You know you need braces if your teeth are really crooked or if your front teeth stick out a lot. What if your teeth appear straight, but you still have trouble chewing or biting your food? What if only a tooth or two appears slightly out of place? Do you need braces for that?
The signs for how to know if you need braces aren’t always clear. Your teeth may not look very crooked, but they could still be out of place. This could lead to tooth decay, excessive tooth wear, headaches, and digestive problems.
Petrous Orthodontics can examine your teeth and determine whether you need braces. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends consulting with an orthodontist by age 7, but you can talk to one anytime if you have bite problems that have been left untreated.
When you think of people with braces, you probably think of those with large overbites. But what do braces do if you don’t have an overbite? Can they help if your teeth don’t appear to be crooked? Are there reasons to get braces if your teeth are straight?
Orthodontic treatment does more than just correct an overbite or straighten teeth. It also aligns your teeth so that they connect as they should when you chew. Otherwise, the misaligned teeth could wear each other down by applying excessive pressure where it shouldn’t be.
Orthodontics can correct these dental issues:
Braces use brackets and wires to apply gentle pressure to the teeth, moving them into their correct positions. This includes closing any gaps and realigning the jaws.
What are the signs you need braces? If it’s obvious you have any of the bad bites we mentioned above, then you probably need orthodontic treatment. But there are more subtle signs you might need braces.
You may experience symptoms of a bad bite, which could indicate you need treatment. Those symptoms can include:
These are a few of the symptoms you may experience with a bad bite. What do crooked teeth have to do with digestion or breathing? Digestion starts in the mouth with chewing and saliva.
Your food begins to break down as soon as you start chewing. If your teeth are misaligned, you won’t be able to chew properly. That means it may not be broken down enough when it hits your stomach. This makes your stomach work even harder to process your food.
What about breathing? Crooked teeth could alter the shape of your palate, which could intrude into your nasal and sinus cavities. Misaligned teeth could also cause your tongue to rest out of place. Both problems could lead to obstructed airways and cause breathing issues such as sleep apnea and snoring.
You may not realize it, but your oral health is key to your overall health. Digestive problems can lead to a lack of proper nutrition. Breathing problems can lead to a lack of sleep. Crooked teeth are harder to clean, which can cause issues with your dental health, such as tooth decay, bad breath, and infections in your teeth and gums.
These are just a few of the reasons to get braces.
The first step to determining whether you need braces is to consult an orthodontist. While children can do this as early as age 7, you can see an orthodontist at any age!
If you’re looking for braces in Royal Oak, MI, you can start with a virtual consult with Petrous Orthodontics. We will ask you a few questions and set you up with an in-office appointment. We’ll take x-rays and digital images of your jaw. We’ll also examine your teeth and jaws. From there, we’ll be able to tell you whether you need braces.
If you need braces, we’ll review your options with you and help you decide what type of braces you want, whether traditional metal or clear ceramic braces, or clear aligners such as Invisalign.
Some people hesitate to get treatment because they’re afraid they can’t afford it. Petrous Orthodontics offers financing options to help you pay for braces. That includes flexible down payments, monthly payments, and extended payment plans. We also work with your insurance company to see how much of your treatment they will cover.
At Petrous Orthodontics, we will never tell you that you need braces if you don’t, and we will work with you to ensure you can afford them if you do.
Braces can boost your self-confidence by giving you a beautiful smile, but they do a lot more to improve your health. Straight teeth are easier to clean and do a better job of breaking down your food. They also make breathing easier and keep you from putting excess pressure on your teeth and jaws.
Are you ready for braces? If the answer is “yes,” schedule an appointment with Petrous Orthodontics for braces in the Royal Oak, MI, area. You’ll be amazed at everything braces can do to improve your oral and overall health!
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