Find A Dentist
Enter a zip code to speak to a Dentist that serves your area.
Teeth Straightening - Teeth Alignment
What is Teeth Straightening?
As teeth grow into the mouth, they push one another and adjust according to the space available in the mouth. In some cases, teeth begin to grow out of alignment or in ways that may not be ideal. This can cause both cosmetic problems when patients are unhappy with the appearance of their teeth as well as more serious health concerns, such as jaw pain and difficulty speaking or eating. Teeth straightening procedures are designed to realign the teeth to alleviate these problems.
What does Teeth Straightening do?
Teeth straightening must be done over an extended period of time. This is due to the fact that the teeth tend to grow in very slowly, and moving them too quickly can cause instability. By straightening the teeth gradually the dentist will have a greater degree of control over the growth patterns of the teeth.
What are the advantages of Teeth Straightening?
Caps and certain types of crowns are often used to fill in spaces between the teeth. In many situations, however, teeth straightening procedures can be used to correct those issues without relying on a dental implant to fix them. Teeth straightening procedures may be somewhat painful and can require uncomfortable or unsightly mouth implants for a short period of time, but the benefits to cosmetic appearance and health are substantial and tend to last for a long time.
Who is a candidate for Teeth Straightening?
Teeth straightening is most commonly done for adolescents whose teeth are growing in. It's not often performed on children who still have baby teeth, because the benefits would be impermanent. Occasionally, teeth straightening measures can help to address issues of teeth that are already fully grown in and which have begun to shift or twist over time, so the procedure is relatively common in adults as well.
What does the Teeth Straightening procedure involve?
The most common method of straightening teeth is a set of braces or orthodontic implants. These consist of a set of brackets that are bonded to the teeth and connected to a metal cross wire via elastic bands. By adjusting the bands and the cross wire, the dentist encourages the teeth to grow in certain specific directions over time. In other cases, a retainer or mouth guard can be sufficient to encourage proper growth of the teeth.
Most patients will wear braces for a period lasting between a few months and a couple of years. After this time, a retainer must be worn routinely in order to ensure that the teeth do not move out of position.
What are the risks?
There are few risks to having a teeth straightening procedure done. Braces and other orthodontic implants are safe for use in children, although they do come with certain food limitations and must be cleaned regularly to avoid infection or disease. There is some concern about swallowing and choking on a retainer, so these devices are typically not given to young children.
| Invisalign® |
Dentists in Beverly Hills, CA
Dr. Kevin B. Sands, D.D.S.
Dr. Kevin B. Sands specializes in cosmetic dentistry, taking pride in offering the finest in patient care and services to each and every patient. He is determined to give you the smile you deserve! In fact, some of the most beautiful smiles in Hollywood have come through our doors. Dr. Kevin B. Sands has trained with some of the worlds most prominent cosmetic dental specialists. He is rapidly becoming known Beverly Hills leading cosmetic dentist for people ...
