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Five common reasons people choose to have braces
Many people wrongly believe that orthodontic treatment is carried out only to help those with misaligned teeth.
The truth is that braces can be used to help many different dental issues. You may be suffering from one of these problems and not even realise that orthodontic treatment is an option for you.
We’ve put together five popular reasons why patients choose to have braces. This will help you discover if braces could be the answer for you.
Crowded teeth
Overcrowded teeth within your mouth can be caused by many things. Sometimes it can be as a result of mouth trauma, but more often it is down to a genetic issue, where your jaw is too small to house all your teeth comfortably.
Crowded teeth can lead to some issues, including increased likelihood of gum disease, mouth ulcers and jaw strain. It’s an issue that used to be treated through tooth removal, but this is only necessary in extreme cases today.
Spacing between teeth
At the other end of the spectrum to crowding, a gap between two teeth (known as a diastema) also has a number of causes. The most common reasons for diastemata are missing teeth, abnormally small teeth or poor dental and oral hygiene in the past. Problems caused by diastemata include an increased likelihood of gum disease and the possibility of teeth becoming loose more easily. But the good news is that gaps between your teeth can usually be closed through orthodontic treatment.
Overbite
Another reason to choose braces is an overbite. This is caused by the upper front teeth extending out over the lower front teeth. Whilst a very slight overbite is not usually something to worry about either medically or aesthetically, when the problem is more pronounced it can lead to further issues. Your overbite may lead to excessive wear on your tooth enamel, jaw pain, potential damage to the roof of your mouth and even a speech impediment. Braces are regularly used to successfully resolve overbites.
Underbite
An underbite is the opposite to an overbite. This is where the lower front teeth extend over the upper front teeth. It’s a lot less common than an overbite and is almost always genetic. It can be caused by an oversized lower jaw or smaller-than-usual upper jaw. The issues that may come from an underbite include eating difficulties, speech problems, jaw pain, excessive enamel wear and breathing difficulties including snoring and sleep apnoea. Orthodontic treatment is normally effective.
Overjet
Often either confused with – or believed to be the same as – an overbite, an overjet is where the upper front teeth are at an angle, so they then protrude over the lower teeth. Overjets can cause problems with biting and chewing food, as well as causing speech issues in some cases. As the teeth are protruding further out than normal, they are also more prone to damage and injury. Braces are regularly able to remedy an overjet.
As a leading dental practice in Christchurch, we have a team of dentist who offer quality orthodontic treatment.
If you feel braces could be the option for you, find out more about our treatment plans by giving us a call on 01202 487888 or complete our online consultation form now.
