Orthodontic care is something your dentist in Glenview may recommend to you to help improve the esthetics of your smile. Your dentist may refer you to a certified orthodontist or he or she may be qualified to them for you. For many decades, orthodontic care has been a part of the dental trade and today, it has helped millions of teenagers and adults live happier and healthier lives.
However, despite the popularity of orthodontic care, not everyone that qualifies has taken advantage of its unique services. Many do not seek orthodontic care because they don’t understand the practical advantages that it offers.
Orthodontic care centers on the physical straightening of the permanent teeth. Depending on how fast your child’s teeth grow and move, your dentist may recommend orthodontic treatment for your child at any age. However, early orthodontic treatment can reduce complicated surgical dental treatment that may be needed later in life. There are many benefits to having early orthodontic treatment, including prevention of overcrowded teeth, creating facial symmetry and reducing the need for teeth removal. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, children should have an orthodontic evaluation no later than 7 years old. Orthodontic care is best used when all or most of your child’s permanent teeth have grown in. The amount of time orthodontic treatment takes varies upon person and treatment plan. Some teeth need more work than others.
Children are not the only chosen candidates for orthodontic treatment. Orthodontic treatment can benefit almost anyone at any age who has healthy teeth. For most adults, they aren’t keen about getting the traditional metal braces. However, with modern technology, many adults today opt in to having orthodontic treatment. During your orthodontic consultation, your Glenview dentist will determine the best solution plan that will provide you with the results that you are looking for. Orthodontic treatment has become more commonly sought after by adults due to discrete modern approaches that caters to their lifestyles. Such modern approaches include ceramic braces or Invisalign.
Invisalign uses a modern approach to straighten your teeth without the metal braces. It is more visually appealing since it won’t look like you are wearing anything on your teeth. They are comfortable and easy to wear and it is a removable device that you can take out of your mouth at anytime. This makes it more convenient to keep up with your periodontal health so you can eat, brush and floss better. Choosing Invisalign frees up your busy schedule with less dental office visits. Invisalign also uses advanced technology to track treatment progress in a virtual model. You can visually see what your teeth will look like every couple weeks.
Upon completion of your orthodontic treatment, your dentist may provide you with a set of retainers to help maintain your straight smile. There are several types of retainers, including:
It is important to wear your retainer as often as you can on a daily basis. Your teeth can still slightly shift everyday and wearing your retainer can help reduce this. When you are eating or brushing your teeth, you can take your retainer out of your mouth. During this time, you should also keep it in its case. This reduces the amount of bacteria buildup on it.
