Month: May 2022
About 70% of Americans feel self-conscious about their teeth and the criticism they receive from those closest to them. Over 60% want to change something about their teeth. A few main concerns include crookedness and spaces between teeth.
With orthodontic treatment, you can straighten your smile, benefiting your mental and physical health.
On the fence about visiting an orthodontist in Utah? Here are a few benefits of straight teeth to consider first. After reading this guide, you can determine if orthodontic treatment is right for you.
Read on to discover the top straight teeth benefits today!
1. Dodge Bruxism
When your teeth are straight, the top and bottom rows of your teeth will rest against one another properly. However, you’re likely to begin grinding your teeth if you have an unaligned bite.
Grinding your teeth, known as bruxism, can wear down your protective tooth enamel over time.
Without enamel, your teeth can become vulnerable. Enamel protects your teeth from germs and decay. You also can’t grow tooth enamel back once it’s gone.
If you recently started grinding your teeth, you might experience symptoms like:
- Increased tooth pain or sensitivity
- Soreness in the neck, jaw, and face
- Pain or damage from chewing the inside of your cheeks
- Flatted, chipped, fractured, or loose teeth
- Tight or tired jaw muscles
- Sleep disruptions
- Dull headaches
If you’re grinding your teeth while you sleep, you could begin snoring. You might also develop sleep apnea, which can cause you to wake up in the middle of the night. Without proper sleep, your mental and physical health will decline.
Let your orthodontist in Utah know if you begin experiencing these symptoms. They can help you recognize the benefits of straight teeth. For example, straightening your teeth will ensure the bottom and top rows are in proper alignment.
You could avoid bruxism and other complications while protecting your enamel as a result.
2. Avoid Decay
Remember, grinding your teeth can leave them vulnerable to bacteria and potential decay.
If there are gaps between your teeth or they appear crooked, you might also struggle to thoroughly floss and brush. Without proper oral care, your teeth can become vulnerable. For example, you might unintentionally leave food particles between your teeth.
Allowing food particles to linger between your teeth will give them the chance to mix with bacteria. As a result, plaque can form. Plaque is the clear, sticky substance that can cling to the surface over teeth.
If you’re not brushing properly, plaque can harden into tartar over time. Schedule a dental cleaning to have the tartar removed right away. Otherwise, your risk of tooth decay will increase.
The plaque on your teeth will begin to release acid, causing decay and cavities. You might lose a tooth or begin experiencing painful symptoms.
Learn how to get perfect teeth from your local orthodontist. Straightening your teeth will make it easier for you to brush and floss. Then, you can avoid decay and other complications.
3. Chew Easily
You might find it’s more difficult to chew your favorite foods when your teeth aren’t in proper alignment. Some patients avoid chewing apples, steak, and other hard foods as a result. Removing certain foods from your diet can impact your ability to get the nutrients you need.
Straightening your teeth with orthodontic treatment could make it easier for you to chew in the future.
If you’re not thoroughly chewing foods before swallowing, you could give your digestive system more work. You might experience digestive issues as a result.
Straightening your teeth can make chewing easier, allowing you to improve your digestive health.
4. Reduced Risk of Injuries
Orthodontic treatment can address a number of issues, including:
- Underbite
- Overbite
- Spacing issues
- Crowding issues
- Misplaced midline
- Crossbite
- Underbite
These orthodontic issues might increase your chances of an accident. For example, you might knock out a tooth during a sporting or car accident. You might bite your tongue or scratch the inside of your cheek.
Talk to your Utah orthodontist about these straight teeth benefits. They can help you determine what course of treatment aligns with your specific needs. With their help, you can straighten your teeth to avoid future problems.
5. Space of Implants
Are you missing an adult tooth? Don’t leave the problem unattended for too long. Otherwise, your surrounding teeth will begin to lean toward the gap.
As your teeth shift, your bite will change. Your teeth might start protruding at odd angles, too. Remember, your risk of an injury might increase as a result.
If your teeth have leaned toward the gap, you’ll need to straighten them before getting a dental implant. An implant can fill in the space your missing tooth left behind. Then, you can restore your smile!
6. Improved Gum Health
Remember, food particles and bacteria will have an easier time hiding between your teeth if they’re crooked. As a result, plaque can develop between your teeth, leading to inflammation.
Inflammation can cause painful, red, and swollen gums. Your gums might start bleeding when you brush your teeth, too.
If these symptoms sound familiar, make sure to visit a dentist right away. It’s likely you’ve developed gingivitis.
Gingivitis might cause additional gaps between your teeth. It can also increase your risk of stroke, heart disease, or diabetes.
One of the benefits of straight teeth is the reduced risk of gum disease. Otherwise, the bones holding your teeth together could start to break down. You could experience jaw pain and other complications as well.
7. Stronger Self-Confidence
If you feel self-conscious about your smile, talk to your dentist about how to get perfect teeth. Straightening your teeth can help you feel more confident. The boost in your self-esteem can benefit your quality of life and mood.
You might feel more inclined to take healthy risks at work or in your social life, too!
Start Smiling: Experience These Benefits of Straight Teeth Today
Don’t let crooked teeth impact your mental or physical health. Instead, consider these benefits of straight teeth. With orthodontic treatment, you can experience these benefits firsthand.
Want to talk to your orthodontist in Utah about your treatment options? We’re here to help.
Get in touch with our office today to get started!
The number of adults choosing to seek orthodontic care continues to climb each year. Why are so many adults fighting back against the stigma of seeing an orthodontist in later years? Receiving orthodontic care isn’t only for young children or teens.
There are many adults as well who’d benefit from braces. There’s no age limit on having healthy teeth and gums. All you need to do is find the best orthodontist in Utah!
In the guide below, we’ll discuss how to choose an orthodontist near you. Continue reading below to start prioritizing your dental hygiene.
Their Educational Background
A good starting place when choosing an orthodontist is to look at their educational background and the university they received their training. All orthodontists are dentists but not all dentists are orthodontists. This is important to keep in mind, so be sure to ask for proof of their educational background and certifications that qualify them to be an orthodontist in Utah.
Pay close attention to how many years of training they received and what associations they’re a member of. The American Association of Orthodontists is one example. You can look up members on the website or simply ask your orthodontist to provide you with proof of their various memberships.
A board-certified orthodontist has taken extra steps to show their commitment to their craft.
Their Orthodontic Experience
As mentioned above, all orthodontists are dentists. Orthodontists receive training to become a dentist first before then expanding their training to become an orthodontist. You want to speak with your orthodontist about their orthodontic experience.
When did they receive their degree and certificates for orthodontics? How long have they been an orthodontist? Some orthodontists keep portfolios of past dental work done on patients.
If they have a portfolio available with before and after pictures, then take a few moments to look through it. This can give you a good idea of what to expect from your own treatment while keeping in mind that each patient is unique and will have their own unique results.
Their Online Patient Reviews
What are past and current patients saying about this orthodontist? When you’re searching for a new orthodontist near you, it’s always ideal to conduct some online research. Through this research, you’ll find reviews left by patients.
Take the time to read through all of these reviews. Patient reviews are a good way to gauge the quality of service given by an orthodontist. It’s not uncommon to have a negative review here and there, but the majority of the reviews should be great and should make you feel confident with your selection.
The Orthodontic Services Offered
While conducting your research, be sure to visit the orthodontist’s website. Does the orthodontist have a professional website that provides everything you need to know about their background and the type of dental care you can expect to receive there?
Then, find a list of the orthodontic services offered at their office. Are they able to treat both children and adults so the entire family has one orthodontic office to call home? Do they offer a variety of braces and Invisalign to give you plenty of options to choose from?
Find this information online and then contact the orthodontist office directly with any questions you might have about their services.
The Office Hours and Location
You should be able to find information about the office hours and location on the website. The office hours and location are important for your convenience. You want to find an office that’s close to your home, work, or school so you can get to the office easily during your regular weekday.
It’s also ideal that the office hours work well with your schedule so you can easily schedule appointments when needed. However, do keep in mind that it’s sometimes worth it to make the drive to an office a bit further away with an amazing orthodontist. These are simply a few extra factors to consider when making your final selection.
The Available Payment Options
Keeping up with oral hygiene does come with a cost. Thankfully, dental insurance covers the majority of dental hygiene services needed. However, if there’s something your insurance doesn’t cover or doesn’t completely cover, then you need to know what your payment options are.
Ask the orthodontist to provide you with a list of payment options to consider. Many orthodontists will offer payment plans and other financing options to ensure you receive the orthodontic services you need without worry.
Their Answers to Your Questions
It’s ideal to create a list of interview questions to ask the orthodontist before choosing them. Take a few minutes to write down any questions you might have for them. You can ask questions pertaining to their educational background, certifications, and experience.
You can ask about the services they provide and what the treatment process looks like. If you have any concerns about visiting an orthodontist in general, then be sure to voice those concerns at this time as well. Prepare your list of questions and then schedule a consultation with the orthodontist where you can then have all these questions answered.
It’s Time to Learn How to Choose an Orthodontist
Gather all of the information provided to you in this guide above. Then, use it to help you navigate through the process of selecting the right Utah orthodontist for you. When you know how to choose an orthodontist, you’ll have peace of mind each time you schedule an appointment.
At Edge Orthodontics, we take pride in providing your family with the best quality of orthodontics care. We have a diverse staff offering a wide range of expertise in adult, adolescent, and pediatric orthodontic care. Interested in learning more about our orthodontic treatments?
Contact us today to learn more!