Crooked teeth or malocclusion affects one in every two people around the globe. It can significantly impair self-esteem in both adults and children. Crooked teeth can be caused by an array of factors ranging from genetics to thumb sucking, birth defects, facial injury, etc. Other than affecting your self-worth, crooked teeth can also make it difficult to chew and swallow, leading to speech defects and altering your appearance. In extreme cases, it can make it difficult to speak. However, an implant dentistry offers an array of options for teeth straightening including clear aligners, metal braces, retainers, and veneers to solve your dental woes.
- Metal braces serve as a basic orthodontic technique that specially targets the adolescent crowd. The metal braces are usually placed using bonding agents onto teeth with brackets wired together that get tightened over time. Dentists use springs, rubber bands, and other instruments to maintain pressure over teeth and encourage better alignment. Braces can serve as an effective means of correcting various alignment problems. It can be used anywhere between six months to a few years. However, metal braces are infamous for inducing soreness and pain which has led to the popularity of ceramic braces which blend in easily into the surrounding teeth.
- Clear aligners like the Invisalign system are another popular approach to treating crooked teeth problems as they render an inconspicuous appearance. You will have to take them off while eating and brushing. The best thing about these wearable sets made of plastic trays is that they are specially designed to adjust to the position of your teeth. However, you will require a new set every two to three weeks to continue the process of tooth straightening. This approach is best suited for treating minor cases of malocclusion.
- You can treat mild alignment problems by wearing a retainer in addition to aligners. For getting the job done, you can get special retainers like a spring aligner which treats minor alignment problems. These retainers are specially designed for placing strategic pressure on the teeth. They blend in beautifully with the natural contours of your mouth and are less visible like aligners. You need to take them off while eating for maintaining dental hygiene. Dentists prescribe retainers to patients post-treatment for maintaining desired results. You can choose between different retainer designs of which some have metal inserts whereas others are clear. You can discuss it with your dentist and choose the one that is best for you.
- Veneers are used for correcting teeth when chipped or whitening teeth. These are thin shells specially crafted to fit snugly over your front teeth and render a flawless appearance. Veeners are extensively used in cosmetic dentistry to beautify your smile by camouflaging irregularities and filling in gaps.
Conclusion
Orthodontic treatment for crooked teeth has undergone massive advancements since its initial days. You can choose between traditional variants or newer methods like veneers or clear aligners. It is important to consider all the available options before choosing the one that is best suited to your requirements.