Even if they understand the complications associated with crooked teeth outside of cosmetic appearance, many older teens and adults hesitate or neglect to seek treatment for fear of having to wear braces. If their goal is to improve their confidence, then conspicuous metal brackets and wires can seem counterintuitive. Such hesitation, however, can expose your teeth to a wealth of problems, such as dental damage and an increased risk of dental health issues. To help you enjoy the benefits of a straighter smile while avoiding your apprehension over conventional braces, Dr. Michael Young often recommends Invisalign® clear aligners as a discreet alternative to traditional orthodontic treatment.
You Don’t Have to Change Your Routines
Aside from appearance, orthodontic braces are notorious for how they interrupt your daily routines, like eating and practicing good dental hygiene. The brackets are bonded to each tooth, and connected with an arch wire used to tighten a patient’s braces. Food and plaque can easily stick between brackets, wires, and teeth, making it more challenging to effectively keep your mouth clean and disease-free. By contrast, Invisalign utilizes a series of clear acrylic aligners that you can temporarily remove before each meal, or before brushing and flossing your teeth.
The Same Principles as Traditional Orthodontics
Orthodontics is the field of dentistry that focuses on the way your teeth are aligned, and on straightening teeth that aren’t aligned correctly. Customarily, moving teeth into more desirable positions involved braces to slowly reposition crooked teeth to better distribute your bite’s pressure. Invisalign’s aligners follow the same principles of tooth movement, but are designed to continuously guide your teeth as you change the aligners, rather than relying on brackets and tightening wires.
Don’t Ignore Crooked Teeth
Some patients believe that, since they’re ok with how they’re smile looks, they can skip orthodontic treatment altogether. While that’s certainly an option, it can be a destructive one if your malocclusion affects the harmony of your bite’s balance. Straight teeth are designed to distribute your bite’s pressure amongst each other, minimizing the force that they’re subjected to when you bite and chew. If the balance is disturbed, certain teeth can wear down or crack as they’re forced to absorb more pressure than they should. Straightening crooked teeth helps preserve their integrity by helping your mouth operate more efficiently, while neglecting them can lead to more serious problems that you can’t ignore.
About Michael J. Young, DDS:
To request more information about crooked teeth and Invisalign clear braces, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Young, contact our Lafayette dentist office at 337-237-6453. We serve families living in Breaux Bridge, Broussard, Scott, Youngsville, and surrounding communities. Dr. Young also invites you to find us on Facebook, where you’ll find news, tips, and valuable resources.
