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While many people seek orthodontic treatment to address cosmetic dental issues, orthodontics goes way beyond that. We review why orthodontic care is so necessary for your oral health here.
It’s pretty common to think of orthodontic treatments such as braces or clear aligners with being simply cosmetic procedures. However, the reasons to invest in orthodontics goes far beyond having an aesthetically pleasing smile.
Orthodontics is a dental specialty that focuses on straightening out misaligned teeth and correcting any problems with your bite (malocclusions). How your teeth fit together actually have a profound impact on your oral health, so seeing an orthodontist to correct orthodontic issues is extremely important.
Farid Hanachi, DDS, PA, and the rest of our team at Hanachi Orthodontics located in Gastonia and Mooresville, North Carolina, are passionate about the importance of orthodontic care. We review why orthodontic treatments are so necessary here.
Who needs orthodontic treatment?
Almost everyone can benefit from orthodontic treatment in some form. Even if you have minor misalignment or a slight malocclusion, getting your teeth in proper alignment and having them fit together perfectly can do wonders for your oral health.
When you have teeth that are straight, they’re much easier to brush and floss effectively. This means that you’re going to significantly decrease your risk for gum disease and tooth decay. If you mitigate your risk of these dental issues, your chances of permanently losing teeth go way down.
In addition, an aligned smile can improve your speech and chewing function along with helping to reduce headaches and jaw pain that comes from temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.
Your choices for orthodontic treatments
A few of the different types of orthodontic treatments we offer at Hanachi Orthodontics include braces, clear aligners, and retainers.
Braces
Braces have been a go-to treatment for many, many years. They’re made up of brackets, wires, and bands. The bands are fixed firmly to your teeth and serve as an anchor for the whole appliance. The brackets are attached to the front of your teeth, and the wires are placed through the brackets.
The wire puts tension on your teeth, encouraging them to shift.
We occasionally change the wires that assist in aligning your teeth properly.
Clear aligners
Clear aligners are a newer alternative to traditional braces that many adults may like to have due to their discreet nature. This treatment consists of a series of custom, clear aligners that you wear instead of the wires and brackets. You wear each set of trays for about 1-2 weeks before moving on to the next set.
These trays slowly shift your teeth over time to where they need to be.
Retainers
After you finish wearing your braces or clear aligners, you need to wear a retainer to keep your teeth from shifting back to their original position. This is a custom made appliance that you wear nightly, or as often as our team instructs.
If you’re ready to protect your oral health through orthodontic treatment, contact our team to get started. You can do this over the phone or online today.