Many people associate regular white teeth with health and beauty. However, if your teeth are not naturally straight, you can consider wearing orthodontic braces, both for aesthetic reasons, but also to manage any medical problems. How can you tell if your teeth will improve with braces? What can you do if you think you need it? There are a few simple considerations you can make to figure this out. Read on to learn more.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Examine the Teeth
Step 1. Check if your teeth are crowded or crooked
In this case, malocclusion may occur, i.e. an incorrect closure of the dental arches. Warning signs are teeth that appear to be positioned laterally, overlapping each other, or when they are quite prominent and farther away from the surrounding teeth. Crowding is generally the most common problem faced with the device.
You can use dental floss to determine if your teeth are crowded. If you have a lot of difficulty sliding it between your teeth, it means they are too close and tight together
Step 2. Understand how malocclusion can create problems for you
Teeth that are crowded or that are too close together can make proper cleaning difficult even for dentists. The buildup of plaque can cause abnormal enamel wear, tooth decay and gum disease.
There are many reasons that can cause crooked or crowded teeth. In some people, the mouth is simply too small to adequately accommodate all of the teeth, which then grow crooked and close together. In other people, however, this happens when wisdom teeth come out
Step 3. Check if the teeth seem too far apart
Crowding is not the only situation that can cause problems. If you are missing teeth, some are too small, or the gaps between them are large, chewing and jaw function can be impaired. The spacing between the teeth is another common problem that is faced with the appliance.
Step 4. Observe chewing
When you chew, your teeth should fit perfectly together. If there is a large space between the upper and lower ones or if one of the two arches protrudes significantly beyond the other, you may have chewing problems that must be corrected with the appliance.
- When the upper teeth close in front of the lower ones during chewing, it is called mandibular retrusion.
- If the lower teeth extend beyond the upper arch during chewing, this is referred to as mandibular protrusion.
- The upper teeth that are improperly positioned within the lower arch produce a crossbite, which can cause facial asymmetry if not corrected.
Step 5. Know how chewing problems can affect your situation
When the two arches are misaligned, it increases the likelihood that food particles get stuck between the teeth and decompose causing plaque. Food debris and plaque can lead to periodontal disease, gingivitis, tooth abscesses, and even tooth loss.
- Misaligned arches can also cause difficulty chewing, which in turn can cause pain in the jaws and even gastrointestinal upset.
- Misalignment of the jaws can cause tension and hardening of the muscles, and consequently also frequent headaches.
- Excessive mandibular retrusion can cause the anterior teeth of the lower arch to damage the gum tissue of the palate.
Part 2 of 4: Consider Other Symptoms
Step 1. Determine if you have any food stuck in your teeth
Usually, if any food residue remains between the teeth, it becomes a refuge for bacteria, which can lead to gum disease and tooth decay. Braces can help eliminate spaces or cracks between the teeth where food is deposited - and consequently where bacteria proliferate.
Step 2. Pay attention to your breath
If you often have bad breath, or persist even after brushing and flossing, it can be a sign that bacteria are trapped between crooked or crowded teeth.
Step 3. Listen to how you speak
If you notice blandness, it may be due to malocclusion or misaligned teeth. Also in this case, the device can help eliminate bland pronunciation by returning both the teeth and the jaw to the right position.
Step 4. See if you experience frequent jaw pain
If the jaw is not properly aligned, it can put additional strain on the temporomandibular joints, the joints that secure the jaw to the head. If you often have pain in this area, it may be necessary to put the appliance to align and reposition this bone correctly.
Part 3 of 4: Evaluating whether to put the device
Step 1. Consider why you want to wear the device
There can be many reasons why people choose to wear it. Sometimes it is simply a totally aesthetic choice, as many people associate straight white teeth with health and beauty, and there is nothing wrong with wanting a pearly white smile. However, there are also medical reasons to consider using the device.
Misalignment of chewing and malocclusion (crooked and / or crowded teeth that prevent proper closure of the two arches) are the most common causes that motivate the appliance
Step 2. Determine if you are willing to live with the device
If you are an adult, you usually have to wear it constantly for 12-20 months on average. Instead, most children and teenagers have to wear it for about 2 years. Furthermore, it is quite likely that it will also be necessary to wear a restraint (or maintenance) appliance for several months, once the orthodontic one has been removed. Make sure you are ready for such a long-term commitment.
There may also be the case in which adults have to wear the device for a longer time than children and teenagers. Furthermore, given that the facial bones of adults have stopped growing, the device is not always able to correct some problems (such as sleep apnea), which it can solve in children
Step 3. Talk to friends who already have the device
Especially if you are an adult who has never worn it before, listening to the experience of someone who has had it or still wears it can help you understand if orthodontics is a suitable solution for you.
Step 4. Determine if you can afford it
Standard metal braces generally cost between 3,000 and 5,000 euros. The more specific and customized ones, such as those in clear or "invisible" ceramic, are often much more expensive.
The Health Service in Italy does not provide for the coverage of orthodontic appliances. If you have taken out private health insurance, you can check whether this system falls within the costs covered
Step 5. Talk to a general dentist about your dental situation
Although dentists do not have the specialized training of orthodontists, they are still a good starting point for advice about your teeth. Your dentist can help you decide if you should go to an orthodontist to analyze your teeth and jaw in detail.
Your dentist can also point and recommend a good, reliable and experienced orthodontist in your area
Step 6. Ask your dentist about dental veneers
If your teeth are straight or not crooked enough to require realignment braces, veneers can be a good solution. Those in porcelain or ceramic are thin shells fixed on the front side of the teeth to improve their aesthetic appearance and offer immediate results.
Part 4 of 4: Get Professional Advice
Step 1. Ask the dentist for details about the orthodontic appliance
Your doctor may have an x-ray and chew test done to determine if you need to see a specialist orthodontist.
The dentist is also able to tell you if your teeth are crowded or just a little tight
Step 2. Consult an orthodontist
The Italian Orthodontic Specialists Association has a space on its website where you can find a qualified specialist by simply searching by location. Often you also have the opportunity to contact the doctor directly by email, to book a visit or ask for a quote.
Step 3. Learn about the different types of appliances available on the market
Fortunately, the days of hideous devices with external brackets and "iron mouths" are over. Based on your financial resources, dental needs and aesthetic preferences, you can choose from a variety of different appliances.
- Standard metallic ones are generally the least expensive and most effective option. However, some people may feel uncomfortable wearing too obvious a brace.
- Ceramic braces, the same color as your natural teeth, are placed on the front of the teeth, just like metal ones, but are less visible. However, they are a little less effective than metallic ones and also more prone to cracking or staining. In addition, they usually cost more than the standard ones.
- Invisible braces are very different from traditional ones. The most common type is Invisalign, which consists of a series of customized aligners that are applied to the teeth in order to move them gradually and position them correctly. Since it is necessary to procure several sets of specific aligners to gradually move the teeth, in the end Invisalign is the most expensive option; it is also not suitable if you have a chewing problem.
Step 4. Ask the orthodontist about any risks associated with the appliance
For almost everyone, wearing the device is a safe, albeit sometimes uncomfortable, procedure. However, there can sometimes be some related risks, so it's important to ask your dentist for more details.
- For some people, the appliance can cause a loss of tooth root length. While this is almost never a real problem, it can create tooth instability in some cases.
- If the teeth had been damaged previously, for example due to physical trauma or an accident, the tooth movement caused by the appliance can cause stains on the teeth or irritation of the dental nerve.
- If you do not carefully follow your doctor's instructions, the device may not adequately correct your problem. In addition, the effects of orthodontics may vanish once the appliance is removed.
Step 5. Consult your orthodontist regarding proper oral hygiene
If you decide to wear braces, you must pay close attention to your teeth, in order to prevent gum disease, tooth decay and decalcification.
Be aware that it is much more difficult to clean your teeth properly while wearing the appliance, especially the metal or ceramic one, because both are fixed to the teeth
Advice
- Brush your teeth after every meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner), if you are wearing the appliance.
- Braces are expensive, but some orthodontists allow you to pay for them in installments, rather than in one go. Inform yourself about these possibilities of payment in installments before proceeding with the purchase.
Warnings
- It is normal to feel some form of discomfort when wearing the device. However, if the pain is very intense or lasts more than a day or two after insertion or adjustment, contact your doctor to make sure there are no problems.
- Never try to straighten your teeth with home solutions or with kits purchased online; you could cause yourself serious damage to your teeth, infections and even permanent tooth loss.
