There are many reasons why people want straight teeth. Not the least of these is the fact that crooked teeth can detract from your appearance. While a nicely aligned smile from your Grand Rapids orthodontist can be the key detail in your style that pulls everything else together, a crooked smile can draw attention away from an otherwise striking ensemble. A great smile is vital to your self-confidence, which in turn can improve your outlook on life in general.
That being said, having straight teeth can benefit far more than how you look. For example:
- Crooked teeth can interfere with proper chewing, a problem which affects you at every meal if not confronted.
- Good oral hygiene (such as regular brushing and flossing) can be much more difficult and ineffective with crooked teeth. When your teeth are not straight and evenly spaced, there is a much higher likelihood that there will be hard-to-reach spaces that don't receive the proper treatment from your daily cleaning routine. As a result, unwanted plaque and tartar can build up unnoticed.
- Over time, the buildup of plaque and tartar can lead to such serious consequences as tooth decay, gum disease, or even tooth loss. Since no one enjoys spending time in the dentist’s chair having root canals, fillings, or oral surgery, it is important to stay on top of your oral hygiene.
The good news is that at our Grand Rapids, Michigan, orthodontics office, we specialize in creating beautiful smiles and fixing crooked teeth. Karl Orthodontics in Grand Rapids has expertise in the specialized field of dentistry that concerns itself with the study and treatment of irregular bites.
An abnormal bite can be the result of uneven teeth, a jaw that is out of proportion or misaligned, or both. Crooked teeth can be brought into alignment using traditional metal braces, although they are not used as much today as they have been in the past. More popular are the alternatives that technology has now made available; these are less noticeable, so orthodontic patients don't have to sacrifice their looks in the short term in order to have a long-term beautiful smile.
These less conspicuous braces or treatment options include clear braces and Invisalign. Invisalign is a type of removable and virtually invisible aligner that fits over the teeth instead of using wire and brackets.
There are a variety of braces and orthodontic options out there today, many of which are less intrusive and less visually obvious than they used to be in days past. Whether you're a parent of an adolescent with crooked teeth or whether you yourself are seeking improvement in your smile, we encourage you to contact our orthodontics office in Grand Rapids today. The benefits are many—you'll be glad you called!
This information is not meant as medical advice. It is provided solely for education. Our Grand Rapids orthodontics office would be pleased to discuss your unique circumstances and needs as they relate to these topics.