Crooked or misaligned teeth? You’re not alone. It’s a common condition that affects plenty of people. The problem with misaligned teeth is not just that they can look unsightly, but they can also have an adverse effect on your overall oral health.
The good news is that the right dental procedure can straighten your teeth and transform your smile. Take a look at all the different ways you can have your teeth straightened so you are better informed when you visit your dentist.
Effective Dental Options To Straighten Your Teeth
1. Veneers
Veneers do not exactly straighten your teeth out because these are thin shells that attach to the front of the teeth to improve their shape, color, and size. However, if you’re only dealing with minor misalignments, these prosthetics are perfect for improving the appearance of crooked teeth.
2. Dental Crowns
Dental crowns fix cracked, broken, and decayed teeth by acting as a sort of cap for the entire tooth so that it won’t be damaged further. In doing so, crowns also restore the shape and appearance of teeth. Like veneers, crowns may be suggested by your dentist if the misalignments to correct are minor.
3. Braces
Braces are the most recognizable way of straightening out teeth as well as fixing overbites, overjets, overcrowding, crossbites, and gaps. With braces, metal or ceramic brackets are glued to the front of the teeth with rubber bands and an archwire connecting these brackets to control movement.
If front-facing braces are too obvious for you, you also have the option of asking for lingual braces. These act much the same as ceramic or metal braces, except that the brackets in lingual braces are attached to the back of your teeth instead.
On the downside, lingual braces are somewhat more uncomfortable than traditional braces. They also cost more due to the intricacy of the procedure.
Treatment time for all braces typically takes around 6 to 36 months, depending on the severity of the misalignment.
4. Aligners
Aligners are popular alternatives to braces because they are a more discreet option to teeth straightening and are far more comfortable to wear than braces. An aligner is just one clear plastic tray that is custom-fitted and removable.
Patients usually wear one aligner a week before shifting to a new aligner set to safely shift teeth to their correct position.
These usually work faster than braces and typically cost the same as braces.
How Do Straight Teeth Benefit You?
Straight teeth are great smile enhancers and self-esteem boosters. Not only that, but the benefits to teeth are plenty:
1. Properly aligned teeth are more resilient against wear and tear.
2. Aligned teeth let you chew and speak better.
3. Having straight teeth gives you a reduced risk of developing jaw issues, neck and head pain (some bite issues cause neck pain and headaches!), and TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder).
We can help you get the perfect smile!
Straight and even teeth look good on anyone, and we can help you achieve that. Call us at 541-708-6288 to book an appointment.
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