There are several reasons to pursue straighter teeth beyond the obvious improvements to your smile and confidence. As a result, many teeth straightening options are available in the ever-expanding orthodontic treatment market, but it’s important to understand that not all methods are suitable for all people.
Learn more about teeth straightening, along with the pros and cons of each option, to ensure you make an informed decision about which approach may be ideal for your orthodontic needs.
Why Are Straight Teeth Important?
Teeth straightening is one of the most common – and most important – orthodontic treatments available. While there are several different alignment methods available, the general process of teeth straightening entails moving the teeth into their correct positions over time. All straightening methods work by strategically applying gentle pressure to the teeth so they shift into place. Braces and aligners are orthodontic appliances used to apply this pressure, and orthodontists are professionals who are qualified to conduct straightening and aligning procedures.
So, why is straightening teeth so important?
Improving Your Smile
The most apparent benefit of straightening your teeth is the aesthetic improvement you can achieve. Crooked teeth may prevent you from showing off your smile or leave you feeling less confident. Correcting any misalignments in your teeth means you can feel better about your overall appearance and smile without worrying about how your teeth look. Additionally, teeth straighteners can improve your facial appearance by aligning your jaw, addressing your bite, and lifting your mouth, resulting in more firm and cohesive-looking facial features.
Improved Oral Health and Physical Well-Being
Straight teeth can improve your oral health as well as your overall health. People with overcrowded or crooked teeth are susceptible to various oral health conditions that can cause issues with the teeth as well as other bodily systems. For example, misaligned teeth can cause hidden pockets in the mouth that toothbrushes cannot easily reach. Often, this results in a buildup of plaque, tooth decay, and inflamed gums, which leads to a risk of developing gum disease. Properly aligned teeth allow for optimal gum health, effectively supporting your mouth in defending against oral health issues.
Poor dental health is known to be a strong indicator of multiple health concerns down the line, including heart disease, infertility, kidney damage, and more. Straighter teeth can help you prevent some of these issues. For example, straighter teeth enable you to chew food more comfortably and efficiently, ultimately allowing for better digestion. In addition, if a misaligned bite brings painful symptoms such as jaw discomfort, neck strain, or headache, straightening your teeth can alleviate these symptoms. Addressing dental issues early on can help support your overall health and well-being.
Reduced Risk of Injury
Those with crooked teeth that protrude out of their mouth, especially the top front teeth, are vulnerable to chipping, cracking, or even dislodging a tooth. This is especially true if you play sports or are involved in an automobile accident. Straightening the teeth makes you much less likely to sustain serious trauma with a blow to the mouth.
Reduced Risk of Speech Issues
Teeth also play a crucial role in how we speak. Misalignments or gaps in teeth can result in various speech problems, such as a lisp or unintentional whistling while talking. When you straighten your teeth, it’s easier to articulate more clearly, and these issues should disappear.
Types of Teeth Misalignment Issues
Malocclusion is the clinical term for misaligned teeth or bites. Your “bite” is how your top and bottom teeth align in a resting position or when biting down. Misaligned teeth can and do cause bite issues.
Misaligned Teeth
There are different levels of teeth misalignment:
- Class 1: Minor tooth crowding towards the front of the mouth, but the molars align.
- Class 2: The upper teeth and/or jaw jut out over the lower jaw.
- Class 3: The lower teeth and/or jaw push out from under the upper jaw.
A diastema is an open space between two teeth, most often noticed between a person’s two front teeth, but it can occur anywhere in the mouth, even with multiple gaps potentially presenting concurrently. Overcrowding is another type of malocclusion wherein there’s not enough space in a person’s mouth to allow all of their teeth to come in straight, causing several teeth to overlap each other and become crooked. Overjet is the term for when an individual’s upper front teeth protrude from the mouth, sometimes called “buck teeth.”
Bite Misalignments
An overbite is when the upper front teeth cover the front bottom teeth when the mouth is closed, excessively overlapping them. An overbite may also be referred to as a closed bite or a deep bite. An underbite is essentially the opposite problem, where the lower front teeth sit ahead of the upper front teeth. It’s also possible for an underbite to occur when the lower jaw is positioned in front of the upper jaw when the mouth is at rest.
An open bite is a malocclusion that entails the upper and lower front teeth that don’t touch when the mouth is closed because the teeth slant outward. An open bite may develop in the front or the back of the mouth. A crossbite is when the upper teeth naturally fit in between the lower teeth, either in the front teeth, back teeth, or both simultaneously.
So, How Can You Achieve Straight Teeth?
There are many different ways to straighten your teeth. Which method may be best for you depends on your budget, the extent of your teeth misalignment or bite issues, and your preference. If you’re unsure what options are available given your circumstances, don’t hesitate to consult with our qualified orthodontic team.
Braces
Dental braces can be metal, ceramic, self-ligating, or lingual. These devices are used to align and correct the positioning of crooked teeth, closing any gaps between the teeth as well. Braces are placed strategically to apply the precise amount of pressure needed to shift the teeth slowly over an extended period of time. Most people need to wear braces between 16 months and three years, depending on the degree of alignment required.
Metal Braces
Most people are likely familiar with metal braces. Fixed metal brackets are applied to each tooth with an adhesive, with metal wiring between them. Elastic bands are also used in tandem with metal braces to keep them in place and allow for routine tightening.
Ceramic Braces
Ceramic braces work similarly to metal braces, but the brackets are tooth-colored and made of ceramic or porcelain materials, which can create a less visible effect. The wires for ceramic braces are still composed of metal alloys.
Self-Ligating Braces
Damon braces, also called self-ligating braces, are less noticeable than traditional metal braces. These teeth devices use brackets with a sliding mechanism to keep them in place, as opposed to elastic bands. Treatment time with self-ligating braces may be shorter than other methods, but they do tend to be slightly more costly than traditional braces.
Lingual braces are placed on the inside or back side of the teeth, hiding them from view and rendering them effectively “invisible.” They are called lingual braces because they are on the inside, tongue-adjacent (or lingual) side of the teeth. These customized braces are likely to be more expensive than other braces options.
Invisible Options
In addition to braces devices, there are invisible teeth straightening treatments that don’t require the use of metal brackets, wiring, or elastic bands. These include invisible aligners and retainers.
Clear Aligners
Aligners work like braces but come in a custom-molded form that you slip over your teeth. They are replaced routinely as the teeth shift into their new positions. Straightening occurs as each set is swapped out for the next.
Invisalign is a very popular type of clear aligner.
The benefits of invisible aligners include:
- They’re not apparent when you’re wearing them
- They’re removable when eating meals or brushing/flossing
- They typically have a shorter treatment time than other straightening methods
Invisible aligners are ideal for those requiring minimal dental correction.
Retainers
Retainers are wire-based corrected devices usually given to patients after they’ve finished their active orthodontic treatment plan. They come in both removable and permanent options. However, retainers can also be used as the primary straightening method for individuals with lesser misalignment concerns.
FAQs About Teeth Straightening
We understand that the beginning of the teeth-straightening journey can be intimidating. To help you better understand where and how you’ll start, we’ve answered some common questions we field from new patients.
There’s no age requirement to begin correcting your crooked or misaligned smile, though most orthodontists prefer to wait until all of your adult teeth, or permanent teeth, have fully come in. However, it is typically ideal for someone to begin orthodontic treatment between the ages of 10 and 14 while the mouth is still growing.
Generally, most people get braces or aligners during their late teens, but more and more older adults receive treatment. Some young children may even be candidates for early-action orthodontic treatment with an early-age (Phase I) treatment plan. This can be a beneficial option to correct jaw misalignment and bite issues while the mouth is still developing and before dental concerns worsen.
While correcting teeth misalignment may not be considered medically necessary for all cases, it’s often highly recommended due to the numerous benefits of teeth straightening. For severely crooked teeth or misaligned bites, receiving corrective orthodontic treatment can alleviate discomfort, reduce the risk of infection or injury, and make basic tasks such as eating or talking much easier.
If your teeth are only slightly misaligned, you may opt not to receive orthodontic treatment, but it’s wise to consult with an orthodontic professional first to learn whether doing so could negatively impact your health.
It’s difficult to say whether Invisalign or other less visible orthodontic devices may be an option for you without a dental professional evaluating your mouth. Determining whether you have a misaligned jaw, severe bite issues, overcrowding, multiple tooth gaps, or other concerns can significantly influence the teeth straightening options available to you.
Clear aligners are ideal for individuals requiring minimal treatment to straighten their teeth. Furthermore, invisible orthodontic devices are often more expensive than traditional braces, so your financial standing may also impact which methods are best for your situation.
Your orthodontist can give you an approximate estimate of how long you can expect to wear your braces or aligners during your personalized consultation. However, it’s hard to say the amount of time you’ll require corrective treatment, and each person is different.
Those with minimal misalignment issues may only require treatment for a number of months, while others with severe or multiple dental concerns may need treatment for multiple years. Additionally, how closely the patient follows their treatment plan can greatly impact how long they have to wear their corrective device.
For example, if you wear your Invisalign only occasionally and not most hours of the day as directed by your orthodontist, it’s much more likely you’ll need to wear them for longer. Completely foregoing your Invisalign for a period of time can result in ineffective treatment, potentially causing your progress to reverse.
Our Team at Robison Orthodontics Can Help
At Robison Orthodontics, a premier orthodontic office in Gilbert, Arizona, we care about giving back to our community and ensuring our clients are properly cared for. We currently offer Invisalign for adults and teens, early-age orthodontic treatment, Forsus appliances used in conjunction with braces for correcting overbites, and accelerated treatment options such as PROPEL Orthodontics and AcceleDent Aura.
No matter your age, level of teeth misalignment, or financial situation, we’re sure to find an option that works for you. Contact us today to schedule a consultation appointment and get one step closer to a straighter smile and a more confident you.
Dr. Tyler Robison is an alum of Mesa’s Mountain View High School. He graduated from Brigham Young University before being accepted to the “Top Ten-nationally ranked” University of Louisville in Kentucky, where he earned his Doctorate in Dental Medicine and a Master’s Degree in Oral Biology. He graduated with honors in the top ten percent of his class. Dr. Robison continued at the University of the Pacific in San Francisco, where he received a second master’s degree in dental science and his orthodontic certification.