Having teeth straightened is one of the longer dental treatments and can, in some circumstances, take over a year to complete. In addition to the prolonged treatment time, there is also the ‘problem’ of having to wear visible braces too. Some people find these traditional braces to be not only unsightly but sometimes uncomfortable. They also make cleaning your teeth and gums efficiently quite difficult, which can result in tooth decay and gum disease.
We will look at the orthodontic (brace) options that we offer at our Witham dental clinic a little later on, but first of all, let us discuss whether it is worth the time and effort to have straighter teeth in the first place.
The most common reason for people to undergo orthodontic treatment is to improve their appearance. Crooked and uneven teeth can spoil an otherwise attractive smile and orthodontics (braces) are the best way to tackle this. Unfortunately, this can pose a problem for some. The truth is that some treatments can take a year or more and the thought of wearing visible traditional braces has been known to put people off having the treatment altogether.
Thankfully, patients of Blake Dental are able to take advantage of discreet Invisalign orthodontics which means that you can wear ‘braces’ for the duration of your treatment without them being obviously visible. But there are other advantages too.
Even the less visible teeth like those towards the rear of the mouth can create problems if they are crooked. People may not see them, but unless the teeth meet as they should, problems can occur. For example, an uneven bite often puts pressure and wear and tear on parts of the teeth that are not meant for that purpose, such as if a tooth does not bite down on top of the opposite tooth but instead bites onto the side of the tooth.
In cases like this the enamel in that area is likely to gradually wear down. This weakens the tooth, making it more susceptible to damage and may also lead to tooth sensitivity as well. Having straight teeth then, should not be just for aesthetic purposes but for maintaining strong and healthy teeth as well.
Not all orthodontic issues will cause speech problems but some can. Both an overbite and an underbite often causes issues, especially with ‘s’ sounds as well as some others. A diastema, a name often used for a gap between the top two front teeth, is also likely to do this, causing what is often known as a ‘lisp’.
While orthodontic treatment is usually required for problems like this, in the case of a diastema, it can sometimes, depending on the situation, be corrected by the use of dental bonding or by the fitting of porcelain veneers. Your dentist will be able to advise the best course of action to take.
While the aim of most people wanting straighter teeth is to have a more attractive smile, it is also very important to maintain good oral health, with healthy tooth enamel and healthy gums as well. In order to do this, we have to brush and floss our teeth well, in addition to regular check-ups and cleaning at our Witham dentist. This is likely to be easier to do if your teeth are straight and even.
The problem with teeth that are crooked and uneven is that they can press against each other and may even overlap. This creates very tight spaces which are hard to get toothbrush bristles, or even dental floss, into. Bacteria, on the other hand, will have no problem at all. Over time, bacteria and tiny food particles can become trapped in these areas and as they break down, they create acids that can lead to tooth decay. The presence of bacteria may also lead to gum disease as well. By having your teeth evenly spaced, it is much easier to keep them clean and you are less likely to suffer from these issues.
Naturally, there is a cost to having orthodontic treatment and using systems such as Invisalign does mean that you have to pay for the full treatment as there are no NHS subsidies for ‘cosmetic’ treatments. To help our patients with this, we have a range of payment plans available to help you spread the cost of this and other treatments. We will be pleased to discuss this with you during your consultation with us.
If you would like to find out more about our teeth straightening treatments, or for any other oral care issue, please call Blake Dental to arrange an appointment with us. You can do so by calling 01376 501688 – we look forward to meeting you!
