In the United States, the second most common reason for braces is an overbite and today adults make up 20% of patients with braces. With the availability of clear aligners like Invisalign, more and more people are opting to correct their smiles for a variety of reasons. While products like Invisalign prevent patients from worrying about clunky traditional braces, they can be used to help fix many oral problems. If you think you might need braces, or if orthodontic specialists have recommended them in the past, here is what you need to know about what they can treat.
Six Signs You Could Benefit from Braces
- If you lost your baby teeth early and the gaps were not immediately replaced by adult teeth, development could have been affected. This could have contributed to crooked or crowded teeth that need to be realigned by braces. Orthodontic specialists will be able to determine the type of problem you’re experiencing and create a treatment plan that best works to fix the issue.
- If your teeth are crooked or misaligned and causing you to be self-conscious about your smile, seeking braces for cosmetic purposes is a popular option. Adults most often opt for clear options like Invisalign for this purpose, as it allows them to go through treatment without it being advertized via clunky metal braces. You can set up a consultation with your orthodontist to see if this option would be best for you.
- If you experience jaw popping and grind or if your jaw is prone to shifting, this could be a sign that your teeth and jawline didn’t develop normally. This can lead to issues with facial structure down the line and even cause you pain if not treated. Orthodontic specialists are adept at helping remedy this problem and can create a treatment plan to help your unique case.
- If you have problems that cause you to constantly bite your cheek or if your teeth hit the roof of your mouth, this could be a sign that you have an underbite or overbite. Braces can be used to correct this issue.
- If you are prone to breathing from your mouth, this may be a sign of irregular development of your teeth and jaw. Orthodontic treatment can help rectify this and allow you to breathe easier.
- If you have a hard time chewing food due to misaligned teeth or jaw placement, braces can also help rectify this problem and get you back to enjoying the foods you love.
Most orthodontic specialists recommend children begin visiting them by the age of seven. This is because many of the issues listed above can be caught and more easily corrected while the body is still developing. However, if you’re an adult experiencing these problems, braces and treatment are still an option to consider and many adults are opting for treatment due to innovations like Invisalign. If you’re tired of struggling with jaw problems and misaligned teeth, set up a free orthodontic consultation today and see what an orthodontic specialist can do for you.
