Orthodontics is a specialist area of dentistry that treats malocclusion – misalignment of the teeth and jaws. Although orthodontic treatments are known for straightening teeth that are crooked, overlapping, or have gaps, there is much more to orthodontics in London than just creating a straight and even smile.
If your teeth and jaws are misaligned, this can cause uneven pressure when biting and chewing, which can lead to a range of oral health problems over time. These include the erosion of enamel, cavities, and gum disease from excessive wear, and tension in the jaw joints causing chronic pain and headaches.
Orthodontic treatments often play a key part in maintaining oral health, as correcting misaligned bites can eliminate these concerns and reduce the risk of serious problems developing or getting worse in the future.
But what causes these misalignments in the first place, and what exactly can orthodontic treatments do to help? Read on to learn more about the importance of orthodontics.
Causes of Poor Teeth Alignment
There are lots of different ways that teeth and jaws can be misaligned, which have various causes that may be genetic or environmental, or a mix of both.
For example, overcrowding can occur when they are too many teeth and not enough room for them in the jaw, or adult teeth erupting in the wrong place.
In another instance, it’s common for gaps in rows of teeth or between the upper and lower teeth to form when children habitually suck their thumbs.
The size and shape of your teeth and jaw are primarily determined by genetics, which control the way your skeletal structure grows. When the jaw and teeth develop incorrectly, this can result in misalignments such as:
- Overbites – upper teeth protruding over the bottom jaw
- Underbites – lower jaw protruding beyond the top teeth
- Crossbites – one or more upper teeth sitting within the lower teeth
- Open bite – upper and lower teeth don’t meet when the jaw is closed
Teeth may also erupt too closely together, causing overlapping and crookedness, or too far apart, resulting in large gaps between the teeth.
In addition to affecting appearance and self-esteem, orthodontic concerns like these can also cause difficulties with breathing, eating, and speaking.
That’s why seeking orthodontic treatment to gradually move the teeth and jaws into the proper comfortable alignment is so important.
The Benefits of Orthodontics
Going to a specially trained orthodontist guarantees personalised care that is tailored to the condition of your teeth and jaws – using the most appropriate method to put just the right amount of pressure on the soft tissues and bones so your teeth move into new positions.
Receiving expert orthodontic care and following a custom treatment plan can result in a wide range of life-improving benefits, such as:
- Ensuring the optimal alignment and function of teeth and jaws
- Easing pain caused by excessive pressures on teeth and jaw joints
- Restoring the ability to bite, chew, speak, and breathe freely
- Making it easier to clean teeth properly, reducing the risk of decay
- Lowering the risk of dental emergencies or costly future treatments
- Creating a healthy straight smile and balanced facial structure
- Improving self-confidence with a more attractive appearance
Completing orthodontic treatment can quite literally be life-changing, increasing the quality of life and longevity of oral health for patients of all ages.
Why suffer with the long-term problems caused by malocclusions when there are advanced orthodontic treatments that can offer all these advantages?
Orthodontic Treatment Types
When a patient first visits the orthodontist, they will undergo an examination of their teeth and jaws, which might require taking impressions of the patient’s bite or dental X-rays. These will then be used to create a digital 3D model of their bite with specialist software, which can also map out the process for moving each tooth to align their bite.
The orthodontist will recommend and plan the most appropriate method and process according to the type and severity of the patient’s malocclusion, which both affect the orthodontic appliances that can be used.
In more severe cases, more intensive equipment such as a palate extender or headgear may be required, but most mild to moderate cases can be treated with:
- Fixed braces – metal brackets are glued to the front of the teeth with a wire running through them, exerting gentle pressure to gradually reposition the teeth.
- Clear aligners – transparent plastic trays like Invisalign offer a removeable alternative to traditional braces, though they must be worn 20-22 hours a day.
- Retainers – after completing a course of treatment with braces or aligners, a retainer must be worn at night to maintain the new position of the teeth.
Thanks to advances in orthodontic technology, fixed metal braces aren’t the only option. Many teens and adults would prefer clear plastic aligners, but even if fixed braces are necessary, there are also more discreet options than before.
The brackets used for fixed braces can be made from plastic or ceramic, either clear or tooth-coloured, so they’re less noticeable. Alternatively, lingual braces can be applied to the backs of the teeth instead of the front, so they’re hidden from the front.
The best type of orthodontic treatment and how successful it is will depend on your teeth and how well you follow your orthodontist’s instructions.
Orthodontics in London
For the best results from orthodontic care, it’s best to seek treatment when the patient is a child, as the orthodontist can identify potential bite issues and plan their correction before they develop further and start causing health problems.
However, it’s never too late to go to the orthodontist as an adult if you didn’t see them as a child or teenager. While it can be more difficult and take longer to reposition adult teeth in fully developed jaws, excellent results are still possible.
The first step in finding out more about whether you need orthodontic treatment and which procedure would be best is to book a consultation with our orthodontists in London.
Here at Finsbury Dental Care, we can help you to achieve the straight, healthy, and confident smile you deserve. To book an appointment or enquire about our treatments and fees, call us on 020 7638 6556 or email us at [email protected] and we will get back to you to confirm the details of your visit!
