When it comes to restorative dentistry, most people accept the need to have any necessary treatment to restore their teeth, even if they might feel a little anxious about it. One exception to this is when patients are told that their teeth need to be straightened, preferring to avoid it. While some people choose teeth straightening for cosmetic purposes, uneven teeth can also cause many problems which can become worse over time if not treated. For example, uneven biting can lead to premature wearing of tooth enamel or even broken teeth. It makes sense then to have these teeth straightened.<\/p>\n
Even when people accept this, there is sometimes a real reluctance to wear traditional style braces to straighten them. There are many reasons for this with some being more justified than others. We will take a look at these today, along with other, newer orthodontic options that we have available at our handy Ipswich dentists<\/a>.<\/p>\n One of the key reasons that people turn down the opportunity to have straighter teeth is that the traditional braces that are often used are very visible. Although some improvements have been made in this area over time, fixed wire and bracket type braces can be seen by those around you and, for some people, this can cause a loss of confidence. As we will see later, there are modern alternatives to this system which are much more discreet.<\/p>\n Anything that \u2018pushes\u2019 your teeth into position is likely to cause some discomfort, at least initially, but the fact that wiring is used can lead to additional soreness, especially if it catches on the soft tissues in the oral cavity. Regular adjustments of the braces by the dentist can also cause soreness for a few days afterwards.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n People that want to have straighter teeth are usually also proud of their smile and generally look after their teeth well, with regular brushing and flossing. This can prove more difficult with traditional braces though. In addition to this, it is not unusual for food to become trapped in the wiring. A combination of this and compromised cleaning means that problems such as tooth decay are more likely in patients that wear these braces.<\/p>\n One concern of patients of the Foxhall Dental Practice when told they need braces is how it will affect what they eat. With regular braces, this can be a problem. Hard foods such as nuts can bend the wiring and cause them to need repairing. Sticky foods can get stuck and become a real mess, especially foods like toffee. Chewy or crunchy foods can also damage the braces, and, of course, there are always foods such as spinach which can get trapped in a very visible manner.<\/p>\n Having wiring in your mouth can lead to a few embarrassing issues until you become accustomed. Excess salivation is one as the body tries to rid itself of this unexpected presence. Speech problems may also occur, for example a lisp.<\/p>\n From the above, it isn\u2019t difficult to understand some people\u2019s reluctance to have their teeth straightened. It doesn\u2019t have to be this way though and most of the above issues can be addressed by using modern orthodontics such as the Invisalign teeth straightening<\/a> system. This completely abandons the use of wires and brackets that cause so many of the above problems.<\/p>\n Instead of wires and brackets, our Ipswich dentists will take scans and impressions of your teeth to determine what needs to be done to correct their positions. From these, a series of transparent \u2018trays\u2019 are made for each individual patient which fit directly over the teeth. Each tray progressively encourages the teeth to move towards the desired position. The first tray starts this process and is worn for a short time. When it has achieved its aim, the next is worn and so on until your teeth are straight again.<\/p>\n The transparency of the trays means that these are much more discreet than traditional braces but the benefits don\u2019t end there. Problems like food becoming trapped, difficulty in cleaning, limited choice of foods that you can eat etc are all resolved in one simple way.<\/p>\n Unlike traditional braces which have to be removed and adjusted by a dentist, the patient can simply remove the trays when they wish to eat meals or for cleaning their teeth, before replacing them afterwards. It really is that simple.<\/p>\n If you are unhappy with your crooked or uneven teeth and would like to find out more about Invisalign, why not call the Foxhall Dental Practice today to arrange a consultation with one of our dentists? You can contact us via the form on our website or by calling us on 01473 258396<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you need to have your teeth straightened, be aware of the potential pitfalls of traditional braces. When it comes to restorative dentistry, most people accept the need to have any necessary treatment to restore their teeth, even if they …<\/p>\nAesthetics<\/h3>\n
Discomfort<\/h3>\n
Difficulty cleaning teeth and gums<\/h3>\n
Difficulty in eating<\/h3>\n
Speech issues<\/h3>\n
What are the alternatives to traditional braces?<\/h3>\n