Why do I need orthodontic treatment?
12 Good Reasons Why Braces Can Help You:
- Healthy Teeth
- better performance
- prettier teeth
- better nutrition
- healthier temporomandibular joints
- better pronunciation
- easier breathing
- lower risk of injury
- Fixing the Consequences of “Bad Habits”
- Correcting “stuck” teeth
- Making room for new dentures
- Supporting the Transition from Baby Teeth to Permanent Teeth
- Healthy Teeth:
- Crooked teeth are harder to clean than straight teeth. Orthodontic treatment eliminates these “pockets of plaque,” making oral hygiene easier. This helps prevent cavities and gum inflammation and restores the natural cleaning action of the tongue and saliva on the teeth. As the saying goes: Prevention is better than cure.
- Function:
- Each tooth has its own shape, function, and position in the masticatory system. These three factors are interrelated. If, for example, an incisor were transplanted into the molar region, it would fall out in a relatively short time. Why? Because it simply isn’t built to withstand the forces that occur in the molar region and is too weak for that task. The ideal position allows the tooth to perform its functions as effectively and reliably as possible, thereby minimizing the risk of wear and excessive strain. As the saying goes: Prevention is better than cure.
- Aesthetics:
- What’s healthy usually looks good, too. Crooked teeth or misaligned jaws are often perceived as unattractive. Straight teeth convey attractiveness and good health. They boost self-confidence, self-esteem, and a zest for life.
- Nutrition:
- Digestion begins in the mouth with the breaking down of food. Often, reduced chewing ability or digestion goes unnoticed due to the habituation effect. Healthy teeth make it easier to break down food, leading to better chewing and digestion. After all,“Health begins in the mouth.”
- Temporomandibular Joints:
- Orthodontics can correct what are known as forced bites. Forced bites cause the lower jaw to be forced into a position—due to the alignment of the teeth—that is uncomfortable or suboptimal for the temporomandibular joints. Eliminating forced bites by repositioning the teeth can relieve pressure on the temporomandibular joints. Achieving evenly supported occlusion can also relieve pressure on the temporomandibular joints.
- (Language):
- Misaligned teeth may affect speech. In particular, misalignment of the front teeth can lead to speech sound disorders. In such cases, orthodontic treatment can promote healthy speech development in children and support speech therapy.
- Breathing:
- Proper breathing should be done through the nose, not through the mouth. So-called“mouth breathers”are patients who breathe primarily through their mouths instead of their noses. Mouth breathing contributes to dry mouth, tooth decay, respiratory problems, colds, enlargement of the tonsils and adenoids, snoring, and underdevelopment of the upper jaw. A combined orthodontic and speech therapy treatment promotes proper breathing and a correct mouth closure.
- Trauma:
- Upper front teeth that are tilted significantly forward can be damaged in accidents, which can lead to injuries to the lips. Front teeth that overlap excessively (known as a “deep bite”) can damage the mucous membrane of the palate and the periodontal tissues supporting the upper teeth. Orthodontic treatment can address this risk.
- “Habits”:
- Habits are bad habits such as thumb-sucking, lip-sucking, tongue-thrusting, etc. If these are corrected in a timely manner, normal jaw development in children and adolescents can be promoted. In collaboration with a speech-language pathologist, effective orthodontic prevention can be implemented.
- Teeth that are “stuck”:
- Teeth that do not erupt and remain in the jaw can damage adjacent teeth or form a cyst. Furthermore, they are missing from the dentition. These displaced or impacted teeth should be detected early and, if possible, guided into the dental arch.
- Dental Prosthetics:
- It is often difficult for a dentist to fit dentures when the adjacent teeth are not ideally aligned. In such cases, braces can help straighten these teeth and/or close gaps. This collaboration between dentists and orthodontists often makes it possible to achieve a better fit for dentures.
- Teeth Changing:
- By the age of 13, children usually have a total of about 48 teeth (20 baby teeth and 28 permanent teeth). So things can get a little mixed up from time to time. As orthodontists, we’re happy to support you during this“turbulent time”😉 This way, we can positively influence your child’s dental development in a timely manner whenever necessary.
