If you are affected by crooked teeth, speak to your dentist about teeth straightening. Straightening your teeth is very important even if you are deciding this later in life. Teeth straightening reduces dental health complications, prolongs the life of your teeth and also transforms the appearance of your smile. Dental health complications such as cavities, tooth decay and gum disease are common in patients with crooked teeth. With braces Stoke-on-Trent Stoke-on-Trent, you can reduce your chance of developing such issues, save yourself from pain and discomfort and reduce the need for extensive dental treatment, saving time and money at the same time. Once you have straightened your teeth, all you need to do is visit your dentist once every six months and have your teeth cleaned regularly by your hygienist to maintain healthy teeth and gums.

Braces can increase the longevity of your teeth by reducing dental health complications as mentioned, saving you from tooth loss and missing teeth. Missing teeth can have a massive impact on all aspects of your life; it can affect the appearance of your smile and your overall appearance. Moreover, you can lose all your teeth within a short time, affecting the function of your mouth and your ability to speak, bite and chew properly. Missing teeth can also result in gum recession and bone decay. The complications are endless; therefore, you need to talk to your dentist about braces so that you can maintain your natural teeth for the rest of your life. Also, as mentioned earlier, straightening your teeth can transform the appearance of your smile, which is very important for boosting self-confidence and self-esteem, encouraging you to smile more often and bringing positivity into your life.

Thanks to the advances in dental technology, there are many different types of braces to improve the alignment of teeth. Depending on your unique dental needs and personal preferences, your dentist can offer you traditional metal braces, clear or ceramic braces, self-ligating braces or lingual braces. Each of these is suited for adult patients of all ages, although traditional metal braces are more recommended for children and teenagers. Adults who opt to undergo orthodontic treatment often prefer a discreet option, and this is what all the other types of braces can offer.

Traditional braces

Traditional metal braces feature metal brackets and stainless steel archwires held in place by small elastic ligatures. The wire is bent to the shape of your jaw, and as it straightens, it evens out the alignment of your teeth; this is a very gradual process and can take many months or years but works on complex dental alignment issues to create neatly aligned smiles. Self-ligating braces are similar to traditional braces, also consisting of metal brackets and an archwire; however, the wires slot into the brackets, and there is no need for elastic ligatures. In comparison to traditional braces, it is thought that self-ligating braces are more comfortable and easier to clean as elastic ligatures can often trap food particles in and around the brackets, increasing your chance of cavities and tooth decay. Traditional braces need to be tightened regularly; however, with self-ligating braces, the need for tightening is eliminated, meaning that you require fewer appointments at the dental practice. Although self-ligating braces can also be used for complex orthodontic issues, traditional braces are thought to be more effective, as they exert more pressure; therefore, your dentist will help you decide which is best for you, depending on how misaligned your teeth are.

Discreet teeth straightening

If you are looking for a more discreet treatment option, speak to your dentist and find out about lingual or ceramic braces. Ceramic braces work in the same way as traditional metal braces; however, the brackets are designed to match the colour of your teeth and draw less attention to your mouth, but for further discretion, lingual braces have the brackets attached to the back surface of your teeth. They still work in the same way as traditional braces, but they are completely hidden from sight, and no one will even notice you undergoing orthodontic treatment. Speak to your dentist today to find out more about the different types of braces, and together, you can make an informed decision about the right option.