Orthodontic treatment is critical in improving patients’ oral health. Although the treatment is often associated with aesthetics, as it improves patients' smiles, it also addresses and treats various dental problems that go beyond aesthetics. In this article, we explain the roles played by dental treatment in improving oral health.

What Is Orthodontics? And How Can It Improve Oral Health?

Orthodontics involves the diagnosis and treatment of dental issues and facial imperfections. It is mainly focused on correcting dental problems like improper bites (malocclusion), misaligned (crooked) teeth, and jaw-related abnormalities. Orthodontic treatments are carried out by orthodontists. An orthodontist is a dentist whose undergone additional training in orthodontics and has thus specialized in diagnosing and treating dental problems related to orthodontics. How Orthodontics Improves Oral Health Orthodontists use special dental appliances such as braces and clear aligners to straighten misaligned teeth, correct bite problems and enhance the aesthetics and functionality of teeth. There are numerous benefits to undergoing orthodontics treatment in Houston, TX. Below are a few examples: Treats Malocclusion Malocclusion is caused by misalignment of the jaw or teeth, which causes bite problems. Examples of malocclusions include underbites, overbites, crossbites and open bites. Orthodontic treatment uses braces and Invisalign aligners to properly reposition the teeth and jaw teeth, ensuring teeth from the upper and lower jaw properly align with each other. By treating malocclusion, orthodontists can alleviate dental and jaw pain, treat TMJ disorders and protect the tooth from excess wear. Enhance Dental Hygiene Patients with crooked or overcrowded teeth may face challenges when it comes to maintaining good oral hygiene. Crooked teeth make it hard to properly brush and floss since they make it challenging for a toothbrush to reach certain areas. This can cause plaque to build up, leading to dental problems such as tooth decay and periodontitis. When you visit a dentist near you for orthodontic treatment, they'll align the teeth and remove extra teeth in your gums, making it easier to brush your teeth. Prevents Gum Disease Gum disease is a dental problem that, when severe, can lead to tooth loss and other health problems. When you have misaligned or overcrowding teeth, plaque and bacteria can find a good breeding ground where the toothbrush cannot access easily, thus increasing the risk of gum disease. Orthodontic treatment will fix your dental problem, reduce dental gaps and make it easier to maintain good oral hygiene. Good oral hygiene will help protect your gums from gingivitis and periodontitis. Fixes Jaw Problems People who suffer from temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder may experience pain and have difficulties moving their jaws while talking or eating. This can be a result of having misaligned teeth and bite abnormalities. Through orthodontics, we can correct the bite issues and correctly align your jaws, which will fix your TMJ disorder and reduce the symptoms you experienced before treatment. Prevents Wear and Damage to Teeth Crooked teeth and malocclusion can cause teeth to wear excessively. This is due to the teeth rubbing against each other’s side while biting and chewing. If you don't go for treatment soon, your teeth will wear fast, develop cracks, chip and wear out the enamel. Our dentist can use orthodontic treatment to evenly redistribute bite forces across your teeth,  reducing dental wear and damage. Enhances Your Smile Orthodontics can help fix cosmetic issues with your smile by properly aligning your jaw and teeth. By undergoing orthodontics treatment in Houston, TX, your dental imperfections can be corrected, leading to a beautiful, symmetrical smile. This will give you a confidence boost which will help you smile openly and interact with new people without being self-conscience about your smile's appearance.

What Are the Orthodontic Procedures to Improve Oral Health?

There are various orthodontic procedures used to improve patients' oral health. Below are a few common examples: Braces: these are dental appliances that apply gentle pressure to shift misaligned teeth to a proper position. They consist of metal brackets and wires attached to teeth to fix bite problems and reduce dental gaps. Invisalign Aligners: also referred to as clear aligners, these dental devices function similarly to traditional metal braces. However, they are made from transparent dental-grade plastic and are removable, unlike traditional metal braces. Retainers: they are used after orthodontic treatment to help patients maintain their teeth alignment. Retainers help keep teeth in their correct position so they don’t shift back to their former crooked state. Space Maintainers: used in cases where a baby tooth was prematurely lost. Space maintainers hold the gap left by a lost baby tooth to allow a permanent tooth to erupt and develop properly before adjacent teeth shift into the vacant space.

Conclusion

Undergoing orthodontic treatment has a lot of benefits. The dental treatment not only enhances your smile but also boosts your confidence while improving your oral health. Visit North Star Dental today if you have dental misalignments or bite problems to enhance your smile and oral health. We have a skilled and experienced dentist who will recommend the best treatment for any dental problem you may be experiencing to help you achieve optimum oral health.