Discover Your Orthodontic Treatment Options
Can I Still Play Sports with Metal Braces?
Many people are unaware of the extent orthodontic treatment can change their facial profiles and overall appearance. To learn how braces can help improve the aesthetic and function of your smile, be sure to schedule an appointment with one of our orthodontists in Fort Wayne, IN, and surrounding areas.
Here are some of the most common issues that we’re able to treat with dental braces.
Crooked and Crowded Teeth
Crooked teeth not only affect the appearance of your smile, but they can also affect your oral health over time. The good news is that metal or clear ceramic braces exert gentle pressure on your teeth during orthodontic treatment. This moves them little by little into their ideal positions.
You can help reduce teeth staining by practicing good oral hygiene. However, it’s difficult to brush and floss if there isn’t adequate spacing between each tooth. Plaque loves to hide where toothbrush bristles can’t reach. If you have crooked and/or crowded teeth, this means that your enamel may appear more stained over time.
Related: How to Maintain a Healthy Smile with Braces →
Overbite
In the case of an overbite, your chin may not appear as prominent as it should be amongst the other features of your profile. People with overbites may also have protruding upper lips and sunken cheeks. During orthodontic treatment, we’ll be able to correct the alignment of your jaws so your teeth come together nicely.
So much of your appearance depends on the underlying jaw bones and teeth. You might be surprised by how different you could look after we’re able to .
Underbite
An underbite can make your chin stick out or make it look as though your jaw is too big for your face. You may also have an underbite if your bottom lip sticks out farther than your upper lip. One of our orthodontists will be able to come up with a plan to straighten teeth and move your jaw back so you can achieve a natural-looking profile. While most of our patients come to us for straighter teeth, many don’t realize their jaws also play a role in how their face looks.
Open Bite
Do your front teeth protrude more than they should? If there’s a space between your upper and lower teeth, our orthodontists may diagnose you with an open bite. This type of jaw condition can make it difficult to close your mouth naturally.
In general, you’re more at risk for an open bite if you have tongue thrust or sucked your thumb as a child. The sooner we can treat an open bite, the better. If your child has an open bite, their can help their jaws grow more evenly and encourage them to break bad oral habits like thumb sucking.
Gaps Between Teeth
Braces are effective in closing gaps between teeth. If you have spaces or irregular gaps, braces gradually move the teeth into the desired positions, resulting in a more uniform and harmonious smile. Our orthodontists will tailor your treatment plan to meet your specific health and wellness needs.
Facial Profile
In some cases, braces can influence the overall facial profile. For instance, correcting an overbite may bring the upper and lower jaw into better alignment, positively impacting the appearance of the lower face.
While orthodontic braces primarily focus on the position of the teeth, they can also have subtle effects on the support of the lips and cheeks. As the teeth move, it may lead to minor adjustments in the soft tissues around the mouth, contributing to an overall more balanced facial appearance.
Confidence
As braces gradually enhance the alignment and aesthetics of your teeth, many people experience an increase in self-confidence. Knowing that your smile is improving can make you feel more comfortable and confident in your appearance. As orthodontists, seeing patients begin to smile with confidence is one of our greatest joys!
Request an Appointment with Us
Still have questions about getting dental braces for either yourself or a member of your family? Our , and surrounding areas are accepting new patients! To schedule an appointment, please call Parrish Orthodontics at (260) 447-2568. You may also fill out our online contact form and someone from our team will reach out to you soon.
This blog post has been updated.