Braces Improve Your Smile and Your Health: An Introduction to Braces

Straight teeth are important – not just for cosmetic reasons but also for your overall health. Crooked or misaligned teeth can affect the way a person talks, chews, and the way their smile looks. Crooked teeth are also harder to clean and are prone to cavities. For some people, misaligned teeth can affect their jaws and lead to pain and discomfort on a regular basis. So making sure that you keep your teeth straight is quite important.

One of the most common ways to treat crooked or misaligned teeth is with braces. While most people are not fans of becoming ‘metal mouths’ and having that extra gear inside their mouth, braces do lead to straighter teeth and help improve your smile and your health. This orthodontic treatment works by gently putting pressure on the teeth over a given period of time. With the advances of technology, treatments have become more patient-friendly, where orthodontic patients can get braces that attach at the back of the teeth, or they can even opt for transparent brackets.

Braces are made up of three basic parts: brackets, bonding (or band), and the Arch Wire. The brackets are attached to each tooth and the bonding or bands attach the bracket to the tooth, and the Arch Wire is a thin metal wire that runs from bracket to bracket.

Before you get your braces, the dentist will take x-rays and make molds of your teeth to get an exact picture of where your teeth are, and how much they need to be moved. Some patients may even need to have some teeth extracted. All this information will be put together and your dentist will come up with the best plan for your needs. Once the braces are placed, you will be taught how to care for them, and how to brush and floss too. You will also be given a schedule to come back to the dental office for regular examinations. At these appointments, the wires may be tightened and the dentist will make sure that everything is going according to your dental plan.

One of the first steps in getting proper treatment is finding the right dentist. Make sure that you are comfortable and at ease, starting from the first consultation. Dr. Frost and his team at Biltmore Dental put their patients’ needs first and offer treatment that is best for each individual’s requirements. Give them a call today and drop in for a consultation.