Back in the day, the only way that you could have your teeth straightened was to have the old fashioned, sometimes uncomfortable and very visible, metal wire and bracket style braces.
Perhaps for this reason, many people will have decided against this treatment and, as a result, lived their life with crooked teeth.
With the rise of celebrity ‘culture’, more and more people are becoming aware of the benefits of cosmetic dentistry; not only the very popular teeth whitening procedure, but also modern orthodontics (braces) that can help you to have straight and even teeth in a much more pleasant way than in the past.
But why should you want to have your teeth straightened anyway?
Aesthetics
It would be remiss of us to claim that people don’t have this treatment simply to improve their smile. This is still the number one reason why people choose to have this treatment at the Sync Dental Centres in Addlestone.
There is nothing wrong with having a nice smile, and it can have a surprising effect on yourself and those around you. In addition to looking the best that you can do, many patients that have had this treatment find that they are less self conscious about their crooked teeth, and, as a result, start to feel more confident. This new found confidence can have a knock on effect in your daily life, and situations like relationships and career can benefit from your new smile and confidence. Many reports have also found that people respond more positively to a nice white smile, but are put off when someone smiles, only to reveal crooked or discoloured teeth.
If you are a younger person, you probably also use photo sharing platforms like Instagram. As your image may remain online for many years, it is always nice to look back and not have to regret that you didn’t get your teeth straightened at the time.
Practical reasons
Yes, it is great to have a nice looking smile, and orthodontic treatments can do just that. Having straight teeth though, also has practical benefits.
If your teeth are crooked and uneven, you will probably suffer from an incorrect bite (malocclusion). This means that as you bite and grind your teeth together when eating, you are likely to unevenly wear away the enamel on your teeth. Once the enamel becomes damaged, decay is likely to follow and you may require restorative treatments such as a filling or a crown. Teeth that have become crowded, or have overlapped, are notoriously hard to keep clean. Although you may not be able to reach into those tight spaces with a toothbrush or even floss, you can be sure that tiny food particles and bacteria will find their way in there. As they lodge there, and you are unable to remove them, bacteria and acids will be produced which will lead to tooth decay, and gum disease.
What is the best way to straighten teeth?
There is only one reliable way to start the process to straighten your teeth effectively, and that is to have a consultation with one of our Addlestone dental team. They will be able to examine you and advise the best approach possible, for the maximum benefit.
There are two main types of orthodontics that we provide at the Sync Dental Centres. Each is excellent for its own purpose.
For those who require minor adjustment of the social six teeth (the visible ones when you smile), we may suggest the Six Month Smiles system. This does use a conventional wire and brackets approach, but they are made in finer and teeth coloured materials, rendering them almost invisible. The beauty of this method is that the treatment time is relatively short, depending on the extent of the adjustment needed.
One of our most popular dental braces is the Invisalign orthodontic system. This is generally used where a large number of teeth need realigning, and especially where it is not just the social six. This treatment does typically take longer, but the system uses a series of almost invisible transparent trays that fit over the teeth. These should be removed both for eating food and when cleaning your teeth. For most patients, this is not only an efficient way to have straight and even teeth, but a method which allows you to do so in comfort and with minimal visibility of the braces while you are wearing them.
Whether you want to improve your smile or wish to improve the health of your teeth, we are happy to discuss the options available to you, including our modern teeth brace systems.
If you would like to book an appointment at our Addlestone dental clinic, you can do so by calling our reception team on 01932 856541. We look forward to welcoming you!