To Your Good Health

Orthodontics

A Perfect Smile at Any Age

By Leslie Byrne

There’s no denying that a perfectly aligned smile is pleasant to behold, but that’s not all that’s good about it! Misaligned teeth or jaws can lead to oral health problems like tooth decay, jaw pain, gum disease, and even sleep apnea. Crooked teeth can make brushing and flossing challenging by creating hidden or hard-to-reach spots in the mouth. When plaque builds up, it can result in bleeding, swelling, cavities, and, ultimately, gum disease. A perfectly aligned bite also benefits the jaw, promoting a lifetime of comfort and helping both natural teeth and restorations last longer. If your tooth alignment is troubling you, an orthodontist can help.

When teeth are misaligned, it is called a malocclusion. There are several different types of malocclusion. An overbite is when the upper front teeth stick out significantly more than the lower teeth. An underbite is when is when the lower front teeth are in front of the upper teeth. This can sometimes be caused by a problem with the lower jaw. A crossbite is when the upper teeth fit inside of lower teeth; this mainly affects the back teeth. Overcrowded teeth means that there is not enough room in the mouth to allow the teeth to be aligned. The teeth are pushed in front of or behind other teeth. Any of these malocclusions can be addressed with orthodontic care.

The most common patients in an orthodontist’s office are children. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that a child’s first check-up with an orthodontist be at age seven years. By that time, a child has enough permanent teeth for an orthodontist to evaluate how the teeth and jaw are developing. Orthodontists are trained to spot subtle problems, even in young patients. The outcome of this initial visit varies widely. The orthodontist may say that treatment will not be necessary, that treatment may be needed at an older age, or that there is a problem that is best treated while the child is very young.

The purpose of early orthodontic treatment is to avoid problems associated with how the face or jaw bones are growing. A child may need some orthodontic care at age seven or eight and then again a few years later. Most children who wear braces wear them for 18 months to three years. Anyone who has had braces will need to wear a retainer after treatment to keep the teeth from moving back. Teeth do move over time. When children do not continue to wear a retainer, their teeth may move so much that braces are needed again.

Though most orthodontic treatment is for children, adult orthodontics is more common now than ever before. Adults should consider a consultation with an orthodontist if they know their teeth have moved, if their dentist warns them of serious oral health problems if their bite is not corrected, if they have missing or worn down teeth, or if they have dental disease.

What makes the biggest difference in orthodontic care for adults versus orthodontic care for children and teens? Adults are no longer growing. While the nature of the treatment may be the same, adult treatment may take a bit longer because of increased maturity and density of the bone. As with kids, adult patients need to wear a retainer after orthodontic treatment.

Whether the patient is a child or an adult, an orthodontist can suggest different treatment options. Conventional metal braces are the most common type of braces and are what most of us are familiar with seeing—metal brackets on the teeth with a metal wire going from one bracket to the next. (In some cases, patients need only partial orthodontic treatment, in which case the number of brackets may be limited.) Clear braces are less noticeable than metal braces, but they work the same way. Another option is lingual braces, in which the brackets are attached to the lingual (tongue) side of the teeth. These may be beneficial to athletes who risk injury from brackets on the lip side of the teeth.

Many people are opting for Invisalign clear aligners. These are custom-fitted, clear, removable trays that fit over the teeth. You remove them while eating, drinking, or brushing your teeth (and also on special occasions, if you choose). Though clear aligners can be ordered without an orthodontist’s prescription, experts don’t recommend it. Do-it-yourself teeth aligners mean that you miss out on your orthodontist’s expertise in diagnosing and treating related oral problems.

Correcting your bite or crooked teeth with orthodontic treatment can bring you the healthy smile you’ve always wanted (or restore the one you used to enjoy!). Ask your family dentist for a recommendation today!

Sources for this article included: aaoinfo. org, dentistry.uic.edu, and medlineplus.gov.