Do You Need Orthodontic Braces?

By Author: Ruben Marcus
Total Articles: 18
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Orthodontic treatment is not only an expensive cosmetic procedure; it may be recommended by your dentist for maintaining and enhancing your overall dental health. From aligning your teeth properly to giving you a great smile, orthodontic braces help in many ways. But the question is: Do you need them?

First let’s learn about a common teeth line and bite problem known as malocclusion. It covers three major issues of misalignment:

• Class I: This refers to the problem of spacing or crowding of teeth.

• Class II: This type of dental issue is also known as overbite. In this case, the lower first molar is positioned more at the back of the mouth as compared to a regular teeth line, so the upper jaw seems to protrude outwards.

• Class III: The lower first molar is positioned slightly closer to the front of the mouth; hence the lower jaw protrudes forward. It is also known as under bite.

If your dentist diagnoses that you have any of these above mentioned problems or crooked teeth, incorrect jaw position and other disorders ...
... of the jaw joints then you must get braces. With the help of ceramic or metal braces, all of these problems are corrected. If left untreated, these problems can result in tooth decay, gum disease, headaches and earaches, as well as speaking, biting or chewing problems.

Orthodontic treatment may help at almost any age for teeth alignment, but the ideal time would be between 10 to 14 years of age, when the mouth and overall head structure is in the growing phase.

You even have the option of choosing braces that suit your budget. For instance, you may go for invisible ones that look completely natural or metal ones that are relatively more affordable. The treatment may go on for about 12 to 24 months depending on your dental issue and age.

It is best to visit your dentist and a specialized orthodontist to fix your dental problems before these issues cause serious damage to your dental health.