We all remember how tough middle school and high school could be. This was a time in our life that our peers made fun of any and everything they could. For many young adults and even adults, your teeth can be cause of embarrassment. Sometimes the braces themselves were an embarrassment, but they were a necessary construct to help us improve our mouth and straiten our teeth! In this blog, we are going to discuss what an Orthodontist does and a great alternative to traditional braces.
What is an Orthodontist?
An Orthodontist is an individual that went through dental school, like a dentist, but after decide to go to an orthodontic residency program. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, “it’s in the orthodontic residency program that orthodontists receive intensive instruction to learn proper, safe tooth movement (orthodontics) and the guidance of dental, jaw and facial development (dentofacial orthopedics). These extra years of schooling make the orthodontist the dental specialist in moving teeth and aligning jaws. This is the only focus of their practice.”
Why Get Orthodontic Treatment?
Orthodontists are experts at diagnosing and treating dental deformities. Let's discuss ways orthodontic treatment can help you.
Deformities
Deformities can sound like a scary word, but it can include some not so scary things like:
- Fixing teeth that are too close or too far from their neighboring teeth
- Straitening teeth that stick out of their normal position
- Fixing a person's jaw that doesn't quite match up with a person's bite
Hyperdontia
Hyperdontia is a rare condition. It is characterized by a person having too many teeth in their mouth. As adults, we normally carry 32 teeth in our mouth and children usually have 20 teeth.
To properly treat hyperdontia, patients must have the extra teeth removed, and then correct their bite and tooth spacing.
Lower and Upper Jaw Problems
Many people experience problems with their lower and upper jaw. Even if you can't see visible problems, people with these irregularities can experience tight or clicking jaws, pain in their temple, pain in their neck or back, or popping in their ear.
Alternative to Braces
In many cases, braces are a great choice. However, new technology has allowed less invasive alternatives. One of the best is Invisalign. Many dentists who have been trained can build a custom plan for patients using Invisalign dentist treatment.
Invisalign is great because it straightens your teeth while using a clear retainer. These retainers can straighten your teeth discretely, and you can eat whatever you'd like because the retainers are removable. You also won't experience cuts in your mouth because there are no wires.
Another great perk is that Invisalign treatment typically takes less time than traditional braces
Concluding Thoughts on Invisalign
Invisalign is a great alternative to braces for many people and treatment often takes between only 6 to 18 months. For adults, the fact that Invisalign braces are discrete and removable is a huge benefit over traditional braces.
If you're in South Florida, we welcome you to South Gables Dental in Coral Gables, FL! Read more on our topic of What is an Orthodontist?
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