Lots of younger Americans get dental braces to help with their tooth development during their formative years, but in reality, dental patients of different ages may also be able to benefit from these kinds of orthodontic solutions for imposing direction on individual teeth in the mouth. Dental professionals order dental braces for patients for a variety of different reasons.
Here are some of the main reasons that patients get dental braces from their dentist or orthodontists.
1. Crooked Teeth
The primary reason that many patients get dental braces is simply to straighten or align their teeth. Orthodontists can often identify when tooth development in younger patients includes teeth that are growing at an angle where they will not provide an optimal bite at maturity. In these cases, braces can be an effective solution for making sure the teeth grow straight. These dental installations are often done between the ages of 8 to 14 when formative growth is occurring.
2. Crowded Teeth
Dental braces may also be used as part of a greater solution for a small mouth where teeth are crowded and cannot grow properly. Some patients with crowded teeth have teeth that are growing somewhat “sideways” or in other regular patterns. Races can be used to redirect teeth after extractions or in different kinds of situations where making room for teeth is a priority.
3. Overbites and Underbites
Braces can also be effective for patients with an overbites or underbite, where one or the other of the upper and lower “arches” are projecting to the front or back of the other arch. In these situations, professional dental care givers seek to create a natural bite that will eliminate the overbite or underbite, helping the teeth to come together in the correct way.
4. General Malocclusion
Otherwise known as a “bad bite,” this category of dental issues includes a variety of different situations where the patient’s bite does not provide for proper function. Dentists and orthodontists look at different solutions for making sure the teeth come together in a way that won’t wear them down or interfere with proper chewing in the long run.
5. Misaligned Jaw
Other patients who consider getting dental braces might have a condition known as a misaligned jaw. In these situations, braces can help in a relationship between rows of teeth as they are attached to the jaw bone.
6. Specific Functional Problems
As mentioned, sometimes braces are installed to help prevent certain kinds of problems later. Misalignment in the mouth can lead to problems with chewing, as well as other kinds of problems including “breathing problems” where correcting teeth can help with the natural flow of air through the mouth. In these cases, there may be a range of solutions to choose from, but patients may select braces especially if they also work toward a cosmetic fix for the mouth.
These are some of the main reasons why doctors recommend dental braces to individuals who are looking at solving various dental problems.
