An orthodontist is a dental professional who helps straighten teeth and deal with conditions that crooked or crowded ones could complicate. They recommend treatments to improve a person’s smile, bite, and facial appearance.
Orthodontics is the dental specialty dedicated to fixing irregularities in a patient’s mouth, including crooked teeth and bites that do not align properly. It is one of the nine recognized specialties in dentistry in the USA. They have often been referred to as teeth straightening dentists.
They also help with:
- Overbites and underbites do not align the top and bottom teeth together correctly.
- Crooked or crowded teeth can develop into gum disease.
- Difficulty chewing, speaking, or even sleeping comfortably.
- Crooked teeth may also be caused by congenital disabilities, developmental abnormalities, or bone diseases.
- Tooth crowding and spacing can lead to misaligned bites and jaw problems such as TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder).
- Crowded teeth can lead to decay and other dental problems.
- Chronic jaw pain or headaches may be the result of jaw misalignment.
- Clear braces, ceramic braces, lingual braces, Invisalign- clear aligners, and retainers.
Why Should You See an Orthodontist?
The growth and development of a person’s face are not always in sync with the growth of their teeth. Sometimes the treatments provided by these dentists are necessary to ensure that children have healthy facial growth. You should visit these dentists if you have any of the following conditions.
Jaw Misalignment
The jaws form the foundation of your face. It can also affect your eyes, ears, teeth, and even vocal cords when they are out of alignment. A misaligned jaw will not only leave you with an unattractive appearance but may also cause pain throughout your body. These dentists will determine if your jaw alignment needs attention and provide appropriate treatment.
Overcrowded Teeth or Spacing Issues
When the teeth in a person’s mouth do not align correctly, and there is insufficient room for them, this problem is called spacing issues. This can be caused when baby teeth are lost too early or when adult teeth come in at the wrong time. These issues can also be caused by genetics or bone diseases.
Gum Disease
Healthy gums are important for healthy teeth. The gums surround the teeth and hold them firmly in place. When they recede or disappear, you are prone to losing your dental structures. This can be prevented by early detection and treatment of gum disease issues. An orthodontist will suggest ways to prevent gum disease and set up a treatment plan.
Overbite or Underbite Issues
An overbite occurs when the top teeth are placed in front of the bottom, while an underbite is exactly the opposite. But both these conditions can affect your appearance and even your dental health because they make you more prone to developing cavities, bite issues, and jaw problems.
An overbite is a common issue with kids, especially during their teen years when bones and teeth are still growing. However, even smaller children can develop an overbite if they spend too much time sucking on a pacifier or thumb while they are teething.
An underbite is a condition that is caused by genetics or developmental abnormalities. It occurs when the lower jaw grows faster than the upper jaw, leading to a gap.
These dentists use several treatments to correct these problems, including braces and retainers. These orthodontic treatments are not painful and may even enhance the appearance of your teeth once they’re done.
Growth Disorders
When children grow faster than their teeth, this results in issues like overcrowding, spacing, and underbites or overbites. These dentists can easily diagnose these problems in kids who are still in their formative years and suggest ways to deal with them.
For example, if a child’s permanent teeth come in early or late than expected, then there may be larger gaps between baby and adult teeth that normally shouldn’t be there. And this makes the child more prone to losing their baby teeth at an earlier age than usual.
These dentists can set up a treatment plan to help children deal with these problems and ensure that they continue to grow in the right direction. They can also prevent some issues early on, so getting regular checkups from these dentists is important even if you don’t have any problems.
Overcrowded Teeth
When the teeth in a person’s mouth do not align correctly, and there is insufficient room for them, this problem is called spacing issues. This can be caused when baby teeth are lost too early or when adult teeth come in at the wrong time. These issues can also be caused by genetics or bone diseases.
These dentists will determine if your overcrowding needs attention and provide appropriate treatment. They will also recommend preventative measures to make sure you don’t face these problems in the future.
It’s important to get regular checkups from these dentists even if you don’t have any problems so that they can monitor your bone and dental development. If you have overcrowding or spacing issues, they will suggest appropriate treatments to address these concerns before they surface.
