A Teenager's Guide to Braces

When issues and problems arise in your jaw, teeth, or their alignment, a professional orthodontist can help you restore your smile and repair the problem. Here are some treatments your local orthodontist can use to help you or your family member.

Correct Teeth Crowding

An orthodontist treats many types of problems, but one of the main services they deal with is with the treatment of crooked and overcrowded teeth. Overcrowding occurs when there is not enough space in your mouth for all the teeth to grow in and position properly. In overcrowding, you can often find teeth growing one in front of one another and teeth sometimes erupting from the gum line above the rest of the teeth.

Your orthodontist has many types of braces to repair this type of issue, including traditional metal braces made of high-grade stainless steel and attached to the front of your teeth using tooth cement. And some types of braces can be placed on the back side of the teeth to keep them out of sight. There are also braces that are clear and attach to the front of the teeth similar to metal braces.

And another type of braces come in a set of clear, molded liners that fit over your teeth, like Invisalign. The liners are custom made to progressively move your teeth to straighten them in a manner planned out by your orthodontist. Each liner you wear has a slightly different fit to push the teeth into their proper place.

Realign Improper Bite

You can also see your orthodontist to correct an improper bite, such as underbite, crossbite, or an overbite. In these situations, the bottom row of teeth may protrude in front of your top teeth.

An overbite, crossbite, or underbite not only can affect your appearance and make it difficult for you to bite down, but it can cause gum recession and eventually tooth loss due to the excess pressure placed on your teeth.

Your orthodontist will use a set of braces to move the teeth that are improperly lining up in your bite to a correct position. You can see your orthodontist to correct an improper bite as soon as your adult teeth begin to grow in, which helps to prevent gum loss.

Maintain Tooth-Loss Spaces

An orthodontist can also help children who have lost their baby teeth too early and their adult teeth will not come in for some time. An orthodontist will place a spacer in the gap where the baby tooth once was to hold the position open until an adult tooth comes in. This helps the adult teeth to grow into the right spot and prevents overcrowding.