Getting you where you want to be
For many people, having teeth which are misaligned and crooked can be a daily and continual challenge. Not only having misaligned teeth can affect your ability to properly chew and pronounce certain words, but it can also have severely dire social implications and lead to a number of people feeling isolated and unhappy. However, the braces in Liverpool and orthodontic options of today offer patients far more choice and freedom to tailor their treatment to them.
Gone are the days of cumbersome metal head-gear, as now there are even ways to align your teeth without any unwitting person even knowing that a patient is undergoing treatment. Anyone who believes that the crookedness and misalignment of their teeth is impacting on how they look and feel, ought to contact their trusted orthodontist and begin taking steps towards a healthier dental future.
Why do I actually need orthodontics?
A large portion of people out there who are living with crooked, overlapping or poorly aligned teeth are not aware of the damage which this can ultimately bring to their overall dental health, and as such refrain from taking the appropriate steps in seeking treatment. If a patient’s teeth are poorly aligned then there is a far higher likelihood of food particles and bacteria becoming lodged within the spaces between these misaligned teeth.
If these bacteria are missed when brushing – as they often are, given their difficult to reach locations – then it can cause plaque and tartar to develop. These, if left unremoved, may lead to gingivitis or periodontal disease developing which could ultimately result in the loss of the tooth itself. Therefore, in the name of preserving good oral health, anyone who has misaligned or crooked teeth ought to contact their orthodontist and assess their options.
What orthodontics are available?
Historically there were very little options visible for people who had crooked teeth, short of traditional, fused metal braces. These braces operate through the attachment of metal brackets to the front of a patient’s teeth. Pressure is then applied to the patient’s teeth through a metal wire which is attached to these brackets. Over time this wire causes the tooth’s position to shift until it is in the desired alignment.
Conventional braces such as these are a quick and reliable method of correcting dental misalignment, although they are often said to have a negative impact on the outward aesthetic of patients. As such, it is now possible to opt for ‘clear braces’ instead. These operate in a similar function to conventional braces, although they are made from a clear or tooth colored ceramic so they blend in better and are less noticeable.
Cosmetic braces
Another option which is now easily and readily available for those who are wishing to realign their teeth, but do not wish to attract any attention to their teeth throughout treatment, is Lingual braces. These operate through a similar methodology to traditional braces, although they are especially fitted to the interior of a patient’s mouth so they are obscured from the front.
Another, relatively new form of ‘discreet orthodontics’ is the removable appliance system. This method does not require anything to be attached or bonded to a patient’s teeth and operates entirely from a set of custom-made retainers which use pressure points to gradually align crooked teeth. As these retainers are made from thin, transparent plastic, they are almost completely invisible when worn.