Do you go by the phrase, New Year, New Me? Well how about New Year, New Smile!
A new year is usually time for lifestyle changes and new diets that people often tend not to stick to. However, orthodontic treatment is more permanent and comes with visible results. Find out the methods available that are proven to straighten your teeth.
Braces
Braces are the best option to fix malocclusions such as crowding and gaps within your bite. There are many different types of braces that have different functions, and work well to fix each bite. Traditional metal braces are great as they provide gradual movement into place. Hidden braces give you the option to gradually straighten your teeth without anyone knowing about it. Functional braces are used in more severe cases for example when an overbite or underbite is present. They are removable braces that help teeth to move into place too.
Surgery Options
When braces aren’t the right option, due to a severe bite, you would need to go to a maxillofacial surgeon for orthognatic treatment. This is a surgical treatment that is used to realign the jaw in order to fix bites such as an overbite, underbite and open bite. Surgery is recommended to improve the ability to eat and chew, speak without an impediment and improve the overall facial structure.
Retainers
If you have finished a course of treatment, you will be encouraged to wear a retainer. This will maintain the current position of your teeth, so that they don’t move back to their state before treatment. If you do not wear a retainer and your teeth do return to their original position you will need to repeat treatment.
Caring for your teeth
New year's resolutions can be hard to stick to however, maintaining good oral hygiene shouldn’t. Brushing your teeth, is part of your daily routine which is why you need to make sure you are doing it right. Using an electric toothbrush and toothpaste recommended by your dentist is always a good option. If you have an orthodontic appliance you should make sure that you follow your orthodontist’s cleaning advice to avoid plaque formation. Dental floss, mouthwash, tongue scrapers etc are also great for maintaining a healthy smile!
If you are interested in an orthodontic treatment, get in touch with us and book an appointment to find out more.