Seeing an orthodontist can help correct dental problems such as crooked teeth, crowded teeth, overbites, underbites and disorders of the jaw joints. These problems if left untreated can cause decay, gum disease, toothaches and speech and chewing problems.
During your regular dental appointment, your dentist will be the first one to notice problems. He or she will recommend that you see an orthodontist for correcting jaw and teeth alignment problems. There are also some simple steps you can take to examine your own teeth. Here are seven signs that indicate you might need orthodontic treatment.
Sign #1: Crowded or crooked teeth
Crooked teeth can occur due to a variety of reasons. It could be because your adult teeth came delayed or early or there is not enough space in your jaw. It can be hard to clean your teeth and may make you self-conscious due to its appearance.
Sign #2: Teeth that are too far apart
Gaps in your teeth can be due to tooth loss, missing teeth or when you have proportionally small teeth. This could impair the functioning of your bite and jaw and can be treated with aligners.
Sign #3: Top teeth overlap or protrude out over bottom teeth
Everyone has a slight overbite where your upper teeth slightly overlap your lower teeth. If you notice that you don’t see much of your lower teeth when biting down, you may have an overbite. An overbite can cause premature tooth wear and can be corrected with orthodontic treatment.
Sign #4: Bottom teeth overlap top teeth
The opposite of an overbite is called an underbite. This occurs when lower teeth extend past the upper teeth when you bite down. This can be treated by aligning your teeth and jaw.
Sign #5: Jaw or mouth pain
Some symptoms are felt rather than seen. If you experience pain in your mouth and jaw, you should see a dentist right away. When your teeth are misaligned, it increases the likelihood of having plaque or decaying food particles build up. This can lead to periodontal disease, gingivitis and even tooth loss.
Sign #6: Having difficulties chewing or biting
Teeth that are misaligned can affect your ability to eat comfortably. If you find yourself biting the insides of your cheeks or your tongue often, it may be because your teeth are crooked or your bite is off.
Sign #7: Speech issues
Do notice how you speak, if you notice a lisp or have trouble articulating certain words, it may be time to schedule an appointment with an orthodontist. It may be the result of malocclusion or misaligned teeth.
Orthodontic treatment is more than just for aesthetics, it will help keep your teeth healthy for a lifetime. Our Specialist Orthodontists are experienced in providing the correct advice and treatment for invisible aligners, metal and ceramic braces. If you are observing some of these above signs and wish to consult with our orthodontists, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Your dental family, Le MinT’S, is here for you.