If your crooked teeth prevent you from smiling confidently, it’s time to discover how to straighten teeth and the best teeth straightening options.
The method of straightening teeth involves utilizing external force and pressure over time to move and align teeth into the proper position in accordance with a person’s bite. Simply put, crooked, misaligned, or misplaced teeth can be straightened.
Straightening your teeth aims to improve dental health by fixing misaligned teeth, underbites, overbites, deep bites, open bites, cross bites, gaps between teeth, and other dental and skeletal dental irregularities.
You can go for teeth straightening procedures at any age, from 16 to 60. Although the mouth is still developing, the ideal age is between 10 and 14. Young children should have all their permanent teeth prior to beginning orthodontic treatment, which is the only age restriction.
The only need is that your gums shouldn’t be fragile because braces place additional strain on both the teeth and gums.
An orthodontist is a specialist to consult if you want to find the best solution for straightening your teeth. When consistent pressure is applied to teeth, a process known as “orthodontic tooth movement” occurs.
Dental braces, aligners, and tooth retainers are the major appliances orthodontists utilize to achieve this movement. Dental surgery is typically only necessary in cases of severe bite issues. If you are looking for options on how to get straightened teeth, continue reading.
Types of Teeth Misalignment and Their Causes
Dr. Edward Angle, a dentist from the United States hailed as the “father of contemporary orthodontics,” was the first to classify tooth misalignments into different categories. He gave them the name malocclusion and divided them into three main groups based on where the top first molar was located.
Class I: The front teeth are slightly crowded, but the molars are in alignment (most common).
Class II: The lower and upper jaws overlap each other.
Class III: The lower jaw is forced forward in front of the upper jaw.
Seven different types of misalignment exist within these three classifications, they are as follows:
Overbite (class II): It is a condition in which the top teeth and jaw protrude noticeably over the lower teeth and jaw.
Underbite (class III): The forward-projecting lower jaw (creating a bulldog appearance).
Crossbite (class II): occurs when parts of the lower teeth protrude beyond the upper teeth.
Open bite (class I, II, or III): The front upper and lower teeth do not make contact when the mouth is closed.
Overjet (class II): Refers to when the upper front teeth are in advance of the lower front teeth.
Crowded teeth (class I): Occurs when the jaw does not have enough room for the teeth to be fully aligned.
Diastema (class I): When there are little spaces between teeth.
Best Ways for Teeth Straightening
Most cases of malocclusion are inherited. Other causes include childhood habits, birth defects, failed dental procedures, injuries and teeth abnormalities. Most cases of malocclusion can be corrected with orthodontic treatment. The treatment and teeth alignment cost will depend on your condition’s type, severity, and age.
Here are the 3 most common treatments:
1. Dental Braces:
The standard orthodontic treatment is wearing dental braces. If you’re wondering, “how long do braces take to straighten teeth?” they typically take 90 to 120 minutes to put on and require follow-up adjustment appointments every 6 to 10 weeks over a year (depending on how bad the condition is), according to the American Association of Orthodontists. Your doctor would be able to give you a precise time frame after consultation.
According to the American Association of Orthodontists, there are three main categories of braces:
- Metal braces: Generally effective and affordable, but not very attractive.
- Ceramic braces: Well-hidden (stain-prone) but potentially more expensive.
- Lingual supports: Costly but almost undetectable. It can possibly result in tongue soreness and a brief lisp.
2. Clear Dental Aligners:
Clear dental aligners are the most effective for mild to moderate misalignment. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, here is what to anticipate:
- Your orthodontist will build an aligner tray using an impression of your teeth.
- You will feel a bit of pressure on your teeth when initially putting on the aligners. Your teeth will move after one to two days, and the strain will lessen.
- Up until your teeth are in the ideal alignment, you will switch out your tray every one to two weeks.
After completing orthodontic treatment, you must wear retainers, a wire-based dental appliance, overnight to guarantee that the teeth stay in their newly corrected positions. However, can teeth be straightened with retainers alone?
Retainers are a standalone teeth-straightening tool that can be used on adults who just need minor teeth correction. Remember that while wearing a retainer as an alternative to braces could sound tempting, this choice is just a possibility in a very small number of situations.
4. Braces Vs. Aligners:
Metal braces consist of brackets that are bonded to your teeth. Your teeth are covered with brackets when you wear metal braces. Slots in the brackets are used to thread wires.
Typically, the brackets are constructed of stainless steel, and tiny rubber bands keep the wires attached to them. Your teeth will be correctly aligned by the continual, moderate push applied by the wires.
Thin, transparent trays called aligners are created to fit your teeth. Aligners can be taken out, unlike metal braces. Putting them in and getting them out is the patient’s responsibility.
In comparison to metal braces, aligners have some advantages. Since aligners can be taken out for cleaning, it is simpler to brush and floss with them. Additionally, unlike metal brackets, food won’t get stuck.
Because aligners don’t have brackets or wires that can come undone, they can need fewer adjustments and less urgent orthodontist appointments. The major advantage of transparent aligners is their near-invisibility, which means most people won’t even notice you are wearing them.
Not only does getting your teeth straightened make you look and feel better, but it will also help you maintain good oral health and prevent challenges and health issues brought on by crooked or misaligned teeth. The effectiveness of your orthodontic treatment depends on consulting with a skilled orthodontist because every set of teeth is unique.