The Benefits & Choices of Orthodontic Care

Braces weren’t trendy back in the day. The dreadful nickname of “metal mouth” was often used to tease those who had to don hideously thick, metal wires and brackets across their teeth. If you wore them, you likely didn’t smile for your school pictures. Then, there was the thought – or nightmare – of experiencing your first kiss with a mouth full of potentially hazardous braces. Some teens preferred going “au naturel,” electing to live with a slightly crooked smile over a silver one. But today, braces are speaking volumes as trendy fashion statements ─ making the corrective dental process easier to swallow! Teens can now choose from a variety of color combinations for a personalized look or opt for the “invisible” kind. With less cumbersome materials and a variety of choices, more and more teens are wearing braces without the frown of physical and emotional strain.

Treatment Benefits

“Benefits of orthodontic treatment go beyond having a straight, attractive smile,” says Noelle Williams, DMD, College Park Orthodontics. “We often see patients whose teeth are biting in a traumatic occlusion. This means that they’re wearing on opposing teeth or even creating gum and bone loss.” Besides preventing serious dental problems in a patient’s future, braces provide other benefits. Dr. Williams explains that straight and properly spaced teeth help the patient maintain better hygiene because straight teeth are easier to floss and brush which helps to prevent cavities.

Jason Battle, DDS, CAGS, Premiere Orthodontics, agrees. “The benefits to getting braces are numerous.” He says that braces often give a patient confidence which results in higher self-esteem. “A properly functioning bite also eases chewing, resulting in satisfaction while eating.”

In addition to enabling better oral hygiene, higher self-esteem, and prevention of periodontal disease and tooth decay, Williams says, “Studies have shown that some orthodontic appliances aimed at correcting jaw alignment can help with TMJ issues, sleep apnea, teeth grinding, and snoring.” Orthodontic treatment is also linked to overall health. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, “Researchers are continuing to find associations between cavities, gum disease, and heart disease. Also, a misaligned jaw can cause chronic migraines.” Orthodontic treatments can also:

• Reduce chances of losing teeth as a result of misaligned bites.
• Produce fresher breath as food will not stay lodged between straightened teeth.
• Ease chewing and digestive difficulties.
• Correct speech impairments.

Cool Choices

There are many orthodontic options to choose from, and some of these trendy picks can serve as style statements for teens. This is a far cry from braces of yesteryear, when thick metal was the only possibility. Braces are also more comfortable than the previously bothersome varieties. Dr. Williams states, “Choices today in orthodontic treatment include appliances you don’t remove and those that you can.” Patients have a variety of options available to them. “Metal braces with fun colors (or even glow in the dark), fun shapes (WildSmile – hearts, stars, flowers, etc.), behind the teeth braces (lingual), and ceramic clear braces are just some options.”

Dr. Battle also lists several options: clear, silver, gold, active retainers that move teeth, and braces that fit behind the teeth. “There are also clear aligners, such as Clear Correct and Invisalign.” However, Dr. Battle warns about opting for esthetics and trends over function. “The trends are toward anything cosmetic. Unfortunately, what you gain in esthetics, you sometimes lose in accuracy and increased treatment times.” Some choices take longer to straighten the teeth than traditional metal braces. Therefore, patients need to discuss function with their orthodontist as they ponder the plethora of choices.

“Some of our patients ask specifically for clear aligner therapy, but their cases are too extreme and difficult to be treated with aligners,” explains Jeffrey A. Martin, DMD, MS, MartinDontics. “We use Incognito Hidden Braces. These custom-made brackets are placed on the back side of the teeth so they are totally hidden. Unlike aligners, there is no need to remove the braces to eat or drink, and therefore, there is no risk of losing them; our patients like that. The great news is that Incognito Hidden Braces can treat any type of case no matter how difficult.”

Be a Prudent Patient

Wearing braces doesn’t leave a patient all smiles, all the time; it takes some work on the patient’s part. “The biggest issue with orthodontic patients is oral hygiene. It takes commitment to keep everything clean and healthy.  Also, when patients don’t wear their retainers, the teeth can relapse and become crooked again. We usually bond a permanent retainer behind the lower front teeth to prevent the most common type of orthodontic relapse,” explains John Beattie, DDS, MSD, Beattie Family Orthodontics. Patients with clear removable aligners must be dedicated to wearing them full-time for effectiveness. Chew on these tips:

• Do be sure your teen wears his/her retainer once the braces come off.
• Do ask your orthodontist about products that protect the lips (such as Braceguard) if your teen plays a wind instrument or contact sport.
• Do use simple tools, such as electronic toothbrushes with timers, water flossers, and anti-plaque rinses to help solve hygiene issues.
• Do provide smart snack options for your teen (yogurt, cottage cheese, applesauce, ripened fruits, etc.).
• Don’t be lackadaisical about the list of “off-limits” foods.
• Don’t bite nails or pen tops, chew gum, or eat sticky snacks.
• Don’t rush or skimp on hygiene!

Myrna Beth Haskell is the author of LIONS and TIGERS and TEENS: Expert advice and support for the conscientious parent just like you (Unlimited Publishing LLC, 2012).