When and Why You Need an Orthodontist for Your Dental Problems
Who Is an Orthodontist?
Orthodontists in Missouri City, TX, are dental experts specializing in teeth and jaw alignments. They have special training and experience in handling the anomalies that occur with improper tooth eruption.
What Does an Orthodontic Do?
The primary role of an orthodontist near you is to improve your mouth’s functionality by adjusting the position of teeth in your jawbone. The adjustments in orthodontic dentistry help straighten teeth and align jaws. These treatment protocols are not limited to children, even though they are popular in pediatric dentistry. Today, you can visit us at Joy Dental for adult orthodontic treatments to improve your teeth’ positions and realign your jaw. The orthodontic procedures we perform can correct the following dental problems:
- Spaces between teeth – unless you are missing your teeth, orthodontics can close up the gaps in your smile.
- Overcrowding – a crowded mouth occurs when a patient has too many teeth in their jawbone. The reason could be that they did not extract all their baby teeth in time for the permanent ones to grow. Another reason for overcrowding could be that you have big teeth, which do not fit well in your mouth. Alternatively, your overcrowding could be because of a developmental problem where your jaw stopped expanding enough to accommodate all your teeth.
- Crooked teeth – when teeth erupt improperly, they can face the wrong direction, resulting in crooked teeth. Some can be severe enough to become impacted, remaining partially or fully stuck underneath the gums. For these cases, your dentist will recommend a tooth extraction to remove the impacted tooth. Orthodontics can only correct the crooked teeth above the gums.
- Improper bites – your teeth should align well when you join them. Still, the upper or lower teeth can protrude outward and forward more than usual. The different improper bites that orthodontists fix are crossbites, underbites, or overbites.
What Are Examples of Orthodontics?
Orthodontics in Missouri city is only possible using special dental appliances. Some of the oral devices apply consistent pressure on teeth to move them, and the rest maintain the results of the treatment. Some examples of orthodontics are:
- Traditional metal braces – are the most common types of orthodontics in dentistry. They feature metal brackets and wires that exert the necessary pressure to move your teeth’ roots and crowns.
- Clear teeth aligners – are alternative devices for moving teeth. They feature transparent plastic-like material fashioned into a tray. The tray fits snugly on your teeth, applying pressure that can impel the movement. An example of a clear aligner in orthodontics is Invisalign®.
- Retainers – are orthodontic devices that hold teeth in place after the treatment. Ideally, after removing braces or clear aligners, your teeth can begin to shift back to their original position. Any extra force of pressure from chewing will be a catalyst for your teeth to shift. Therefore, you need retainers to hold your teeth in their new position. Usually, patients need to wear retainers for the rest of their lives.
- Palatal expanders – are orthodontic devices that alter jaw sizes. Palatal expanders help increase the room in the jawbone for all teeth to fit properly. These devices can correct improper bites and overcome a crowded mouth.
- Space maintainers – are unique dental appliances for preventive orthodontic care. Space maintainers are beneficial to children before they get braces. They work by saving space in the jawbone for new teeth to erupt. When your child loses baby teeth prematurely, the space maintainer ensures that the adjacent teeth do not move to occupy the gap. It prevents orthodontic problems like overcrowding or crooked teeth from occurring.
When Do You Need an Orthodontist?
If you have any of the highlighted oral problems, visiting an orthodontist is the best course of action. However, you may not always know the problem, but you can consider the symptoms. The top symptoms that point to needing orthodontic treatment are:
- Frequent accidental bites
- Difficulty articulating well when you speak
- Visible gaps between your teeth
- Breathing difficulties when you sleep – can lead to sleep apnea
- Jaw pain when you chew
- Drooling at night
- Low self-confidence enough to hinder you from smiling