The appearance of your smile should matter to you, especially in the cosmetic-savvy generation we are in today. As many people gear toward aesthetically pleasing adjustments in their body, do not hold back from improving the appearance of your smile. Not only that, but you can boost the functionality of your mouth.
Orthodontic dentistry is a special specialty in dentistry that provides for both these oral needs, uniquely becoming a solution that helps children and adults alike.
What is Orthodontics?
It is the process of straightening teeth in the mouth by applying controlled pressure. It involves using specially designed oral appliances that place controlled pressure on teeth over a pre-determined period, to move and rotate teeth in the proper direction. The role of orthodontics in Pearland, TX, is to improve the appearance of teeth and boost the functionality of your mouth.
What many don’t know is that when teeth are poorly aligned in your mouth, they make it difficult to eat properly, bite, and even speak. Such issues can be corrected through orthodontic treatments.
Facts You Must Know About Orthodontics
Before any dental treatment, you should determine to study up, so that you know exactly what to anticipate. Still, studying in advance does not beat an intense conversation with your dentist during a consultation in orthodontics near you. It only helps you prepare enough for the procedure awaiting you. Some important facts to master include:
- Soreness is part of the treatment – the orthodontic procedures work against the natural alignment of your teeth. This means that the pressure applied to your teeth to move them will cause some soreness. However, the soreness does not last forever. It is usually more pronounced during the initial moment of adjustment of your teeth aligners. After a couple of days, you will get used to the pressure on your teeth.
- Tooth extraction may be necessary – if you have an overcrowded mouth, a dental extraction may be necessary. It involves the removal of an otherwise healthy tooth, to create room in your mouth for the rest of your teeth. The extraction process is only done if necessary so that the rest of your teeth can fit in your jawbone without overlapping each other.
- It is more effective when done early in life – kids benefit more from orthodontic treatment than adults. Ideally, both can get amazing results from orthodontics, but the treatment works better for younger audiences. The process of moving and rotating teeth is more effective when the bone structure of your mouth is still forming, which is when you are young. This way, the changes made by an orthodontist near you are likely to be more permanent without the risk of regression as you age. In adulthood, however, the results may require reinforcement from other orthodontic appliances to sustain the new alignment of your teeth.
- Treatment takes time – many orthodontic treatments last between 6 months and a year. However, some take a lot longer, taking up to 2 years. It usually depends on several factors, including, the complexity of malpositioning, your body’s ability to heal and generate new bone tissue, the type of orthodontic appliance you get, how well you adhere to your treatment plan, to mention a few. Your dentist in orthodontics in Pearland will brief you on the many factors that influence the success of your treatment.
- Different oral appliances are used – orthodontics Pearland is known for braces. Many people assume that treatments in this specialty in dentistry only involve the use of metal braces. However, there are many other oral appliances involved in successful treatment. For one, some patients do not get metal braces. Instead, they get Invisalign®, Lingual braces, to mention a few. Other than the varieties in types of braces, other oral appliances are needed. For example, after your treatment, you will need to wear retainers. They are appliances used to hold teeth in place after they have been realigned. The retainers have to be worn for a long time, with some patients needing them for the rest of their lives. Such matters are important to discuss with your dentist before you start any treatment.