Posted on September 16, 2022
Medically correcting your bite means using braces, or another type of orthodontic treatment, to help your misaligned teeth move into the proper alignment. A bite is how your top and bottom rows of teeth meet when you open and close your mouth, and a misaligned bite is called a malocclusion. Aside from the fact that properly aligned teeth give the appearance of a beautiful smile, there are other reasons you should consider orthodontics to correct your bite. Read on for reasons why getting orthodontic treatment to correct your bite is important.
It is commonly assumed that the singular goal of braces, or other forms of orthodontic treatment, is to give the patient a better-looking smile after the misalignment is corrected. However, aligning the teeth and bite corrects much more than simply the appearance of one’s smile. With malocclusion, a patient is likely to experience the following issues:
Misaligned teeth can appear in the form of an underbite, overbite, open bite, crowded teeth, or visibly crooked teeth. Just like your eyes, the alignment of teeth is determined by both genes and environmental factors. Some environmental factors that could cause tooth misalignment are injury to the jaw, losing teeth, gum disease, uneven fillings or crowns, and bad habits such as mouth breathing, thumb sucking, and tongue thrusting. All of these can result in malocclusion.
According to the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), about 4 million Americans wear braces. Fixing a bite early on prevents many of the complications that could develop as the misaligned bite remains unattended. Children require at least one orthodontic review per year and, according to the AAO, they should have their first evaluation no later than the age of seven. Simply looking at your smile may not show the full extent of misalignment, which is why an experienced orthodontist needs to examine the jaw and teeth. During the orthodontic examination, photos, x-rays, and in some cases, teeth molds, are taken. Then, the orthodontist will determine the precise issues affecting your teeth before drafting a treatment plan.
Orthodontics is more than cosmetic medicine aimed at giving you a beautiful smile. It goes further to solve medical issues such as malocclusion and other teeth-related complications.
If you think you or a loved one may need bite correction or teeth realignment, contact Orthodontics LA, today! Our expert team is here to answer any questions you may have.
