Orthodontics Aren’t Just Cosmetic

Orthodontics Aren’t Just Cosmetic

You’ve been thinking about your smile, wishing it were a little bit straighter. Maybe some of your teeth are overlapping, maybe you’ve got sizable gaps between several of your teeth, or perhaps you have an overbite. You’ve considered orthodontic treatments, but worried that it would make you appear to be vain. Furthermore, you’re hesitant to walk around with “metal mouth” like the teenagers of your youth. You’re not alone in your thinking. So many people think of orthodontic treatment as only cosmetic dentisrty. Yes, a straighter smile is ultimately one of the results of orthodontic treatment, but at Reston Serenity Smiles, we want you to know that orthodontic treatments such as Invisalign do so much more. Here are some examples:

1. Orthodontics can prevent tooth loss. When your teeth overlap, they are harder to keep clean, particularly in between teeth. These areas are often ignored, allowing plaque bacteria to harden into tartar and cause gum disease, the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. After your teeth have been straightened by braces, they become easier to clean thoroughly and reduce your chances of getting gum disease.
2. Orthodontics can eliminate pain associated with jaw misalignment. If your upper and lower teeth don’t meet properly when you close your mouth, you could have a misaligned bite. This type of misalignment is associated with temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMD. TMD can cause headaches, neck aches, shoulder pain, ear aches, facial swelling, as well as jaw pain. When we straighten your teeth through orthodontics, your bite becomes aligned, minimizing your chances of experiencing the pain associated with TMD and other jaw disorders.
3. Orthodontics can help you chew more efficiently. The first step in the digestion process is chewing your food. If your bite doesn’t meet properly, you are unable to chew food sufficiently. With a corrected bite, your molars meet as they should, making it easier to chew your food into the tiny particles that make it easier for your digestive system to do its job.
4. Orthodontics can boost your confidence. This is perhaps the most important reason to commit to orthodontic treatment. If you spend any time at all worrying about what your smile looks like, it’s too much. Too many people shy away from photo opportunities, cover their mouths when they laugh or speak, and smile with a closed mouth — all because they’re unhappy with their smiles. When you’re happy with your smile, you’re more willing to share it with the world. The confidence that comes with a beautiful smile can be life-changing.

For those who are concerned with “metal mouth” or “brace face,” fear not: Reston Serenity Smiles uses Invisalign clear aligners, so no one has to know that you’re receiving treatment. What’s even better is that the aligners are removed when you eat and clean your teeth, giving you freedom that traditional braces don’t provide.

If you’ve been thinking of orthodontic treatment and still aren’t convinced of its importance, give us a call to schedule a consultation. We proudly serve patients in Reston, Virginia, and the surrounding communities.