Orthodontics – traditional and cosmetic

The role of Orthodontics in improving oral health

There are many different issues which can affect the aesthetics of your teeth. However, with advances in dental technology, there are now many different treatments available to treat a variety of aesthetic problems. Your orthodontist in Edgware has many different treatment options available which can help straighten your teeth and correct bite disorders. Orthodontic treatment is carried out using dental braces and they are used to help improve the appearance and alignment of crooked teeth, protruding front teeth, improve the positioning of crowded teeth, and to correct problems with the bite of the teeth (these are known as overbite), underbite, and crossbite. These issues not only affect the aesthetics of your smile but they cause other problems by reducing the amount of tooth surface that your brush and floss may be accessing effectively. They can cause the buildup of plaque and tartar which results in numerous other dental issues.

Different types of dental braces

Speak to your orthodontist in Edgware to find out what type of treatments will be available to help improve the aesthetics of your teeth and to improve your overall oral health in general.

Before the orthodontist in Edgware begins any type of treatment, a full examination of your mouth will be carried out to ensure that your teeth are clean and healthy to allow successful treatment and also to make sure that there are no dental issues present which may hinder the treatment or worsen as a result of the treatment procedure.

Traditional braces which are commonly used by children and teenagers involve metal brackets and wires which are attached to the teeth and tightened accordingly to allow the position of the teeth to be altered as required. This is the most effective type of orthodontic treatment, and gradually changes the positioning of the teeth until they reach their desired look and although this can take a while it ensures longevity of the results. They are the most noticeable form of braces and therefore there is a reluctance, especially in adults, to undergo orthodontic treatment using traditional braces and some people would rather settle for the way their teeth look then consider this.

Invisible orthodontics

Because of this reluctance in adults towards having orthodontic treatment, there has been much research and design in dentistry, and many options have now been developed as attractive alternatives to traditional braces. Invisible Orthodontics is a field of cosmetic dentistry which is involved in straightening misaligned teeth without any visible metal wires or brackets, and has proved a popular choice amongst adults who have not undergone conventional orthodontics as a child. Lingual braces and other invisible braces are designed to meet cosmetic needs and improve overall oral health in adults and are becoming increasingly popular.

Lingual braces are also made out of metal, however they are attached to the inside of the teeth so they are invisible from the outside and therefore work as an attractive alternative to conventional metal braces for those who are looking to improve the alignment of their teeth but are embarrassed by traditional braces. Lingual braces have a longer treatment period than conventional braces however they have also been found to be very effective in what they do.

Speak to us at Katz & Madhok Orthodontics to find out about the different types of treatments available with your orthodontist in Edgware and rest assured that you can achieve the perfect smile discretely and comfortably, whatever age you may be.