Braces

Everyone wants a perfect smile, but very few are born with one. There are two reasons many people will have some kind of “orthodontic treatment” to create their ideal smile. The first is to give them self-confidence that will affect both their careers and personal lives. Second, straightening teeth and improving the bite will make it much easier to keep their oral health in good condition, since crooked teeth and misaligned bites can lead to cavities, periodontal (gum) disease, and impact damage.

Problems with bites are very common and at any given time four million Americans of all ages are undergoing treatment using what are known as orthodontic braces. These traditional braces are the most common way to treat even the most complicated cases and can start when permanent teeth are all in, typically 12-14, but a quarter of all those wearing braces are now adults. Another reason they are the first choice is they are relatively inexpensive compared with other orthodontic solutions.

The main reason so many wait so long to have this done is because as teens they heard from those wearing braces that they were very uncomfortable, especially after they were tightened every 3-10 weeks, depending on the case. However, discomfort can be reduced with OTC pain relievers. Others knew friends who felt embarrassed by having “metal mouths” (the more prominent headgear is just for the young whose bones are still growing and have severe cases like overbites and even this can be worn just while sleeping or at home, rather than at school or work).

The other common objection to standard braces is to the dietary restrictions, the need to avoid sticky and very hard foods, and the challenge of cleaning around the braces very carefully. But this is a small price to pay for a relatively short time to be able to have a beautiful smile the rest of your life (if only a few teeth are crooked, this might take a few months, but full-mouth treatment is more typically about two years).

Call Garden Grove Dental & Orthodontics today to set up an appointment for a full dental exam and to discuss what your best orthodontic options are.