Dental braces are devices employed to align your teeth. They comprise brackets, wires, and bands that collaborate to progressively shift the teeth to their intended positions. Dental braces help to enhance your smile and appearance. They can also improve your speech and avoid bone erosion.
How Do Braces Work?
Braces apply consistent pressure on the teeth and jaws, resulting in the desired changes in their position and smile. The brackets, securely bonded to the teeth, serve as anchors for the archwire, which applies the necessary pressure. As this pressure is maintained over time, the teeth gradually shift and align themselves into the desired position. Within the oral cavity, the periodontal ligaments play a vital role. These soft tissues encompass the teeth and attach them to the surrounding bone. As teeth undergo movement, these ligaments can undergo stretching or compression. For instance, when braces shift a tooth towards the right, the ligament on the right-side compresses, while new bone forms on the left side, filling in the gap left by the tooth’s movement. This process allows for the controlled and gradual repositioning of teeth while ensuring the stability and support of the periodontal ligaments.
What Problems Do Braces Correct?
Dental braces address various orthodontic concerns. We go into some of these below:
Crooked teeth
Braces are effective in straightening teeth that are misaligned or have irregular positioning. They apply consistent pressure to shift the teeth into their proper alignment gradually. This results in a more harmonious and visually appealing smile. The treatment helps improve your teeth’ aesthetic appearance and functionality.
Crowded teeth
When there is insufficient space in the dental arch for all the teeth to fit properly, braces can help align and create adequate spacing. This allows for improved dental function and easier oral hygiene maintenance.
Gapped teeth
Braces can close gaps or spaces between teeth by gradually shifting them into a more even alignment. The process helps create a harmonious smile by ensuring the teeth are properly aligned and spaced. Braces can assist individuals in achieving improved dental aesthetics, functionality, and oral health by eliminating gaps between teeth.
Malocclusion
Braces are commonly used to correct malocclusion. This refers to improper bites such as overbite (upper teeth protrude over lower teeth), underbite (lower teeth jut forward), crossbite (upper teeth sit inside lower teeth), or open bite (upper and lower teeth don’t meet when biting).
