Orthodontic treatment is primarily used to help improve the appearance and alignment of your teeth if they are crooked, crowded, have gaps, or protrude. It is also used to correct overbites, underbites and crossbites which can occur due to genetics and thumb sucking. Visiting your orthodontist Stoke-on-Trent can help resolve a range of imperfections you may be experiencing with your teeth.

The benefits of visiting your orthodontist

There are many benefits to visiting your orthodontist Stoke-on-Trent as they are able to carry out many forms of correctional treatments such as correction of dental crowding, straightening your teeth, correction of bites so that the front and back teeth meet evenly and reducing the risk of damage to noticeable teeth.

Crowded teeth and crooked teeth are very common issues people face; this may make it difficult for you to keep your teeth and gums clean and increases the risk of your teeth getting damaged. Sometimes, the positioning of your teeth and jaw can affect the shape of your face making you appear older than you actually are so your orthodontist Stoke-on-Trent can help avoid this by carrying out preventative treatments such as braces and placing temporary screws into your jaw to realign them.

What orthodontic treatments are available?

Orthodontic treatments are usually only carried out after all your adult teeth have come through, so the treatments are avoided on infants and young children. Your orthodontist will only begin treatments if you have a good standard of oral hygiene; this is because many orthodontic treatments can increase the risk of tooth decay and gum problems occurring if you have poor oral hygiene.

The most common type of orthodontic treatment we carry out at Ashlow Orthodontics involve the use of braces, both traditional metal braces and clear aligners, to align the position of your teeth and close any gaps. Braces work by applying slight pressure on your teeth to help them shift into the correct position over time and the entire treatment takes on average one year to complete. In extreme cases, you may need to wear special headgear or have temporary screws fixed into your jaw to support the braces, or you may even need to have some teeth surgically removed if they twist or overlap.

Another orthodontic treatment used to help improve the appearance of your teeth and gums are functional appliances. Functional appliances can be used to treat problems involving the positioning of your upper and lower jaw and teeth. If you suffer with this issue, you may need to wear the functional appliances all the time as the treatment will not work if they are not worn properly. The only time you will require to remove your functional appliance is when you are eating or when you need to clean them.

Headgear is also a form of orthodontic treatment that is used to correct the positioning of your back teeth or to keep them in position while your front teeth are being treated. Headgear is only needed to be worn in the evening and during the night when you sleep. It is important to note that you will be unable to eat or drink whilst wearing your headgear.

As with all treatments, it is pivotal you discuss your dental issues and any treatments you are hoping to get with your orthodontist to determine whether the treatments are suitable for you and if they can provide you with a solution.