Orthodontic problems can affect anyone regardless of their age. If you have bite problems, seek professional advice from our orthodontist located in the Bronx, NY to see what is the best way to correct your bad bite. We offer the most advanced and latest orthodontic treatment options available in New York.
Orthodontics is a sophisticated dental specialty that can diagnose and treat problems involving the alignment of your teeth and jaws, what’s often called malocclusion or a bad bite! It can be used to treat common problems like teeth that are overlapping or significantly crooked and out of line, and which don’t bite together effectively.
Most people think about having orthodontic treatment to improve the appearance of their smile, but it can be equally as important to think about the possible benefits to your dental health.
How Orthodontic Problems Can Affect Your Dental Health
Ideally, your teeth should bite together evenly, so they contact the teeth in the opposing arch at the same time. However, if your teeth don’t bite together correctly, some teeth will meet those in the opposing arch before others, and these teeth will bear the brunt of the pressure created when you bite and chew food.
The additional pressure can eventually cause excess wear and tear on these teeth, and they are more likely to crack and fracture. Also, when teeth are significantly out of place it can make chewing more difficult and can place additional strain on your facial muscles used for eating food.
The strain can eventually cause problems and pain with your jaw joints, called temporomandibular joints. The pain, called temporomandibular joint disorder, can create unpleasant symptoms like neck ache, persistent headaches, problems swallowing, and even tinnitus. The pain created by this problem can spread into your shoulders.
Then there are the problems caused when you cannot clean your teeth effectively. Teeth that are significantly overlapping are almost impossible to clean thoroughly and trying to use dental floss can be a nightmare. Unfortunately, when you cannot clean your teeth thoroughly it increases the risk of tooth decay and gum disease, and ultimately you may even lose teeth.
Signs You Need Orthodontic Treatment
If you recognize any of the symptoms below, it’s worth booking an appointment with the top cosmetic dentist in the Bronx so you can ask if they think any treatment such as teeth braces are required. Signs to look out for include:
Underbite
An underbite is where the teeth bite together abnormally, so the lower front teeth will bite in front of the upper front teeth. If you or your child has this problem, you may have difficulty biting and chewing properly and it can create a less than optimal facial profile.
Underbite correction will help you chew food more comfortably and you will be able to bite into food with ease. It will also help create a more attractive and balanced facial profile.
Overbite
The problem of an overbite is the opposite of an underbite and is where the upper front teeth will stick out too far over the lower front teeth. If your child has this problem, there is a higher risk that they could damage their upper front teeth simply because they are too protrusive.
This problem can also affect the way they are able to bite into food and will also mean their facial profile isn’t the best it could be.
An overbite can also develop if your child sucks their thumb or finger. This is because the action of sucking a thumb can pull the upper front teeth outwards so they cannot bite together correctly with the lower front teeth. Overbite correction will help reduce all these problems, creating a more attractive facial profile for your child which in turn can help to increase their sense of self-esteem and self-confidence.
Crossbite
A crossbite is where the teeth do not occlude or bite together correctly. The upper teeth will bite inside the lower teeth on one side of the mouth or the other, or even on both.
This can be caused by improper teeth development or may be as a result of childhood habits such as thumb sucking.
When a child sucks a thumb, it can elongate the upper jaw so it becomes narrower and it may also lead to an overbite. Crossbite correction will help reduce wear and tear on teeth and will ensure that their adult teeth are correctly and nicely aligned.
Open Bite
If you or your child has an open bite then the front teeth will not be able to bite together at all. This can make it difficult to talk properly and you will have difficulty biting into food. Correcting this problem will help to correct any possible speech problems and will make it much easier for you to eat properly.
Overcrowded Teeth
This is quite an easy problem to spot and is one of the most common reasons for seeking professional advice from your orthodontist. When teeth are overcrowded, there is not enough room in the mouth for them all to fit in comfortably and into the correct spaces.
When teeth are crowded, they can push other teeth out of line, resulting in teeth that look significantly misaligned and this can worsen as you get older.
A Bad Bite Can Even Affect Your General Health
Problems caused by a bad bite can make it easier to avoid foods that are hard to chew. When you cannot eat a wide variety of foods, it can affect overall nutrition so that potentially you may end up with a diet that doesn’t provide all the vitamins and minerals needed for good dental health and general health. Without a good diet, your body is less able to stay healthy and fight disease.
Benefits of Orthodontic Treatment
When your teeth are straight and bite together properly, it protects them and your jaw joints.
You will find it much easier to clean your teeth thoroughly, reducing your risk of dental disease. Your teeth will wear more evenly because they will meet properly as you bite and chew food.
Of course, the effects on self-esteem and self-confidence can be significant too. When you know your teeth look great, it can make you feel good about yourself.
Orthodontic treatment can:
- Provide you with a nice, even and broad smile
- Create a more positive self-image
- Provide the proper support for your lips and facial muscles, potentially creating a nicer facial profile
But Isn’t Orthodontic Treatment Awkward and Lengthy?
The potential benefits of orthodontic treatment are undeniable, but understandably many people don’t enjoy the thought of having braces for years, imagining they will need the heavy metal train track braces we can all remember from school days.
While metal braces are still widely used and are frequently a cost-effective solution for kids’ orthodontic treatment, there are some far more discreet options for adults. Unlike children who will often make a feature of having braces by using brightly colored elastics, most adults will prefer virtually invisible braces.
The technologies used in orthodontics have improved significantly over the past few years, and nowadays, some options can straighten teeth more quickly, and especially if only the front teeth require treatment. Adult braces can be fixed or removable, depending on the problems requiring correction.
Fixed or Removable Braces?
Fixed braces are still a popular solution, but instead of metal brackets they have clear ceramic brackets and which are powered by thin discrete wires.
Removable braces include solutions like Invisalign which uses clear BPA free plastic aligners that fit tightly over the teeth. Once in the mouth they are virtually invisible, but there may be a slight halo effect created by the aligners.
Although removable braces may seem a tempting solution, clear fixed braces can sometimes provide better and more precise results and especially if the tooth movements required are a little trickier.
With clear fixed braces, you could get outstanding results in as little as a year.
Solutions like Invisalign tend to work best on more straightforward orthodontic problems, but they do need excellent compliance as you must remember to wear them all the time, ideally only taking them out for meals and for brushing and flossing.
Some solutions are cosmetically oriented, and which will only straighten the front teeth that are visible when you smile. These cosmetic braces can work significantly more quickly and sometimes treatment is completed in a matter of weeks or just a few months.
Some braces can move the tooth and tooth root at the same time, speeding up treatment. However, it’s best to be guided by our orthodontist as he has spent years completing additional training in this field and can provide you with the most appropriate and effective treatment.
Retainers
Even adults will still need to wear retainers after orthodontic treatment.
When your braces are removed, your teeth need time to settle into their new locations. The bone around them also needs time to remodel, as the tooth roots will have moved through the bone. As it gradually remodels, the bone will help to hold your teeth in their new positions, but while this is happening, it is essential to wear your retainers as directed by your orthodontist. Otherwise, all your hard work could be for nothing as you risk your teeth shifting back into their old positions.
Make your appointment today to experience the most comprehensive dental care in the Bronx, NY. Visit our dental center to get the orthodontal care you need in the safe and reassuring hands of the best orthodontists in the Bronx, NY. For more information about our services and treatment options, contact our orthodontics dentistry center for a consultation.