You might be concerned about your smile – perhaps wondering if anything can be done about one or more of your teeth that are not as straight as you would like. In most cases significant improvements can be made with some straightforward orthodontic treatment.
Orthodontics can improve the appearance, health and function of the teeth. This dentistry specialty involving the diagnosis, prevention, management, and correction of mal-positioned teeth and jaws and misaligned bite patterns.
Is there a minimum age to have orthodontic treatment?
Usually, orthodontic treatment is only started after most of a child’s adult teeth have started to come through, when they’re about 12 years old. It does depend though on how many of their adult teeth have appeared and the growth of their face and jaw. Orthodontic treatment for adults can begin at any age.
For moderate crowding or overlapping of front teeth
When there is mild crowding or overlapping of the front teeth, minimally invasive techniques can be used to correct the issue. One of these is Invisalign, a treatment that uses a removable, clear aligner system (plastic braces that fit over your teeth) to move and straighten teeth into the ideal position. This is a safe, easy and discrete. In some cases, teeth straightening can be achieved in as little 6 months.
If your teeth are severely misaligned
In cases where the issue is more severe, braces can be used to straighten crooked, crowded or protruding teeth, to close gaps between teeth, and correct the bite so the top and bottom teeth meet when the mouth is closed. There are a number of brace options:
Lingual braces: The only truly ‘invisible’ option is lingual braces. These are custom-made braces fitted to the inside of the teeth and are appropriate to address any orthodontic problem.
Clear aligners: Removable clear aligners are used to gradually move teeth in 0.2mm increments. These aligners are changed every 1-2 weeks with each replacement moving the teeth gradually until they reach the final, desired position.
Clear conventional braces: A less conspicuous alternative to standard metal braces but that still produces excellent results. As the name suggests, these are transparent braces, made from ceramic, that are fitted to the outside of the teeth. All orthodontic problems can be treated with this appliance and it’s a popular option for both adults and teenagers.
At Coppice View Dental Care we work in conjunction with our partner practice, Yorkshire Orthodontics, to offer a range of treatments, including the use of braces to correct tooth position or modify jaw growth.
As ever, we’re here to help so if you have any questions please get in touch, you can reach by phone on 01423 503 428 or by email at info@coppiceviewdental.co.uk.
Mike
