Living with crooked or misaligned teeth definitely takes its toll on your confidence. You may feel embarrassed about talking and smiling in front of others and it’s always on your mind. Did you know that your misaligned teeth are also affecting your oral health? The good news is that West Mobile orthodontics can help! Your team at Parker Dental & Orthodontics has solutions for you.
Misaligned Teeth and Oral Health
When your teeth are misaligned your oral health is compromised, and here’s why. Crooked teeth are harder to brush, floss, and keep clean, which increases your risk for issues such as tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease. A misaligned bite often contributes to issues such as TMJ, or jaw joint disorder. Straightening your teeth is not only a boost for your confidence and your smile; it’s also good for your oral health.
Traditional Orthodontics
At Parker Dental & Orthodontics, our team provides traditional orthodontics, which uses brackets and wires to align teeth. Traditional orthodontics not only straightens your teeth, it also corrects your bite and jaw alignment. This promotes a healthy jaw joint, which minimizes headaches. Most orthodontic cases can take around 12-24 months, depending on your needs.
Invisalign
Another form of orthodontics is Invisalign, which uses clear plastic aligners to straighten your teeth by applying gentle pressure. Aligners should be worn 20-22 hours per day and changed every two weeks. They can easily be removed for brushing and flossing, and most cases take around 12-18 months for completion.
Invisalign is a great option for the busy teen or adult who wants to straighten his or her teeth without anyone noticing. Because aligners can be removed, there are no restrictions to your diet or changes to your home care routine, as there would be with traditional orthodontics.
Dr. Hube Parker, Dr. Lee Redditt, Dr. Jennifer Milazzo, or Dr. Erin Reardon can determine which type of orthodontics will best suit your needs. During a consultation, we’ll take x-rays, photos, and models of your teeth to create your treatment plan. With Invisalign cases, we use 3D imaging to create your treatment plan and fabricate your aligners. With this technology, you’ll even be able to see what your newly aligned smile will look like prior to starting treatment!
If you’ve considered straightening your teeth, we encourage you to contact our office today to learn more about your options and how we can help you achieve the smile of your dreams.