I have misaligned teeth; do they need to be straightened?

Very few people are lucky enough to be born with perfectly straight teeth, and thousands of people take advantage of the various dental systems that can help them with crooked or misaligned teeth, not just for aesthetic reasons, but also because orthodontic problems can get worse with age, and can contribute to several ailments. Teeth that need straightening don’t just look unsightly; they can have a negative effect on self-esteem levels, even stopping some people from smiling or speaking confidently in social situations. So, even if you think your teeth are not in particularly bad shape now, you really should consider getting some type of treatment, before their position gets further out of control and you develop other dental problems that need dealing with.

How can my teeth be straightened?

Thanks to advances in medical technology, there are numerous ways in which your teeth can be realigned, sometimes in a matter of weeks. It does take some effort on your part, and of course, treatment doesn’t come for free – unless you qualify for it under the NHS, although cosmetic devices are rarely covered after the patient has reached the age of 18, and only then if their case is a danger to their health.

Braces – Traditional ‘train track’ style braces are probably what springs to mind when you are considering orthodontic treatment, and the wire and bracket system is still widely used today, primarily because it is quite hard-wearing and it can work with extreme cases of misalignment. Don’t worry if your dentist says you will need metal braces like this, there are some more discreet options available, which place the brackets behind the teeth rather than in front of them, and others which colour the components to match the shade of the teeth, rendering them almost invisible.

Metal braces work by exerting constant pressure onto the teeth to gradually move them into a more desirable position, this process can take months or years, depending on the original alignment. This type of system can also be quite uncomfortable for the first week or so, as the teeth adjust to the change in pressure distribution, and they are sometimes difficult to clean around because they provide small areas where bacteria and food debris can become trapped. These problems aside, traditional braces are usually fairly successful, and they can be prescribed for patients with severely crooked or goofy teeth, when other options are not available. Furthermore, people who have to learn to live with braces for an extended length of time tend to get used to them, and don’t always see them as an inconvenience, especially if they are of a more discreet nature.

Aligners – These transparent shields are becoming more and more popular in the dental arena, for the simple reason that they provide orthodontic treatment without the obvious drawbacks of the wire and bracket system. Aligners are discreet, effective, and thought to be more comfortable than the alternatives; what’s more, they allow patients who don’t have the self-confidence to wear braces in their adult years to undergo treatment. Although they work to the same aim as metal braces, aligners are made completely out of strong plastic, which is vacuum-formed to fit over the patients teeth perfectly, when in place, it applies gentle pressure to the teeth to move them in small increments to their new location. A course of orthodontics using clear braces, such as Invisalign or Simpli5, will often require more than one to be manufactured, as each aligner has a limited range of movement; this is what makes the system more comfortable for the patient and more effective at retaining alignment. In addition, so-called ‘invisible braces’ are removable, which makes it easier to eat and clean as the treatment progresses.

It’s worth noting that clear aligners are not suitable for all cases, particularly patients who have severely misaligned teeth, they are normally prescribed to those who have minor crowding or problems with spacing. If you would like to know whether an aligner would work for you, make an appointment with the Pearl Dental Clinic, they can provide the very latest orthodontic systems, to help you get that flawless smile you’ve always wanted.

Other options – If you don’t want metal braces and your condition is not suited to aligners, there are still some other options open to you. Inman award winning appliances have just made their way over to the UK, and although their primary products are aimed at patients with crowding or crossing of the front teeth, there are plenty of other designs from Inman that could help you with various other dental problems. The aligners work by combining the best of both worlds; they use the resin shield of clear braces and retainers, and add some metal components; wires and springs, which together can straighten your front teeth in as little as eight weeks.

Another way of straightening your teeth is to use ‘instant orthodontics’, which is more commonly known in the industry as dental veneers. They don’t come cheap, but if you can arrange your finances suitably, you could benefit from a set of synthetic laminates, usually made from durable porcelain, which are glued over the top of your natural teeth, to give the illusion of a perfectly straight, white smile. However, this solution is not suitable for patients with very large or extremely crooked teeth, mainly because the fitting process requires some reshaping of the enamel and it’s just not safe to be cutting huge chunks of it away from protruding teeth, not only does it damage the structure, it also leaves the central pulp unprotected and at risk of infection. If you really have your heart set on some veneers, you could see if a thinner product – such as Lumineers, would work for you, although you may have to undergo some orthodontic treatment before you can see the ultimate outcome – most dentists would prefer to do some work on your natural teeth before beginning cosmetic enhancement.