Having crooked teeth can be a source of self-consciousness and affect your confidence in your smile. Fortunately, several efficient procedures are available to straighten up crooked teeth and create a more evenly spaced grin. Over time, orthodontic treatments have changed dramatically, offering a variety of alternatives to meet various requirements and tastes.
Traditional braces are one of the most well-known and tried-and-true ways to straighten teeth. It is vital to speak with a Powell, TN dental office, regardless of the treatment approach selected. You must thoroughly examine your teeth and suggest the best course of action for your situation.
Ways a dentist can help in fixing your crooked teeth
- Braces
Traditional braces are a widespread and successful method of straightening out crooked teeth. An orthodontist will normally evaluate your teeth and create a treatment plan at the start. The orthodontist will affix brackets to each tooth’s front surface using dental adhesive. The archwire is threaded through these brackets, which serve as anchors.
- Clear aligners
Clear aligners like Invisalign and ClearCorrect are popular alternatives to traditional braces for people with mild to severe tooth misalignment. Using 3D imaging technology, a set of personalized, transparent trays—known as aligners—are created for the therapy. Before going on to the subsequent aligner in the series, each aligner must be worn for a predetermined amount of time, usually two weeks.
- Retainers
Retainers are frequently suggested once orthodontic treatment is complete, whether you have braces or clear aligners. Your teeth’ new position is maintained by retainers, which keeps them from slipping back into their pre-misaligned position. Retainers can be removable or bonded (fixed) to the teeth’s root surfaces. For your particular situation, your orthodontist will advise on the kind of retainer to wear and how long to wear it.
- Orthodontic headgear
Orthodontic headgear may be advised in situations where there is a substantial malocclusion (bite issue) or jaw misalignment. An external equipment known as headgear is attached to the braces or other dental appliances. It modifies the jaws’ growth and alignment by applying moderate pressure to them. Orthodontic headgear is usually worn for particular conditions and is prescribed and monitored closely by an orthodontist.
- Dental veneers
Dental veneers are thin, individualized shells often constructed of porcelain or composite resin. They are made to cover the teeth’s front surfaces, enhancing their aesthetics and giving them a straighter appearance. When the misalignment is minimal and more of an aesthetic than a functional concern, veneers are typically employed for cosmetic reasons. Veneers, which are a more conservative alternative to orthodontic treatments, do not address the underlying alignment problems.