Common Concerns About Cosmetic Orthodontics

Although straight teeth are certainly good for your overall health, some people want to straighten their simply for cosmetic reasons. A beautiful smile is important, but since the dawn of orthodontics, many adults have been reluctant to get braces due to embarrassment, cost, or other reasons. Fortunately, with products like Invisalign on the market, these concerns can be virtually eliminated.

Marielaina Perrone, DDS penned a great post on Dentistry IQ about some of the most common concerns that people have in regards to cosmetic orthodontics and we wanted to share them with the Club Reed community and its friends:

“I’m just too old for braces. Braces are for kids.”
It’s never too late to have the smile they have always wanted. No, there is no age limit for to undergo orthodontic treatment. Cosmetic orthodontics let you have the perfect smile you have always wanted without putting your life on hold so you can continue to look amazing throughout your treatment.

After all, one in every five orthodontics patients in an adult!

“Braces take too long.”
For many adults, cosmetic orthodontics can be completed in as little as six months. Depending upon the appliances used and the amount of movement required, treatment can be quite short in length.

“Orthodontic treatment is painful.”
There is a difference between discomfort and pain. All appliances take some getting used to, but it is only for a matter of months. Most of the discomfort is short-lived, lasting a few days after an adjustment appointment. In general, the discomfort does not get past the point where a Tylenol does not bring relief.

“Orthodontic braces make it more difficult to keep your teeth clean. Will this cause cavities?"
Good oral hygiene will take a bit more attention than it did before appliances were in place, but is very manageable with the right tools. Waterpiks, electric toothbrushes, fluoride rinses, and threader floss can make it much easier to keep everything clean and cavity-free.

Click here to learn more about Pittsburgh Orthodontist, Tina Reed Orthodontics!

Do You Have Malocclusion?

If you’ve ever looked at your smile in the mirror and thought “Something just doesn’t look right,” you might have malocclusion.

Malocclusion is a term that refers to the alignment of your teeth, but obviously, not everyone is born with comfortable alignment. In a perfect world, all our teeth would easily fit in our mouths without any crowding, spacing, or “twists.” The upper teeth should very slightly overlap those on the bottom, so that the grooves of your upper molars fit right into those on the bottom.

However, with so many moving parts and variables, malocclusion is extremely common. When a person tries to live with malocclusion without trying to fix it, they might not be able to perform vital functions like chewing and may also cause the cheeks and lips to be bitten—the alignment of the lower teeth is crucial in preventing the tongue from being bitten.

If you’re not sure if you have malocclusion, of course you should see a Pittsburgh orthodontist like Dr. Reed. These are some of the possible warning signs and symptoms that you have malocclusion, according to Healthline:

• the use of a pacifier after the age of three
• the prolonged use of bottle feeding in early childhood
• thumb sucking in early childhood
• injuries that result in the misalignment of the jaw
• tumors in the mouth or jaw
• abnormally shaped or impacted teeth
• poor dental care that results in improperly fitting dental fillings, crowns, or braces

         What Are the Symptoms of Malocclusion?

Depending on the classification of malocclusion, the symptoms of the disorder may be subtle or severe. Typical symptoms of malocclusion include:

• improper alignment of the teeth
• alteration in the appearance of the face
• discomfort when chewing or biting
• speech problems, including the development of a lisp
• breathing through the mouth rather than the nose 

Click here to learn more about Pittsburgh Orthodontist, Tina Reed Orthodontics!