What are Braces?
Braces are applications that dentists put on a patient’s teeth to make them straight so that they can have a leveled bite using both the upper and lower teeth.
A dentist would advice a patient on the best type of braces to use depending on availability, cost, age and maybe even health reasons, depending on the allergies the patient suffers from.
Anyone can use braces, but children respond best to them when they have problems with their teeth, because their bones are still growing unlike adults who may not achieve very good results due to age.
A dentist will first have to identify the root cause of the problem and develop a treatment program. They will advise the patient on the best application necessary, and then treat them by use of the preferred application. Thereafter, they would then monitor the patient’s progress during and after the treatment, to ensure that the teeth are well leveled. Treatment usually takes between 1 to 3 years and is faster for children as indicated above.
Reasons for Having Braces
People use these applications when the lower and upper teeth do not meet properly and it may be caused by several reasons such as genetics and thumb sucking. It could even be accidental. A bad road accident can damage ones jaw, therefore causing them to use braces to rectify the problem.
Unleveled or scattered teeth can lead to jaw problems and may also affect the way a person chews their food, as well as how they speak. This can easily make one lose their self esteem leading to their being embarrassed of their appearance.
Children are more conscious of their teeth, especially when they are school going, because a child may not be courageous enough to face a bully who makes fun of their appearance. If this is not checked, it may impact negatively on the child’s self esteem and that is why most parents go out of their way to purchase their children braces if they have this problem.
In general people get braces so that they can have leveled teeth. This is because they are easy to clean and cavities may not form as easily as they would in a mouth with scattered teeth.
Scattered teeth are not so easy to clean and can hide germs in areas where a toothbrush may not be able to reach.
Different Types of Braces
There are various types of these applications and each depends on a person’s preference as well as their ability to afford. Braces could be metallic, gold, clear, and invisible and they all vary in price. A dentist is always better placed to advise a client on what is available and what is best for them, depending on their health situation.
They also vary in terms of how they are stuck inside a person’s mouth. Some can only be removed by the dentist whereas, others can easily be removed by the patient anytime they want to clean their teeth or sleep.
Great care should be taken by the wearers of braces, and those engaged in sports are advised to use brace guards for their own protection as well as for the applications.
These applications resolve the scattered and unlevel teeth problem by exerting gradual force on the teeth to make them level by slowly moving them over time.
Nobody should go through life unhappy with their appearance and in need of braces because a dentist can always work out a treatment program which is affordable by anyone who is willing to pay.
Call us today for a complimentary consultation to find out which options are better for you.
