Dental Treatments Available to Correct Your Bite Without Braces.
Your Coral Springs Dentist Can Suggest Alternatives to Braces.
Is it possible to correct your bite without the need of braces? When you consult with the right Coral Springs dental group, you can learn about other options. There are certain types of conditions that will allow for brace alternatives such as overcrowding, malocclusion, or an underdeveloped palate. If you have been diagnosed by a dentist with any of those conditions, ask about other types of treatment to correct the issue. With the advancements in dentistry, you can have a happy smile in no time!
Know Your Options.
What are some of the alternative options to having braces? While not all options will work on issues such as crookedness or overcrowding, asking your dentist their professional opinion is the first step into knowing what you can do about the problem. The three most common alternatives are retainers, devices, and palatal expanders. First, let’s review what a retainer is used for as well as the benefits it brings. A retainer can be used if there is a limited movement of your teeth and they need to be realigned. For example, if you only have a few teeth that need to be pushed forward or backward, a spring retainer can be beneficial. If your teeth require complex movement, retainers are not the best option. Next, devices such as the Herbst appliance will straighten the teeth by correcting jaw imperfections. This device allows the lower jaw to move forward to correct the bite. Typically worn for a year, the device has a metal extension that will attach to the molars and will connect the upper and lower jaw bones. There is also a lower lingual holding arch. What this does is prevents molars from shifting forward. When teeth shift forward, it causes crowded teeth to spread out. The holding arch is described as a U-shaped bar in which two bands are cemented to the two lower molars. Another device used commonly is headgear. If you have protruding upper teeth, the problem may be corrected with wearing headgear for several hours each day. This device will put pressure on the upper teeth and jaw, which will move both the jaw as well as the teeth into a corrected position. Then there are palatal expanders. These are used to widen the upper jaw so that the upper teeth fit better together. Expanders are typically used for children or teenagers to get rid of crowding or crossbites. The way that palatal expanders work is that it is attached to the upper jaw or the lower jaw area of the mouth and then bands are placed around the teeth. An upper jaw expander will stretch the bone and cartilage to expand the arch and prevent crowding as new adult teeth are coming in. The lower jaw expander is used to move the teeth.
Get Tips from Professional Staff at Dr. Barbag’s Office.
No matter which option is right for you, whether it is braces or the alternatives, keeping up with good oral hygiene practices is a must. If you have a retainer, you will need to remember that it needs cleaning as well. Using a soft toothbrush, gently brush the retainer and rinse it. If you do not take care of the retainer, you will notice a bad odor from it and that will eventually lead to plaque and bacteria buildup on it. When this happens, you may start to notice that it is no longer fitting in your mouth properly. If you have palatal expanders, you need to continue to floss and brush your teeth several times a day. Remember to pay attention to the areas at the edges of the expander and where it touches or covers the gum line.
Make an Appointment Today for our Coral Springs Office.
Regardless of which type of device that you have, or if you don’t have any, talk to your Coral Springs dentist for the best advice to keep your mouth and teeth in good shape. You should see your dentist at least two times a year for a cleaning and for preventative measures. Not taking care of your oral hygiene can lead to many issues including heart disease, diabetes, infection, and the loss of the ability to chew or speak properly. Our Coral Springs dental office has dental hygienists that have extensive experience in their field and who will happily provide you with suggestions on keeping up on a good oral hygiene routine. Visit our website today to schedule an appointment. For our patient’s convenience, we accept most dental insurance plans and we also offer financing for major dental treatments.
