Oral health is an integral part of your overall well-being, and the role that an orthodontist plays in this regard is critical. For many people, orthodontics is a foreign term. For others, an orthodontist is a dentist with a fancier name. This is not the case, though.
Orthodontics is a specialized field of dentistry that comprises professionals who deal with problems of alignment in the teeth. From braces to retainers and crowns, orthodontists focus on fixing crooked teeth.
So, what are the benefits of orthodontic treatment? Well, if you’re someone who has lost the confidence to smile because of the improper arrangement of their teeth, orthodontists can offer a wide range of benefits. Through the use of modern tools, techniques, and technologies, these professionals use relatively painless processes to return your confidence to smile. For someone who deals with this issue on a regular basis, this is a benefit enough.
Still, there are many other benefits of orthodontic treatment. Before we dive into them, let’s discuss a few basic things first.
Who is an orthodontist?
As per the Oxford dictionary, an orthodontist is a specialized dentist with the qualifications and experience to treat irregularities of the teeth and jaws. You must have heard of treatments like braces and retainers. These, along with fixed or removable dental equipment like bands, fall under the services that orthodontists like the professionals at DiCiccio Freeman Orthodontic clinic provide.
What does the orthodontic treatment include?
Many people have irregularities in their teeth or gums. These include crowding, crookedness, and excessive separation between teeth. Additionally, biting issues like underbites or overbites, as well as misalignment of jaws, are also problems orthodontists treat. An overbite occurs when the upper front teeth protrude further from the bottom ones. As for an underbite, it is the opposite of an overbite, where the bottom front teeth are extended beyond the upper front teeth.
Orthodontic treatments are long-term solutions to common dental problems. Issues like crooked teeth, crowding, underbite, or overbite involve the removal of certain teeth at times and then using appliances like metal braces or invisible aligners or correct the positioning. In other words, orthodontists alter the natural biological mechanism of your dental cavity. The treatment process starts with a comprehensive assessment of the current structure of the mouth through dental records, x-rays, and synthetic models. The final treatment strategy is crafted based on the results of these examinations.
Benefits of orthodontic treatment
1. Offers a road to better oral health
Misaligned, crooked, or crowded teeth are a nightmare to clean. Normal toothbrushes are unable to reach many of the places that they generally would when the teeth are in their correct placement. As a result, people with misaligned teeth are at greater risk of having food particles stuck between their teeth. This can lead to cavities and tooth decay. Therefore, through orthodontic treatment, patients can improve their oral health significantly. Braces or Invisalign, which are braces made out of clear plastic, can bring back teeth into proper alignment allowing proper brushing.
2. Mitigates the risk of numerous oral diseases
If you take a look at images of common orthodontic problems, a list of which is available here, you’ll realize why people with these problems find it harder to clean their teeth. Food particles and other elements can get lodged in hard-to-reach places and are difficult to get free. Resultantly, there are risks of many diseases emerging. Periodontal infections are among the issues that become hard to manage with teeth that are misaligned.
Orthodontists can bring the alignment back to remove the chances of gum diseases and cavities. This is another major benefit of orthodontic treatment.
3. Can identify and limit the signs of TMJ disorders
The Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a sliding hinge that connects the skull to the jawbone. The movement that human jaws can make relies on the TMJ. At the same time, though, this joint has a common problem. Known as Temporomandibular disorders (TMD), these are ailments arising in the muscles, joints, and nerves surrounding the TMJ. In people who suffer from orthodontic problems, the occurrence of TMD is far more common.
This is particularly the case with people who suffer from an overbite or underbite. The atypical biting relationship these individuals have means that the natural spectrum of motion for talking and eating is under compromise. Fixing the alignment of the jaws can mitigate the risks of TMD arising since the teeth are now back in place. This relieves a lot of the stress on the muscles, joints, and nerves, thus making the movement of the TMJ more seamless.
4. Better functionality and confidence
One of the biggest problems that people with misalignment of teeth face is that they have functionality problems. Their tendency to chew, bite and even open their mouth completely is affected. This results in their diet becoming limited and digestion capabilities suffering as well. These problems can be rectified through orthodontic treatment, allowing people to bite and chew much better. Overall, patients can improve the functionality of their jaws extensively.
Moreover, studies have shown that the position of teeth significantly impacts people’s confidence when smiling. Crooked, crowded, and misaligned teeth can make it harder for people to freely and uncompromisingly express feelings of joy. So, another substantial benefit of orthodontic treatment is that it gives you back the confidence and ability to smile as your heart desires.
Technology has even made it possible for traditional metal braces to be replaced with clear aligners that are invisible and preferable for people who think the former will make it harder for them to show their teeth.
5. Has substantial long-term benefits for the health of your teeth
All in all, the collective benefits of orthodontic treatments are sustainable. The effects stretch over long periods of time. People can get rid of issues like a higher risk of dental diseases and TMDs through various procedures. It is best to consult an orthodontist early on because if the misalignment of teeth leads to more problems, other irreversible conditions may arise. Ultimately, the situation can go from bad to worse quite rapidly.
Conclusion
The benefits of orthodontic treatment range from improving the functionality of jaws, and a more confident smile, all the way to reducing the risk of cavities and other disorders arising over time. For people who suffer from various issues that fall under the orthodontic domain, it is best to schedule appointments and undergo assessments at the earliest so that the chances of facing difficulties later on in life can be lowered significantly.
