6 Orthodontic Treatments That Can Help Fix Dental Issues

Orthodontic problems like teeth overlapping, overcrowding, or crookedness can affect your smile and self-confidence and cause many problems. For instance, these issues can trap food between teeth and also make teeth harder to clean, leading to plaque and tartar buildup. These deposits release harmful acids that erode teeth and gums, causing decay and gum disease. Crooked teeth are also vulnerable to trauma or injury during accidents.

Similarly, if the upper teeth don’t fit with the lower teeth perfectly upon closing the mouth, it can lead to tooth damage and gum recession and damage. Teeth misalignments can also affect oral function, making it difficult to pronounce certain words and chew harder food.

Our orthodontics in Randolph, MA, can give you a solution to align your teeth and jaw to improve your smile and prevent these complications. An orthodontist is a dental professional that specializes in orthodontics. They have special training in treating a wide range of jaw, teeth, and facial-related issues, including:

• Dental crowding
• Crossbites
• Improper teeth gaps
• Improper bite
• Impacted teeth
• Improper teeth eruption

Orthodontic treatments entail adjusting, shifting, and improving these issues, improving your oral appearance, function, and health.

Types of Orthodontic Treatments

• Dental braces

Traditional braces are orthodontic treatments for correcting teeth misalignments and straightening teeth. There are three main types of braces: metal, lingual, and self-ligating braces. Metal braces are the most common braces.

The dentist fixes metal wires and brackets on teeth, gradually applying pressure and moving them in the desired direction. Since these braces are noticeable, now there are more tooth-colored options.

Lingual braces are attached to the inner side of the teeth and work like metal braces. With self-ligating braces, they don’t use elastic bands to keep the braces in place. Instead, they use a built-in system, making them comfortable and easier to clean.

• Clear aligners like Invisalign

If you don’t like having fixed attachments on your teeth, you can consider Invisalign. Invisalign is a clear aligner that uses clear or invisible trays to align your bite. Thanks to their transparency, they are hardly noticeable and an excellent option to straighten your teeth discreetly.

Unlike braces, Invisalign trays can be removed at will. You should remove your Invisalign aligners when eating, drinking, brushing, or cleaning them. Your diet is unlimited. You can eat and drink whatever you want if you clean your teeth before returning the trays.

Compared to conventional braces, Invisalign trays are more comfortable. They provide a solution to align your smile without undergoing multiple painful adjustment procedures. In case of an accident, Invisalign aligners are less likely to cause significant injuries than wires and braces could cause.

• Headgear

Headgear is a less preferred type of orthodontic treatment. While it corrects misalignments on the back teeth, it also helps align the front teeth. Since headgear can limit your ability to do some things, it’s commonly used in the evenings and nights. A headgear can misalign your front teeth if used incorrectly, causing them to protrude outwards.

• Retainers

After your teeth alignment treatment, the dentist can recommend wearing a retainer to maintain the new position of your smile. A retainer can be removable or fixed. Retainers are made according to your specific jaw and teeth structures. They hold your teeth in place, ensuring your new change is permanent. You can wear the aligner daily or a few times a week (follow your dentist’s instructions).

• Orthognathic Treatment

An orthognathic treatment is a surgical procedure to fix abnormally positioned jaws that cause teeth to look out of alignment. The surgery can reposition either or both jaws.

• Teeth Extraction

In some cases, like impacted or overcrowded teeth, the dentist can recommend tooth extracting your natural tooth. In children, a baby tooth can be removed to pave the way for the permanent teeth to grow in proper alignment.

Schedule an Appointment Today With our Dentist in Randolph

Would you like to learn more about orthodontic dental issues and treatments? Contact our dentist at Randolph Dental Group to speak with our orthodontist near you.