What You Should Know Before You Or Your Child Get Braces
Most individuals evenly positioned white teeth as a sign of beauty, health, and good oral hygiene. So when there are noticeable spaces between your teeth or if they are misaligned, you may have to consider getting braces. Getting your teeth examined at Community Dental Group can help you determine whether or not braces are in order.
What To Look For
The first step is to check for crooked or crowded teeth or teeth that may have exaggerated spacing between them. You can use a handheld, higher magnification mirror to check this. Secondly, check the way in which your teeth are aligned when you bite down. There are three types of “bite” to be concerned with:
- Crossbite – upper teeth positioned inside lowers
- Overbite – upper teeth extend over lowers
- Underbite – lower teeth extend over uppers
Other things to consider include bad breath which results from food getting stuck between overcrowded teeth, lisping which results from misaligned teeth (a.k.a. malocclusion), and frequent jaw pain which could indicate misalignment of the jaw.
12 Things You Need To Be Aware Of
- A person’s bite is just as important as the alignment and appearance of their teeth
- Braces have no age limit
- Braces will hurt when you first get them and after follow-up adjustments
- Cost and length of treatment period will vary from one individual to the next
- Get all the consultations you need (especially if FREE consultation is offered)
- Not every individual is a candidate for braces
- Orthodontists have undergone more training than a general dentist
- Practice good dental hygiene
- Read your treatment plan thoroughly
- Stay with the same orthodontist
- Watch for allergic reactions to latex used in O-rings, metals used for brackets and wires, and the plastics that are currently used in aligner trays (Invisalign clear braces) and retainers
- You will have to wear a retainer so your teeth do not move once your braces are removed
What You Need To Do
There are a number of reasons why a person decides that they want braces. So you need to think about your reason for getting them. Sometimes it’s a simple matter of aesthetics or the appearance of your teeth while other times there are medical reasons such as:
- Bite misalignment – crossbite, overbite, and underbite
- Malocclusion – crooked or crowded teeth
Decide how willing you are to deal with wearing braces for up to 2 years if required (age oftentimes determines the length of time braces must be worn). Typically, adults must wear them longer than what children or teenagers would have to. It follows then that you need to determine if you have the financial means to pay for braces (average cost is between $5,000 and $8,000). Keep in mind that the more specialized (ceramic or Invisalign clear braces) are going to be considerably more expensive.
On a closing note, you need to schedule an appointment with one of the orthodontists here at Community Dental Group as they can help you determine if you are a candidate for braces and provide you with professional advice regarding the condition of your teeth.