In 2017, the Canadian Dental Association published The State of Oral Health in Canada, which concluded that the country shows excellent oral health care ratings compared to other countries. The study presented a 2010 survey from Health Canada based on the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS), which stated that 85.7 percent visit their dentists within two years. It also pointed out that 84 percent claim to have good or excellent oral health.
It’s no surprise that there are many competitive dental clinics in the country, especially in Hamilton, that provide professional oral care services like dental braces. And this specialized dental treatment is not only popular among kids or teenagers. The Canadian Association of Orthodontics says more than one in every four Canadians with braces are in the 21-year-old bracket. This number shows that people now accept that braces are not only for the young ‘uns.
Now, getting braces is essential for having a perfect smile and maintaining good oral health. So you must learn the common signs indicating your need for braces if you are on the lookout for Hamilton orthodontics services to know if you need this treatment.
Why do you need braces?
Braces help correct dental issues like crooked teeth, which can cause insecurities among adults and teenagers. Eliminating the root cause behind any self-doubt can help improve a person’s self-esteem, which, over time, can reduce stress and increase social interactions. So in a way, this orthodontic treatment can help improve a person’s mental health.
In addition, wearing braces provides long-term benefits for your oral health. A few of these include:
- Tooth decay prevention
- Gum disease prevention
- Better-chewed food
- Protecting teeth from damaged
- Fix speech problems
How do you know you need braces?
Having misaligned teeth is the standard indicator for getting fitted with braces. In most cases, leaving this oral abnormality untreated may trigger various underlying problems.
So below are the common signs you need braces, their causes, and why they need treatment immediately.
Crowding
Teeth crowding is when the jaw size provides inadequate space for the teeth, resulting in a crooked look. If you have overcrowded teeth, you were most likely born with a small jaw. If left untreated, overcrowding will cause the following problems:
- Cavities
- Gum disease
- Jaw discomfort
- Trouble in biting or chewing
- Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ)
Treatments like braces, invisible aligners, contouring, and veneers can fix overcrowding. Metal braces, however, are the best treatment for this issue as they exert pressure to correct your overcrowded teeth slowly.
Overbite
A person has an overbite when his upper front teeth extend farther than his lower teeth. This type of malocclusion or misalignment problem is often due to genetics. Habits like thumbsucking or biting on nails and small items can also be the root causes of an overbite. Other reasons behind this dental problem include teeth grinding and temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ).
An untreated overbite may cause these complications:
- Tooth decay
- Eating discomfort
- Jaw pain
- Headaches
- Speech issues
- Sleep apnea
- Difficulty in opening or closing mouth
Dental braces help misalignment problems, like an overbite. This orthodontic treatment will slowly force the upper teeth to align with the bottom.
Underbite
Like the overbite, an underbite is when the bottom teeth stick out farther than the upper teeth. If you have an underbite, you were most likely born with it. If not, you may have had some childhood habits that contributed to your condition. These habits include thumb-sucking, mouth breathing, using a pacifier or baby bottle longer, and tongue thrusting. In extreme cases, a tumour can cause an underbite.
If you have an underbite and decide to live with it, you may experience these problems later on:
- Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ)
- Chewing and biting problems
- Speech issues
- Mouth breathing
- Sleep apnea
- Facial imbalance and pain
Fixing an underbite doesn’t just prevent these problems, but it can also play a massive role in your dental care. Straightened teeth will be easier to clean, so you will also avoid dental caries and gum disease. Braces help fix underbites the same way they do with overbites. If you have a more severe case of an underbite, surgery might be your best bet in correcting the problem.
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Crossbite and Open bite
Abnormal bites, like crossbite and open bite, are when teeth don’t line up correctly. If you have a crossbite, your upper teeth slide behind your lower teeth when the mouth is closed. An open bite is when both upper and lower front teeth don’t touch when you bite.
Genetics plays a huge factor in causing these abnormal bites. Other causes are late thumbsucking and breathing through the mouth as a child. In some cases, tongue thrusting or Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) can cause an open bite.
Both abnormal bites can cause severe problems when untreated. These include the following:
- Jaw pain
- Dental caries
- Headaches
- Speech problems (lisp for open bite)
- Chewing and biting problems
It’s best to get abnormal bites treated early to prevent complications. There are a variety of orthodontics treatments, like dental braces or Invisalign, that can help fix crossbite and open bite through gradual teeth alignment. For extreme cases, surgery may be necessary.
If you wish for an alternative treatment to braces, check out Invisalign in Hamilton, Ontario. Invisalign is widely available in the province, with most clinics offering free consultation before treatment.
Gapping and Spacing
Known as diastema, gapping or spacing between the teeth is the opposite of crowding. With diastema, you have excess space for your teeth. These spaces can form anywhere in your mouth, most noticeably between the upper front teeth.
The leading causes of diastema are genetics and infection in the gums from poor dental hygiene. Tongue thrusting, piercing, and frequently biting the lower lip can also create teeth gaps.
If the diastema is from gum disease, it’s best to get it treated right away. Diastema doesn’t result in severe conditions if left untreated, but it can lead to insecurities. Getting dental braces is the most appropriate treatment in fixing teeth gaps. Braces apply force on the teeth and slowly move them together to close the spaces.
Got a sign that you need braces? Request an appointment from Dentistry on7th today.
For years, there have been many misconceptions about braces. People believe that many get braces only to look good. However, that’s just a bonus to this treatment’s many oral health benefits. Getting braces to fix dental abnormalities can help prevent various complications and underlying health problems.
So if you’re looking for a Hamilton dentist to take care of your oral problems, visit Dentistry on 7th today. We offer an extensive variety of orthodontic treatments, like corrective dental braces. We also provide professional dental advice for different oral conditions.
Contact us now for a free consultation.
FAQs on Signs You Need Braces
Can you straighten teeth without braces?
Yes, but not by yourself. There are a variety of alternatives to braces, but you have to get them all at the dentist’s office.
What are the best alternatives to braces?
Invisalign is the best alternative to braces. They are clear aligners that can help apply pressure on the teeth and correct misalignments. Dental crowns and veneers, however, can also help.
What side effects usually come with getting braces?
Braces adjust your teeth and gums to correct your dental problems, resulting in discomfort. Headaches may also happen. Although this does not occur often, you can treat them with over-the-counter medicines.
The most common side effect of wearing braces is difficulty in eating. You can’t eat any solid food in the early phase of your treatment until your mouth adapts fully to your braces, which shouldn’t take too long.