Gapped teeth are common, and are usually the result of tooth misalignment or the size of your jaw as related to the size of your teeth. While some patients have aesthetic and functional concerns about their gapped teeth, others won’t. Either way, orthodontic treatment is typically a very straightforward way to fix gaps for most patients [1].

But do you really need to fix the gaps in your teeth? Here’s what you need to know.

A Gap Between the Front Teeth Can Cause Crowded Teeth or Bite Problems

For some people with a larger gap between their two front teeth, this spacing may not leave enough room for the neighboring teeth to come in properly, which can cause issues with tooth alignment and corresponding bite problems [2].

These issues can cause jaw pain, crooked or crowded teeth, or even an increased risk for tooth decay or gum disease. Crowded teeth can make it difficult to properly clean each tooth, which can cause plaque to build up in the mouth.

If you have chronic or intermittent jaw pain, or have crooked or crowded teeth along with your gap, it could be time to seek an orthodontic evaluation.

For Some Patients, Gapped Teeth Could Be a Sign of Gum Disease

If you notice your teeth are changing and gaps in your smile are either developing or existing gaps are becoming wider over time, this could be a sign of gum disease.

When plaque and bacteria irritate the gum tissue, it can lead to chronic inflammation and infection, which are seen in cases of more advanced gum disease. As gum disease progresses, the connective tissue that helps hold your teeth in place is damaged, and teeth can become looser [3].

All of this in addition to receding gum tissue can cause your teeth to appear more gapped than usual. Gum disease doesn’t go away on its own, and will require professional treatment from your dentist to remedy!

Your Gapped Teeth May Be Fine

There are many reasons a person’s teeth might be gapped, from genetics to lifestyle factors to even oral disease as we’ve seen. But for some people, gapped teeth don’t cause problems, and many people choose to keep their gapped teeth and forgo orthodontic treatment.

If you have any adverse oral health symptoms, schedule an appointment with your dentist for an exam. He or she may refer you to an orthodontist for a more comprehensive evaluation of your gapped teeth to determine if they could be causing a problem.

Depending on your unique smile, gapped teeth may not be an orthodontic concern, although for some, they can be a cosmetic one. Getting treatment for gapped teeth is ultimately your choice, and your oral healthcare professionals can let you know more about your smile when you go in for an appointment!

Sources:
1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/diastema
2. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/teeth-gapped-
3. https://www.efp.org/patients/what-is-periodontitis.html

The post Are Gapped Teeth Really an Orthodontic Concern? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

You have modern options besides traditional metal braces if you’re concerned about your appearance while receiving treatment. Many adults are finally getting the treatment they need to have a pain-free, straight smile they can enjoy for life!

So what are some of your options for getting straighter teeth as an adult?

Invisalign

Invisalign clear aligners are a popular choice for adults who may not want others to know they’re receiving treatment [2].

How does Invisalign work? Instead of wires and brackets, Invisalign uses clear aligners that are custom made for your smile to gently shift your teeth into place. Many patients find Invisalign more comfortable and easier to wear than braces.

Another advantageous feature of Invisalign is that it’s removable. You can take the aligners out when eating and cleaning your teeth, which not only means you’ll have better oral hygiene during your treatment as opposed to regular braces, but you also won’t have the eating restrictions that come with regular braces.

Damon Braces

Damon braces are self-litigating braces, meaning they self-adjust and don’t require regular adjustments the way normal braces do. In fact, research shows that patients with self-litigating braces reported less pain and discomfort during their treatment than those with regular braces [3].

One of the features adults love about Damon braces is their clear brackets, minimizing their appearance on the smile while still allowing you to receive effective treatment. Their discreet presence means some people may not even realize you’re wearing an orthodontic appliance!

Lingual Braces

For a unique orthodontic option, you may consider lingual braces. Lingual braces are just like traditional braces, but instead of the brackets being placed on the side of your teeth that people will see, lingual braces are placed on the backs of your teeth—meaning no one will see that you’re getting treatment!

Lingual braces provide patients a way to take advantage of all the benefits of traditional braces but without the appearance of them. With lingual braces, each bracket is customized to fit your unique smile, and some patients find the customized brackets more comfortable than those with regular braces [4].

To qualify for lingual braces, your teeth will need to be large enough to accommodate the brackets on the inside. Only your professional orthodontist can tell if you’d qualify for this form of treatment!

Schedule an Appointment with Your Orthodontist Today

With all the options available to you as an adult for straightening your teeth, why wait? Schedule an appointment with your local orthodontist today to learn more about each of these and more treatment options for finally getting your smile straight!

Sources:
1. https://www.aaoinfo.org/_/adult-orthodontics/
2. https://progressinorthodontics.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40510-018-0235-z
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4151365/ 4.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273813387_Lingual_Orthodontics_simplifie

The post It’s Never Too Late for Braces: Check Out Your Options appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Due to genetics, some people have smaller mouths that aren’t able to accommodate every
single tooth. When this happens, teeth are often pushed up against one another and can
become crowded.

Crowded teeth aren’t just difficult to clean, they can increase your risk for tooth decay and can
even cause jaw pain in some cases. You can correct your crowded teeth to experience a healthy
and functional smile with the following options.

Invisalign

Invisalign consists of a set of clear aligners that will be changed every few weeks to help your
teeth shift into their correct positions. Invisalign is completely removable and should be
removed when you eat, but the trays will need to be worn for a minimum of 20 hours every
day.

Invisalign is a discreet form of treatment that’s effective at resolving a variety of orthodontic
issues and can help your crowded teeth move into their proper positions for a beautiful smile.

Braces

Braces are one of the most efficient treatments to correct crowded teeth and get a straight
smile in a relatively short period of time. Fortunately, you have several options for braces today
rather than just traditional metal braces. These include:

 Lingual braces. These braces are placed on the backs of your teeth to provide a
treatment that’s virtually invisible if you’re worried about the appearance of regular
braces.

 Damon braces. Damon braces use clear brackets which make them less noticeable.
These braces are also self-litigating, which means they require less adjustments and
fewer orthodontic visits for your busy schedule.

 Ceramic braces. Ceramic braces use brackets that match your tooth color—and in some
cases, wire that does as well—in order to provide a form of treatment that adults will
appreciate.

An orthodontist can help you determine if your crowded teeth would respond better to one of
these options so that you can enjoy a straighter smile!

Veneers

For those who aren’t keen on orthodontic treatment and want a simpler way to correct their
crowded teeth, you may be able to qualify for dental veneers.

Dental veneers are shells of thin yet strong ceramic that are placed over your natural teeth.
Veneers are an irreversible form of treatment, so it’s important to consider all aspects of
veneers with your dentist before proceeding.

While not everyone with crowded teeth will qualify for veneers, some people may be able to
have veneers bonded over their teeth to improve their appearance and forgo orthodontic
treatment.

Crowded teeth are often embarrassing and difficult to maintain and may even cause pain. For
people who want to correct their crowded teeth, you can discuss the following options with
your dentist or orthodontist. Don’t wait to fix your crowded teeth today—you can enjoy your
smile again with these treatment options!

The post Options for Correcting Your Crowded Teeth appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Different types of braces will have different treatment times. Here’s what you can expect when
it comes to your options for orthodontics!

Traditional Braces

Traditional metal braces—which consist of brackets and wires—are going to be one of the most
affordable options. However, they do come with the longest amount of treatment time, which
is an average of 24 months, or two years.

For some people, traditional braces will only be needed for 12 months; for others, their
treatment may extend beyond two years. Remember that ceramic braces are the same as
traditional braces, just with white brackets and wires, so the treatment time will be the same.

Damon Braces

Damon braces are also called self-ligating braces. This means they don’t need to be adjusted
and will adjust themselves as your teeth move into place. Damon braces are becoming very
popular in orthodontics because they tend to be less painful and easier for both patients and
orthodontists to maintain.

Damon braces also offer patients the advantage of having a treatment time that’s six months
shorter than that of traditional braces. Although individual cases will vary, Damon braces are a
popular alternative to regular braces.

Invisalign

Invisalign is another popular alternative to braces that’s not actually braces at all, but a series of
clear aligners that change every few weeks as your teeth shift. Although Invisalign can’t treat
every orthodontic issue, it can treat a wide variety of alignment and bite problems in patients.

The average treatment time for Invisalign is just 12 months, making it even more popular for
adults who want virtually invisible treatment in just half the time of traditional braces.

Lingual Braces

Lingual braces are just like traditional braces, but they’re on the backside of your teeth rather
than the front. Not everyone will qualify for these braces, as you’ll need to have large enough
teeth to accommodate the braces on the sides of your teeth facing your tongue.

Lingual braces typically have a treatment time that’s less than traditional braces, with 12-24
months being the average.

Accelerated Braces

There are tools that can be used to accelerate the process of orthodontics, such as Propel.
Propel is a tool used by orthodontists that stimulates your alveolar bone (the bone surrounding
your teeth). This helps to speed up the process and make braces more effective and less painful
with predictable results.

When acceleration methods such as Propel are used in combination with regular braces or
Invisalign, patients can expect an average treatment time of just 8-12 months.

Ready for Braces?

Are you curious about what type of braces will work best for you? You can explore your options
with a qualified orthodontist who will review any issues that need to be addressed with your
smile as well as the treatment options that are available to you.

From traditional braces to Invisalign to the more creative lingual, Damon, and accelerated, you
have options for straightening your smile!

The post What Is the Average Treatment Time for Wearing Orthodontic Braces? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Fortunately, your teenager does have alternatives to getting braces. From clear braces to ones
that are totally hidden—and those that are invisible—here are your top options to straighten
those teeth before your teen becomes and adult!

Invisalign

Invisalign is truly the most invisible way to straighten your teen’s teeth. This method of
orthodontia uses sets of clear aligner trays that your teenager will progress through as their
teeth move into place. Invisalign aligners are fully removable and virtually invisible, very unlike
regular metal braces.

If your teenager wants treatment that’s subtle, Invisalign can fix many issues that teenagers
need corrected including overbites, gapped teeth, crowded teeth, underbites, and more. The
treatment time will be unique to your teen’s smile, but is comparable to that of traditional
braces. With fewer orthodontic visits and invisible treatment, Invisalign is an attractive option!

Lingual Braces

These unique braces are just like traditional braces but with a twist—the braces go on the other
side of your teeth! Lingual braces are designed to work like regular braces but are hidden
behind your teeth so that no one will know your teenager is getting their smile corrected from
the inside out.

Not everyone is a candidate for lingual braces, as the side of the teeth facing the tongue needs
to be large enough on all teeth to accommodate the brackets and wires. Your orthodontist can
evaluate your child’s teeth for lingual braces if your teen is interested in these as an option for
their orthodontic treatment.

Damon Braces

Damon braces again mimic traditional braces but instead use clear brackets and arched wires to
have a more neutral appearance. In addition to their subtle appearance, damon braces focus on
a slide mechanism to move with the teeth as they shift into their proper positions, rather than
using brackets like traditional braces do.

These braces are designed to not be as obvious as regular braces as well as to be more
comfortable, since they apply less pressure and work with the teeth as they move. Other
benefits include having a speedy treatment time, less maintenance, and being appearance-
friendly for your teenager!

Does your teen need braces but is balking at the idea of having a “metal mouth”? These days,
you both have options for more attractive, subtle, and effective forms of orthodontia to still get
that straight smile without having regular braces. Visit your orthodontist today to discuss your
teen’s options for getting a perfect smile!

The post My Teenager Doesn’t Want Braces. What Are My Alternatives? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Here are your options for getting that straight smile incognito!

Damon Braces

Damon braces utilize clear brackets, but there’s more to these braces that sets them apart. They’re self-ligating, which means they move with your teeth as they adjust due to memory wire and sliding brackets. They slowly align your teeth while using less force than regular braces.

Damon braces are an attractive option for adults because of their clear brackets, faster treatment time, and less maintenance. Perfect for busy adults! You have the option of using clear wire instead of metal wire to make your treatment even more invisible to others.

Lingual braces

Have you heard of lingual braces? These braces come with twist—they’re on the other side of your teeth. They’re placed on the inner side of your tooth to move your teeth into position without ever being seen from the outside. They work just like traditional braces to move your teeth.

Lingual braces will need to be custom made for your smile and your teeth will need to be big enough to accommodate the brackets. Your orthodontist can evaluate your candidacy for lingual braces based on your unique smile.

Invisalign

Invisalign is perhaps the option for invisible braces that most people have heard of. Invisalign will align your teeth but without metal brackets or wires. Instead, your orthodontist will use a set of clear trays that are custom-fitted for your smile. You’ll need to wear these trays over 20 hours a day but can take them out when you eat, an advantage braces can’t offer.

Invisalign is perfect for those who want a straight smile but want their treatment to be totally invisible to others. You can talk with your orthodontist about whether or not Invisalign would work for your smile.

Ceramic Braces

Ceramic braces are just like regular braces except they use clear brackets that allow their appearance to be minimized. Patients usually have the option of using a tooth-colored wire as well, which will help the braces blend in with your teeth even more.

Ceramic braces work as well as traditional braces to straighten teeth, so you don’t have to worry about correcting complex issues that Invisalign might not fix or not being able to qualify for lingual braces. Ask your orthodontist about ceramic braces for your treatment!

When it comes to getting a straight smile, you don’t have to get braces that everyone will see. There are options for skipping the metal braces yet still getting the smile of your dreams. Don’t wait to get straight teeth—schedule an appointment with your local orthodontist to start your journey to a better smile today!

The post What Are Less Visible Orthodontic Treatment Options for Adults? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Lingual braces provide a great alternative to both braces and Invisalign for adults who want to correct their smile but don’t like the look of metal braces. Lingual braces allow you to straighten your teeth—but from the inside of your teeth! The word “lingual” actually means “tongue”, therefore indicating the position of the braces that are actually behind the teeth and closer to your tongue. What should you know about lingual braces?

They’re Custom-Made for Your Smile

Since lingual braces aren’t traditional braces, they need to be custom-made for your smile. Your orthodontist will evaluate if you’re a candidate for lingual braces—if the crowns of your teeth are too short, you may not qualify for this treatment. Your orthodontist will need to take impressions of your teeth in order to create the lingual braces for your smile.

These impressions are then sent out to a lab to construct the wires and brackets for your teeth. These wires and brackets will need to be smaller than traditional braces since there is less space on the insides of your teeth. To create the braces usually takes a few weeks. Once you get your impressions back, your orthodontist will install the braces and you’ll be on your way to a gorgeous, straight smile!

They Work Just Like Traditional Braces

Lingual braces are very similar to traditional braces that go on the outside of your teeth—they apply pressure to each of your teeth to slowly work them into their proper positions. Lingual braces work in this same way, they’re just on the inside of your teeth and aren’t able to be seen!

Since lingual braces are similar to regular braces, they provide a wider variety of treatments than cosmetic options for teeth straightening, such as Invisalign. They work to correct all types of problems with your teeth, not just simple teeth straightening or bite correction. While the Invisalign treatment has limitations on what it can correct, lingual braces can fix all types of issues just like regular braces!

Great Care Is Essential

Taking care of your teeth is important whether or not you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment; however, taking excellent care of your teeth is even more important when you have braces. This is because braces can pose unique challenges for flossing and brushing, and this is even more so with lingual braces, since they’re on the inside of your teeth.

It’ll take a few days to get used to your lingual braces, so talk with your orthodontist about what you should expect. During this time, you’ll learn how to properly care for your lingual braces. It’s important to brush and floss as normal, although you’ll need to use a floss threader or a water flosser to get underneath the wire brackets of your lingual braces.

Lingual braces may be an excellent choice for you if you need orthodontic treatment but don’t want traditional braces and the problems that need to be fixed are too complex for Invisalign. Not every orthodontist offers lingual braces, so find one in your area and make an appointment to discover if you’re a candidate for this amazing alternative to regular braces!

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