subject: Improve The Appearance Of Your Smile With The Straightening Effects Of Braces [print this page] Do you remember looking through your yearbook, noticing pictures of your friends and fellow classmates with smiles that are framed with heavy metal braces? Today, it appears to be less common to notice braces while in high school because children today are getting braces at a much earlier age-some beginning treatment at the age of seven or younger. The American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) recommends that all children receive an orthodontic screening by the age of seven because at this point orthodontic problems become apparent and are easier to treat.
The Importance of Early Orthodontics
Orthodontic treatment in young children is known as interceptive orthodontics, with intervention beginning as early as age six or seven. At this age, teeth are still developing and the jaw is still growing, which means certain conditions may be easier to address. Before permanent teeth have come in, it may be possible to help teeth erupt into better positions.
If your child has a problem such as the upper jaw being too narrow, or an underdeveloped lower jaw, this can be corrected with a functional jaw orthopedic appliance to correct the problem. Minor tooth crowding can also be corrected early if it appears as though it may compromise the eruption of other permanent teeth. It is also less expensive to correct a problem when the patient is younger rather than wait for the problem to become more serious in the future.
Some benefits of early treatment also include:
*Improves profiles, smiles and self-esteem
*Corrects harmful habits, such as thumb sucking and tongue thrusting
*Functional appliances develop the arches and make more room for the tongue
*Improves speech
*Reduces the amount of time spent in fixed braces
*Increases nasal breathing which improves health
*Eliminates grinding of the teeth at night
*Prevents headaches and earaches
Functional appliances work with your child's growth and development in order to guide the jaws to their proper size.
Understanding Braces
The most common type of braces are the traditional, metal braces that are made of high-grade stainless steel and attached to the front of your teeth. These conventional braces are periodically adjusted in order to apply pressure to your teeth in such a way that they move into proper position.
Clear ceramic braces may be a more aesthetically pleasing option if you dislike the appearance of steel braces. Ceramic braces are worn on the front of your teeth just like the steel braces, but match the natural color of your teeth. The appearance may be less noticeable, but ceramic braces tend to break more easily than the metal braces. Broken braces will result in more appointments, lengthening the time of your orthodontic treatment.
Adults and Braces
Over the years-as braces have become less bulky and visible-more and more adults are now wearing braces for a straighter smile. Teeth and jaws that are not properly aligned can lead to premature wear and tear, advanced tooth decay and gum disease. New techniques means that adults are turning to braces to correct:
*Gaps between teeth
*Teeth that push against one another
*Crooked teeth
*Overbites
*Underbites
*Crossbites
If you think that you might benefit from braces, ask your dentist in Greenville for more information. With a proper consultation, your dentist can create a proper treatment plan for improving the appearance of your smile.
