Are you self-conscious about your smile because of crooked teeth, an overbite, or overcrowding? Luckily, you don’t have to live with these dental issues forever. The field of orthodontics offers a wide range of solutions that can help you create the smile you desire and increase your level of confidence. In this blog post, we’ll go over the dental issues orthodontics can fix in order to help you make an informed decision about what kind of care would be best for you.
#1. Misaligned Teeth
Misaligned teeth are more than just an aesthetic concern; they can contribute to all kinds of dental issues. Misaligned teeth make it easier for food particles and plaque to get trapped between the teeth, creating a haven for cavity-causing bacteria.
Braces and aligners are designed to guide misaligned teeth back into place, gradually shifting them back into their proper position. Braces, with their brackets and wires, are capable of addressing even the most complex cases of misalignment. If you don’t want all the visible hardware in your mouth, you can opt for clear aligners instead, which utilize a series of clear trays to slowly move teeth into alignment.
#2. Overcrowding
Overcrowding occurs when there’s not enough space in the mouth to accommodate all the teeth. This problem can occur for many reasons, including a smaller jaw, losing baby teeth too early, or when baby teeth are over-retained. These things can cause the teeth to overlap, twist, or become crooked. Just like with misaligned teeth, untreated overcrowding can lead to cavities, gum disease, and increased risk of tooth decay, along with difficulty speaking or eating and changes in facial appearance.
Fortunately, overcrowding is another dental issue orthodontists can fix. Braces and aligners are both effective ways to treat overcrowded teeth, along with other orthodontic solutions like palate expanders.
#3. Gaps Between Teeth
Gaps between teeth, also known as diastema, are an aesthetic concern for some orthodontic patients, but can also pose serious oral health threats for others. There are a multitude of reasons you might have gaps in your teeth, including an abnormal position, size, or shape of the teeth, missing teeth elsewhere in the mouth that have caused the teeth to shift, loose teeth because of gum disease, or bad habits like biting your lips. In order to close the gaps between the teeth and prevent further dental issues, orthodontists can get you all set up with braces or aligners to get the
#4. Bite Issues
Your bite is the way your top and bottom teeth fit together when you close your mouth. There are four main types of bite issues.
- Overbite: If your upper teeth overlap significantly with your lower teeth, you might have an overbite.
- Underbite: Underbites occur when the lower teeth protrude past the upper front teeth, causing tooth wear and jaw pain.
- Crossbite: Crossbites involve either one or multiple teeth that bite on the inside of the lower teeth, usually caused by a narrow upper jaw.
- Open bite: This type of bite occurs when upper and lower teeth do not touch each other and are forced outwards. Open bites usually occur due to harmful habits like tongue thrusting or thumb sucking.
Most people’s bites are not perfect, but if your bite issues are more serious, you may experience issues with your breathing or speech. Teeth can even become worn down or protrude over time. To correct the bite, orthodontists use braces or aligners to move the teeth into place.
#5. Speech and Chewing Difficulties
Speech impediments and chewing difficulties can be caused by misaligned teeth and suboptimal bites. Because alignment and bite can be fixed with braces and aligners, these devices can also help people with speech and chewing difficulties.
#6. Self-Esteem and Confidence
In addition to physical benefits, braces and aligners can give patients increased confidence and boost their self-esteem. When you feel proud of your pearly whites, you’ll find yourself smiling more often, leading to more social interactions and helping you achieve a more positive self-image.
VIP Smiles Can Fix Your Dental Issues
Whether you have misaligned teeth, gaps in your smile, an overcrowded mouth, bite issues, or difficulties speaking or chewing, VIP Smiles can help. Our team is committed to providing innovative, high-quality solutions to every dental issue, and we treat our patients with the care and respect they deserve. To see what we can do to improve your smile, give us a call, schedule an appointment, or come see us at our office in Syracuse, Utah.
