
Braces are typically used for complex orthodontic issues, such as teeth rotated more than 20°, macrodontia, or microdontia. These traditional teeth straightening options consist of metal brackets, wires, and rubber bands. You may also need auxiliary components, such as elastomeric or steel ligatures, active or open coil springs, or intermaxillary elastics.
1. Advantages of orthodontic braces
There are many advantages to getting orthodontic braces besides straightening teeth. They can:
- Alleviate speech impairment: Tooth misalignment can impact how you sound out and pronounce words, negatively impacting your speech patterns. Braces help align the teeth for proper speech and give your tongue the space it needs to function correctly while talking.
- Improve your oral health: Overlapping teeth are often more challenging to clean, resulting in trapped food particles and plaque buildup. After braces, it’s easier to keep your gums and teeth healthy because you can brush and floss more thoroughly.
- Prevent bone erosion: Tooth misalignment can lead to bone loss if bacteria build up around the tooth and eat away at the bone. Braces stretch your nerves and connective tissues to move the periodontal ligaments, shifting the teeth into alignment. After they settle, the bones rebuild in their new location.
2. Who is a good candidate for orthodontic braces?
To be a good candidate for braces, your teeth and gums should be healthy and free from decay or infection. Orthodontic braces can be used to treat all malocclusions and misalignment issues.
3. The orthodontic braces procedure
After a manual oral exam, the dentist will take dental X-rays to determine the size and position of your teeth in relation to the jaw. Then, your dentist will have you bite into dental impressions and make a plaster mould of your teeth to evaluate your jaw alignment further.
Your dentist may recommend a tooth extraction before applying the braces. And where tooth repositioning alone won’t correct jaw misalignment, they may suggest jaw realignment surgery.
Once the mould and preliminary procedures, such as using spacers to make space for the bands are complete, your dentist cements metal brackets to the front of your teeth. They then place elastic circle bands around your molars. Metal wires (archwires) are threaded through the brackets and secured at the back of the dental arch.
After the braces are fitted, you need to visit the dentist every 4-6 weeks to have the wires and auxiliaries adjusted to place pressure on certain teeth. This pressure moves the teeth along the periodontal membrane into the correct position.
After your braces are removed, you will need to wear a retainer to stabilise your teeth and prevent them from returning to their original position.
Straighten Your Smile at Dental Spot
If you are unhappy with your smile and want straight teeth, contact Dental Spot on (02) 9158 6115 to discuss your options for teeth straightening.
References
Dental Braces
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/braces/about/pac-20384607
Are My Teeth Too Big?
https://www.healthline.com/health/big-teeth
