There are few dental advancements that are more valued than modern braces. Teeth straightening hardware of past generations had many drawbacks. It typically involved a whole orthodontic tool kit—full metal bands, headgear, elastics, spacers, and wires poking every which way. If you played an instrument that required the use of your mouth, well, it wasn’t pretty.
Some orthodontic patients found their conventional braces uncomfortable, bulky, and downright ugly. They also harboured many hidden nooks and crannies for bacteria to quietly drill into your enamel.
If you are too young to remember old-school braces, you can’t truly appreciate the cutting-edge ceramic braces, clear braces, and Invisalign aligners available today. Even traditional metal braces are now smaller, less noticeable and more comfortable.
The advancements in orthodontic treatments and minimized treatment times are one reason many adults have chosen to have their teeth straightened if they were unable as a youth.
Does that mean you don’t need to have your youngster seen by an orthodontist if you suspect tooth alignment troubles? Absolutely not! If facial attractiveness and increased self-esteem are not vital reasons to straighten your child’s crooked teeth, consider the fact that crooked teeth and bite misalignment can influence speech development and make it hard for your child to eat a healthy diet. Crowded teeth also make proper brushing challenging, increasing the risk of dental caries.
The American Association of Orthodontics counsels parents to have their youngster evaluated by an orthodontist when they are young. It is essential to identify issues with teeth and jaw development early. Your orthodontist or pediatric dentist will know the proper age to begin treatment if required.
We provide many cosmetic dental procedures at dentist in Wetaskiwin. Did you know that porcelain veneers can solve some less extreme tooth alignment issues? If your teeth are fairly straight but your smile is compromised by a couple of damaged or chipped teeth, affordable porcelain veneers may be your one-visit solution.