Orthodontics in New Braunfels, TX

How Do Orthodontic Appliances Work?

The amazing thing about orthodontics is that it harnesses the body’s natural ability to remodel its own tissue.

Teeth aren’t fixed rigidly in their supporting bone. Instead, they’re held in place by a hammock-like structure called the periodontal ligament, which is very responsive to forces placed on the teeth.

Orthodontic appliances move our dentition by careful application of light, constant pressure, gently reshaping the bone, and repositioning our bite.

Benefits of Orthodontics vs. Other Cosmetic Dentistry Options

When considering your options to straighten your teeth, you may be offered treatments other than an orthodontic route.

Some common cosmetic dentistry treatments are bonding, veneers, dental crowns, bridges, or even implants. While all of these may be possible, they work better for patients who want their teeth to be more aesthetically pleasing. These methods provide a nicer-looking smile, but they require irreversible contouring to your natural teeth.

What if your teeth are already a nice size and shape? Maybe they could just benefit from being whiter and straighter. In this case, orthodontics, in combination with bleaching, is a perfect option.

During your consultation, we’ll do a thorough exam, address all of your concerns, and make our recommendations. Working together, we can help you decide which option is best for you and we’ll help you attain the goals you have set for your new smile.

Benefits of Properly Aligned Teeth

Having a straight smile isn’t all about the looks. Properly aligned teeth have other benefits.

• Easier to clean
  Slanted and crooked teeth can be impossible to floss and brush. When our teeth are straight, it’s easier to keep them clean. This helps to prevent issues like tooth decay, and gum disease.

• Fixing Bite Problems
  A misaligned bite can mean you’re putting too much pressure on certain areas. This can cause problems like wear, grinding, clenching, and jaw pain. Straightening your teeth puts them in the proper biting position. Orthodontic treatments can resolve a number of bite issues, which often become evident by around the age of 7.

Common Bite Problems Include:

• Underbite: Your lower front teeth are in front of your upper teeth. This is usually a jaw problem which causes pain and should be corrected.
• Crossbite: With your teeth together, you see that some of your upper teeth are sitting behind your lower teeth, and others aren’t.
• Excessive overbite (deep bite): When together, your upper front teeth are positioned in front of your lower front teeth. An overbite is normal but if the top teeth cover the majority of the bottom ones, this is called a deep bite. This condition causes a lot of wear.
• Open bite: An opening remains between the top and bottom front teeth when the jaws are closed. This is most commonly seen in patients that were thumb suckers for a long period of time.
• Crowding: The teeth are too close together and are often slanted or crooked. In this case, they’re hard to clean and can develop decay more easily. Gum infections can also occur, leading to periodontal disease.
• Excessive spacing: Teeth are gaped, or too far apart. Again, this can make them hard to clean.

Types of Orthodontic Treatments

Some examples of orthodontic appliances are traditional metal braces, inconspicuous clear or tooth-colored braces, and clear aligners such as Invisalign.

When you imagine someone wearing braces, you probably picture small metal brackets bonded to the front of the teeth, with a thin wire running through them. This time-tested style remains very popular — but it’s no longer the only option. Clear braces use brackets made of ceramic or plastic, which except for the slim archwire, are hardly visible.

Removable clear aligners such as Invisalign® are an alternative to fixed orthodontic appliances. They consist of a series of clear plastic “trays” that fit over your teeth exactly; each one moves your teeth a little bit until they are in the proper position.

If during your consultation we determine that you would, in fact, benefit most from orthodontics, we will discuss which form is best for you. Learn more by visiting our braces page.

Straighter Teeth for Children

Regular dental checkups are important in growing children because it helps us keep an eye on their development. If we see issues like crowding, orthodontics can be used to help guide your child’s growing mouth and help it develop correctly. Early intervention can also shorten the overall treatment time and ensure the best result.

But remember, healthy teeth can be moved at any age. So it’s never too late for orthodontic treatment. In fact, about one in five of today’s orthodontic patients are adults. Several technological developments — including tooth-colored ceramic braces and clear aligners — have made orthodontic appliances less evident. So now you don’t have to worry about how you’ll look, as an adult in metal braces. There are other options!

Post Orthodontic Care

Retention is critical in order to keep your new smile straight. This is because teeth naturally tend to drift out of position if they’re not made to be kept in place.

Retainer

This is a custom-made tray that fits snugly over your teeth. Wearing this while you sleep can help maintain your teeth in their current position.

• Advantages: You don’t have to wear something permanently that doesn’t come out.
• Disadvantages: You have to remember to wear it. If you don’t use it, your teeth will shift.

Lingual Wire

This is a thin stainless steel wire that is permanently bonded to the inside of your teeth. It essentially serves as a bridge that connects all of your teeth together, not allowing them to move.

• Advantages: It’s always with you, so you don’t have to remember to wear it in order to keep your teeth straight.
• Disadvantages: Collects a lot of food and can be hard to clean. Your tongue always feels it and you can’t remove it.

Once you’ve completed your orthodontic treatment at our pediatric dental office in New Braunfels, we’ll help you decide which form of retention is best for you. Though there may be some ups and downs about either option, you’ll need to be willing to be consistent with your maintenance regimen.