I have crooked teeth, but are braces really necessary?

It’s not immediately obvious to all of us why braces are necessary, especially if you have very little knowledge of dental appliances, but you need to understand the advantages and health benefits that braces offer, before you dismiss them as over-priced or unnecessary. The first thing you should be aware of is that dental problems, such as crowding or misalignment, can get worse as your mouth grows and changes, in other words; issues that might not be immediately obvious or troublesome may develop into something more problematic as you get older. If you chose to ignore these symptoms, you might find yourself in a more serious situation as time passes. Unsightly teeth are not just an aesthetic problem; they can have further reaching health implications, such as jaw problems, an uneven bite, weakened tooth structure, and numerous other malocclusions.

If you are in need of orthodontic treatment, it’s easy to see why you would try to avoid having braces fitted – particularly if you are an adult, but there are many discreet systems available, that provide the necessary movement, without appearing obvious in social situations. You might not be familiar with the various dental appliances that have been developed over the past few decades – you won’t necessarily need ‘train track’ braces, so why not learn a little bit about why people wear braces? The Pearl Dental Clinic offers a range of orthodontic systems, tailored to your exact specifications, which can perform effectively in a matter of weeks (depending on your condition), give them a call to arrange a consultation, or just for some information on the treatments available.

Why should I get braces?

There are lots of people who could benefit from braces, but they might feel they are too old for traditional appliances or perhaps they are just scared of feeling silly, whatever the reason, it amounts to a lack of education on the matter. Braces don’t have to make you look or feel immature, in fact there are thousands of adults in the UK taking advantage of so-called ‘invisible braces’, such as the 6 month smile system, which moves the teeth into position using various transparent aligners, and can boast an incredibly fast treatment time. It’s worth noting that orthodontic work is never going to be cheap – unless you qualify for treatment on the NHS, but it’s definitely a worthwhile investment, if you can set some money aside.

Let’s take a look at some of the reasons people choose to overcome their anxieties and get braces fitted;

To look better – This is probably the most obvious reason for wanting braces; misaligned, over-crowded or severely buck teeth can draw unwanted attention, leaving the patient with very little self-confidence. Clear aligners can’t always help with extreme cases, but there are products being developed all the time, which can deal with more severe problems. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to make the best of yourself, and you might be surprised how drastically a simple brace system can alter your appearance.

For a healthier mouth – Not only are braces good for realigning your teeth, they are also going to make it easier to care for them in the long run. Even people lucky enough to have a perfectly straight smile still have to take due care of their teeth, but they do have a simpler task than those with severe malocclusions, as properly aligned teeth provide very little surface area for bacteria and food debris to take shelter. Overcrowded or misaligned teeth can create hard to clean spaces, which are perfect for bacteria to gather in and breed, so straightening out these problems and removing these areas can only be beneficial.

Furthermore, very crooked teeth or ones that protrude from the mouth at an undesirable angle can still be considered unhealthy, in that they are more vulnerable to injuries or accidents. If teeth are straight and proportionally spaced, they are protected to some degree by the cheeks and lips, so that in the event of a blow to the face, the soft tissue absorbs a portion of the impact. Teeth that stick out of the mouth are more likely to suffer damage, perhaps even complete extrusion (knocked out of the socket), because they are less protected.

For better oral function – In some cases, dental problems can extend past simple aesthetics, to cause pain or discomfort with the jaw muscles and bones, which can make it difficult to eat or speak properly. The connecting tissue that joins the lower mandible to the skull bone can be difficult to deal with if it malfunctions, and you might notice cracking noises or a popping sensation if you damage it in some way. The chewing function attempts to work around missing or badly placed teeth, by redistributing the pressure exerted from the jaw bone, unfortunately, this can sometimes result in jaw muscles functioning unnaturally, even painfully. Orthodontic appliances can help correct bite misalignments and they prevent the jaw from permanently adjusting itself to a detrimental chewing pattern.

Problems with the jaw muscles are not normally something a lot of people would complain about, mainly because it doesn’t cause an excruciating amount of pain in most patients, but it can exacerbate orthodontic problems, leading to further treatment down the line. Braces work by either pulling or pushing the bottom jaw into a better position, and holding it there for the prescribed amount of time, until the muscles become accustomed to the realignment. They can also work by straightening the teeth, so that they sit together more comfortably, and allow the jaw to function properly when chewing. As the treatment progresses, the muscles become stronger and more efficient, and you will notice the side effects – cracking, crunching and popping, start to disappear in time. It may also be necessary to wear a retainer for a certain period after the treatment is complete, to prevent the teeth from returning to their original position.