The Health Benefits of Straight Teeth, Beyond the Esthetics
It is undeniable that a confident and healthy smile sends a powerful message into the world, indicative of happiness, good overall health, approachability, and even success. Deep right? Well, straight teeth in harmony with one another and within the bony structures of the face sitting safely within the gums are the foundation to said smile. Often considered the window to the body, both literally and figuratively, teeth play a major role in lifestyle.
On the contrary, when teeth are misaligned, they can cause a host of functional issues that can be disruptive to daily life. Many times, patients will notice that something doesn’t quite look right or they might be unhappy with some aspect of tooth alignment. Or it could be your child complaining of something that you can’t quite figure out. Is there some underlying functional component that must be addressed? Is your bite/your child’s bite uncomfortable? Is it awkward or unstable? Do you wake up in the morning with a sore or stiff jaw? Is chewing difficult? All of these questions are CRITICALLY important when it comes to diagnosing a patient for orthodontic treatment. This could be something as straightforward as treating mild crowding or as involved as resolving a skeletal bite issue. There is no cookie-cutter recipe, every patient is different and has to be treated with a customized and comprehensive approach. Treatment times vary, and all modalities are on the table including braces, clear aligners such as Invisalign, functional and growth modification appliances, guards to protect the jaw, retainers, and the list goes on.
“But I had braces when I was younger and I didn’t wear my retainer. I’m a lost cause!” That couldn’t be further from the truth. Frequently, for patients that had been treated as adolescents but didn’t wear their retainers, the lower front teeth start crowding up. Crowding of teeth prevents optimal cleaning which will also affect gum health. So why does it happen? Well, it is true that we are constantly growing and our bones are remodeling, especially the lower anterior jaw. Once teeth have a chance to cross over one another it becomes a domino effect that continues to worsen over time. That’s where we, the orthodontists, come in. The sooner the better, and those in the sooner category often take less treatment time to correct.
However, crowding isn’t the only condition we see from adult patients who may or may not have been treated in the past. Sometimes we see spacing, for example, between the upper front teeth. That can be caused by not wearing a retainer nightly (or at least a few nights per week even years after treatment) or it can also be the result of shifting of the lower teeth creating an imperfect bite causing undue stress or trauma to the front teeth.
At Bancroft Dobrin Orthodontics, our family orthodontic practices, we treat adolescent and adult patients alike, and often times family members concurrently with one another. We live in esthetically conscious times and teeth are often one of first things we notice about others and usually the judgement begins right then and there. That being said, more and more adults are pursuing treatment to create not only beautiful but more importantly healthy smiles with teeth that are easier to clean and maintain. We find that successful treatment and compliance with retainers avoids these situations and leaves you with the smile you were looking for when you first started out. However, the journey to get there including the initial appropriate diagnosis will set the tone for future success. We want to know your chief concerns and set your expectations for long term stability.
Reach out to us for a complimentary consultation for us to evaluate the situation – no concern is too big, nor too small. You are never too old to create a healthy smile – you are much better off saving your own natural teeth if possible than replacing them. We see it all and we strive for perfection.
Wishing you all the best from your neighbors, the Bancroft Dobrin Orthodontics team. Stay healthy Ramsey!
Dr. Keith Dobrin (Bancroft Dobrin Orthodontics) is a nationally board-certified orthodontic specialist with a degree in Advanced Education in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. His research on braces adhering to teeth has been internationally published, and given his experience and expertise, he has been selected to test various orthodontic products from national and international companies. Schedule your complimentary consultation appointment today!
