Many Americans suffer from problematic teeth, a misaligned bite, or are embarrassed by their smile. In fact, 15% of Americans have severe orthodontic problems that need treatment.
We all want an aesthetically pleasing and healthy smile but getting professional treatment may seem a little daunting.
Visiting an orthodontist isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, no matter how bad their dental problems are. But choosing an orthodontist to check out your oral health issues comes with a great list of benefits.
Take the first step towards improving your oral health and find out the top 7 benefits of visiting an orthodontist in Fort Pierce, FL.
What Is Orthodontic Care?
Orthodontics is the treatment of dental abnormalities and deformities of the teeth and jaw. These can affect the shape, arrangement, and size of the teeth which can in turn affect the jawline and functionality of the mouth in general.
Many dental problems can be solved with different orthodontic treatments such as:
- Braces
- Retainers
- Oral surgery
- Extraction
- Jaw re-alignment
These procedures can restore tooth alignment to its ideal state improving functionality and comfort. Improving dental health for patients of all ages is the number one goal for professional orthodontists.
While dentists can treat a broad range of oral health issues such as broken or missing teeth, cavities, and gum disease, orthodontists go a step further. They are dentists that extended their training to enable them to treat more substantial dental health issues such as tooth and jaw alignment.
Your local orthodontist in Fort Pierce, FL will not only help you understand your dental problems but will help you realize they can be easily fixed!
Signs You Need Orthodontic Care
Everyone’s smile is unique of course, but unfortunately, some people suffer from a variety of uncomfortable oral irregularities. Whether you have slightly crooked teeth or jaw misalignment, there are signs that you should make an appointment with an orthodontist.
- Canker sores
- Cleft lip or palate
- Underdeveloped adult teeth
- Overgrown gums
- Misaligned jaw causing crossbite
- Overbite
- Underbite
- Overcrowding of teeth
These problems can be caused by a variety of reasons such as injury, genetics, cerebral palsy, syphilis, and ectodermal dysplasia. Whatever the cause, orthodontic treatment can solve these problems and improve the quality of life for every patient.
7 Benefits of Visiting an Orthodontist
As well as diagnosing and correcting dental abnormalities, more and more people are realizing the advantages of orthodontic treatment. Some of the top benefits of orthodontics that patients experience include the following.
1. Improved Overall Oral Health
During your visit, your orthodontist will thoroughly clean your teeth using professional techniques that go way beyond a brush and floss. They will be able to give you some great advice on how to clean problem areas too.
Orthodontic procedures such as braces that correct dental abnormalities will also make it easier to keep your teeth and gums clean and prevent plaque buildup.
2. Prevent Future Dental Problems
Most dental issues, if not corrected early, will lead to bigger more expensive problems in the future. Misaligned teeth could lead to abnormal wear on the jaw leading to pain and sleep apnea. Visiting an orthodontist early and seeking expert advice on how to fix the problem will prevent bigger issues later on.
3. Get a Smile to Be Proud of
If you always cover your mouth when you laugh or hide your teeth when you smile, imagine how nice it will be to smile freely without a second thought. You can enjoy an aesthetically pleasing smile with the help of orthodontic treatments. Your orthodontist will adjust, fix, and improve your smile so you’ll never have to worry about it again.
4. Boost Self-Confidence
Teeth are one of the first things people notice when they meet someone. It’s common for people with problematic teeth to have self-esteem issues.
If you’ve always been embarrassed by your smile, getting help from an orthodontist will mean you can smile with confidence! Patients experience improved self-esteem once they have a smile they love.
5. Reduced Risk of Gum Disease & Tooth Decay
Misaligned teeth are more likely to gather debris causing plaque buildup. They’re also more difficult to keep clean. This combination increases the chance of tooth decay and gum disease developing.
Orthodontic treatment ensures that teeth are properly aligned with each other reducing the risk of many dental health issues.
6. Realigned Bite
Living with overbite, underbite or crossbite can be a real challenge. It can make eating, drinking, speaking, and even breathing difficult and cause jaw pain and headaches. Orthodontic treatment can help by realigning the bite to its proper place.
Teeth will be able to contact each other correctly and make chewing a lot easier and pain-free. A correct alignment will reduce stress on the jaw and make day-to-day living a lot more comfortable.
7. Relieve Pain & Improve Comfort
Jaw pain and tenderness, earache, facial pain, and headaches are all symptoms of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder caused by dental irregularities. Living with this pain can really affect a patient’s quality of life.
Orthodontic treatment will help by realigning the bite, fixing crooked teeth, and reducing grinding and clenching. This will eliminate TMJ symptoms and pain and drastically improve jaw comfort.
Orthodontic Care for Families
Looking out for your family’s oral health early on in life is the best way to ensure they won’t encounter problems later on. If your children or teens have crooked teeth or large gaps between their teeth, visiting an orthodontist is recommended. There are many orthodontic treatments that are child and teen-friendly that will set them up for great oral health now and in the future.
Try Visiting an Orthodontist in Fort Pierce, FL
If you or your family members are living with dental abnormalities or suffering from dental health issues and you’re looking for help, visiting an orthodontist in Fort Pierce, FL is the solution.
Scheduling an orthodontist appointment is the first step you can take on the road to improving your oral health. Contact us to speak with our friendly and helpful staff and book your appointment today.