What is orthodontics?
Orthodontics is the field of dentistry that takes care of improperly aligned teeth, a problem that affects your appearance and leads to decay and irregular wear and tear on your teeth, as well as gum disease. Some common orthodontic problems treated include:
- Overbite
- Underbite
- Crossbite
- Crooked or twisted teeth
- Spaces between teeth
How do braces correct misaligned teeth?
Dental braces work by applying gentle, continuous pressure to your teeth. Over time, the pressure corrects misalignment by moving your teeth into a new position.
As your teeth move, your jawbone also adjusts. You’ll grow new bone to fill in empty spaces and old bone is resorbed back into your body to make way for tooth movement.
What types of braces are available?
The team at Applegarth Dental offers a variety of braces, depending on your age and dental needs. They may recommend traditional metal braces or ceramic braces that match the color of your teeth. Some adults are good candidates for Six Month Smiles®, a clear brace system that straightens teeth in six months, while teens and adults have another option: Invisalign®.
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign works like traditional braces, yet the aligners are clear, so they’re virtually invisible. You wear the aligners on your upper and lower teeth, much like a mouthguard, for 6-18 months.
How does Invisalign work?
After digitally scanning your mouth to create an image of your teeth, your dentist maps out a plan showing how each tooth must move to achieve proper alignment. The plan goes to an Invisalign lab, where they produce a series of plastic aligners.
You’ll wear the first aligner in the series for one or two weeks, then replace it with the second aligner, proceeding in that fashion — replacing your current aligner with the next in the series — until you’re done with the final aligner.
Each aligner has a slightly different form. As you move to the next aligner in the series, it adds new pressure to continue changing the positions of your teeth.
Can you remove Invisalign aligners?
Your aligners fit snugly over your teeth, but they’re easy to remove. You can take the aligner out when you eat and to brush and floss your teeth, but they should stay on your teeth the rest of the time. You need to wear your aligners 20-22 hours a day to achieve the desired realignment.
When you need orthodontic treatment for misaligned teeth, call Applegarth Dental or book an appointment online for Invisalign and other options.
