Why Crooked Teeth Need Orthodontic Correction
Crooked teeth are often referred to as malocclusion, but the term encompasses more than just the misaligned state of your teeth. It also includes many of the impacts that result from their misalignment, including damage to your tooth structure and the changes to your bite’s balance and pressure. These cumulative effects are why it’s important to straighten teeth with orthodontic correction as soon as possible. Otherwise, restoring your smile could mean more than just bringing your teeth back into proper alignment.
The problems crooked teeth can evolve into
The proper alignment of your teeth is important for many different reasons. For example, the overall appearance of your smile can be dramatically impacted by even slight discrepancies in how your teeth align together. Yet, this appearance isn’t the only concern to worry about. The alignment of your teeth is also vital to the function of your bite, and the ability of different aspects of your oral health to work properly. If your teeth don’t meet each other squarely when you bite down, this can disrupt the way in which your jaw joints move when you bite and chew. From damaged teeth due to imbalanced bite pressure, to a dysfunction in your jaw joints (often referred to as TMJ disorder), the consequences of crooked teeth can impact most of your bite’s functionality.
Why they have to be corrected with treatment
When your teeth grow out of their proper alignment, the problem won’t correct itself on its own. In fact, the condition can grow even more severe as your teeth and oral structures struggle to accommodate the discrepancy in your bite’s balance. This can lead to your teeth becoming even more misaligned, experiencing heightened risks of becoming damaged or developing decay, and greater risks of developing TMJ disorder. The most effective way to avoid these problems is to correct the misalignment as soon as possible with the appropriate orthodontic treatment option.
How orthodontic treatment can be personalized
While tooth misalignment is a serious concern, it’s one that has been successfully addressed for generations with the help of customized orthodontic treatment. Traditionally, this includes the use of specially designed brackets and wires that allow your dentist or orthodontist to gently realign your crooked teeth. Traditional bracket and wire braces are still necessary for some severe cases of malocclusion. However, increasingly more people are benefiting from straightening their crooked teeth with the help of more discreet and comfortable Invisalign® aligners.
Learn more about straightening crooked teeth
If your teeth are crooked, then straightening them with orthodontic treatment is important to several different aspects of your oral health. To learn more, call our Cleveland Family Dentistry office in Cleveland, TX, today at (281) 592-1234.