Braces have been a time-tested, tried and true method used for straightening teeth for hundreds of years. And though Invisalign has become a popular method for moving teeth into alignment, there are still some cases where traditional braces are the better choice, primarily when we're dealing with complicated bite concerns.
Here's what you should know when considering braces or Invisalign to straighten your teeth.
Why Straight Teeth Are Important
Your smile is one of your greatest assets, and when your teeth are crooked, it may cause you to feel self-conscious about smiling confidently. A beautiful smile can boost your confidence and impact your relationships to the point where people may find you more friendly and approachable.
Several health benefits accompany straight teeth:
- Enhanced oral hygiene: Straight teeth are easier to brush and floss, reducing your chances of developing tooth decay and gum disease.
- Improved bite alignment: When your bite is aligned correctly, you can often avoid painful jaw joint problems that can sometimes become quite debilitating.
- Better chewing function: When your teeth align correctly, you can chew, eat, and enjoy your food much easier.
The benefits of orthodontics in North York can truly be life-changing.
Creating the Ideal Bite
Besides teeth straightening, one of the primary goals of traditional orthodontics is to correct the bite, and braces are often the ideal choice. Here are some of the bite concerns we can fix with orthodontic treatment:
- Crossbite: When upper teeth are "stuck" behind lower teeth. This can impact jaw growth in children if it's not corrected and also cause excessive tooth wear.
- Underbite: When the lower jaw protrudes over the upper jaw. It can make chewing difficult and lead to tooth wear and gum loss. It also impacts facial appearance as the lower jaw protrudes forward.
- Tooth misalignment or rotation: It can be difficult to brush and floss misaligned teeth, resulting in a higher chance of developing tooth decay and gum disease.
- Gaps or spaces between teeth: Spacing between teeth can trap food and result in tooth decay.
- Open bite: When back teeth meet, but front teeth don't. An open bite could make chewing and swallowing difficult and also cause speech problems.
- Overbite: An overbite is when the top jaw protrudes over the lower jaw. It can make chewing difficult, leave teeth prone to breakage, or lead to dry mouth due to difficulties completely closing your lips.
- Overlapped teeth: Teeth that overlap act as a food trap and may be challenging to keep clean with routine brushing and flossing.
While Invisalign can correct some of these problems, if you have complex bite issues, your North York dentist may recommend traditional braces because they can consistently achieve the best results because the force they can apply is greater than Invisalign.
Choosing Braces for Your Smile
Braces consist of brackets and wires attached to your teeth, moving them into alignment over time. Braces will consistently achieve the best results and the most beautiful smiles. Treatment timelines will vary depending on your tooth alignment needs.
These days, braces don't always have to be made of metal if discretion is a concern. Ceramic brackets and wires are tooth-coloured and less noticeable than traditional metal braces.
There are some foods to be aware of to avoid with braces. Biting into hard or sticky foods could knock or pull brackets off your teeth, prolonging treatment times if the problems become excessive.
Keeping Brackets and Wires Clean
One of the most critical factors of orthodontic treatment with braces is keeping your teeth clean. Brushing and flossing around brackets and wires is more difficult and can require extra time. However, oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment has never been more critical because plaque buildup around brackets and wires can lead to tooth staining, decay, and cavities when the braces are removed.
Choosing Invisalign for Your Smile
You may have the option of choosing Invisalign over braces to straighten your teeth. Instead of brackets and wires, Invisalign uses clear aligners that comfortably fit over your teeth and move them over time. Invisalign in North York offers several benefits that our patients love:
- Discretion: Clear aligners are virtually invisible, so no one will notice you're straightening your teeth.
- Ease: Aligners are removable, which makes brushing and flossing easy during treatment.
- Comfort: Clear aligners are smooth and more comfortable to wear than brackets and wires.
- No restrictions: You won't have food or dietary restrictions with braces since aligners are removable.
Your dentist can tell you if Invisalign is an option for your smile during your evaluation.
How Can I Get Started on Straightening My Teeth?
If you're considering straightening your teeth, you can learn more about your options by booking an evaluation with one of our dentists. At Emery Village Dental, we offer comprehensive orthodontic treatment. No matter which type of treatment you choose, we can guide you through the entire process from start to finish.
Book your evaluation online or by calling our team at (437) 900-8266.
