There are 3 main reasons individuals seek orthodontic treatment:
- To improve facial and smile appearance
- To improve oral health
- To improve oral function
- To improve facial and smile appearance
Do you know an adult or child who feels unattractive because of crooked teeth or misaligned jaw? Is this person preoccupied with his or her appearance? Does this person cover his or her mouth when speaking or laughing, hesitate to smile, or attempt to hide his or her profile?
It is a proven fact that the results of orthodontic treatment have a great positive impact on an individual’s self- esteem and self-confidence. Many research studies have shown that an attractive smile carries social benefits at all ages and levels of society, while an unattractive smile can be a significant social handicap. Appearance can and does make a difference in how a person is perceived and treated. This can be true with students, peers, teachers, co-workers, and even strangers. It is a huge understatement to say that orthodontic treatment is “just cosmetic.” In fact, the positive changes produced by orthodontic treatment can have a profound effect on one’s quality of life and self-esteem. Our society’s growing appreciation and understanding of this fact no doubt has fueled the popularity and growth of orthodontic treatment in children and adults.
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- To improve oral health
While a beautiful smile is cosmetically pleasing, a HEALTHY smile is critical to your lifelong health. Simply stated, crooked or crowded teeth are difficult to clean properly. Poor oral hygiene will contribute to conditions that cause not only tooth decay, but also more serious conditions that eventually lead to gum disease and tooth loss. There are also certain types of bite problems can contribute to damage of teeth or gums. For example, severe overbites make it much more likely that a person will suffer fracture or injury to the upper front teeth. Also, poor bites may contribute to gum recession, or uneven wearing of teeth, which may also result in premature tooth loss.
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- To improve oral function
Certain bite problems can result in difficulty chewing, difficulty in making certain speech sounds, and may trigger clenching and grinding patterns. In addition, a poor bite may also contribute to abnormal wear of tooth surfaces, excess stress on supporting bone and gum tissue, or misalignment of the jaw joints with resultant chronic headaches or pain in the face or neck. By establishing a healthy bite, orthodontic treatment may prevent or alleviate these problems. If orthodontic problems are left untreated, the additional medical and dental care required to treat the more serious problems that can develop later are often far more costly than the cost of orthodontic treatment.
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