The 4 Best Orthodontic Treatments for Crowded Teeth

Crowded teeth are among the most common dental issues orthodontists have to deal with on a daily basis. Luckily, there are several proven treatments that you can choose from to correct those imperfections without necessarily breaking the bank.

If you are unsure of the best treatment for your misaligned teeth, consider giving one of these four procedures a shot:

Dental Braces

Braces have been around for decades, and their popularity hasn’t gone down a tad even with the introduction of several other treatments that serve the same realignment purpose. They can be fixed or removable, albeit Dr. Normand Bach does not encourage prolonged or repeated removal for optimal results. The treatment consists of metal brackets that attach to each of your teeth with the help of dental cement. The brackets are linked to each other using arch-wires, which apply constant pressure to the teeth to facilitate gradual movement that jibes with the treatment plan.

If you are concerned about the conspicuousness of the metal brackets and the arch-wires, you can have the braces fixed to the back of your teeth rather than the showing surface.

Invisalign

Guaranteeing the same perfect results as braces but using a more sufferable modus operandi are Invisalign aligners. The Invisalign treatment was introduced back in 1999 and has steadily grown in popularity since, thanks to its discreet nature.

Under the treatment, your orthodontist will provide you with a series of customized aligners, each of which you will be required to wear for approximately two weeks. Impressions of your dentition are taken and sent to the lab together with the treatment plan. Your aligners are fabricated based on these impressions.

Dental veneers

Veneers are thin tooth shaped shells that are placed over teeth to cover small imperfections that, in most cases, do not affect the functioning of the teeth. They are a popular cosmetic treatment and can be used to treat slight chips and cracks, discoloration, and misshapen teeth.

Your orthodontist will take images of the teeth that need repairing and use it to create the veneers. The natural color of your teeth will also be taken into consideration when receiving veneers to ensure the treated tooth remains in character with the rest of your teeth.

The procedure is simple and can be completed in just one appointment at the orthodontist’s office.

In some cases, veneers are used as a complementary treatment for other dental procedures such as Invisalign treatment. For instance, if your teeth are misaligned, your orthodontist will use traditional braces or Invisalign to give them a straighter alignment, before applying veneers on newly exposed discolorations and teeth that appear shorter than the rest.

Head Gear

Extreme cases of bad bites can be attributed to poor jaw positioning. When the jaws are the problem, headgears may be used to push them back in line and correct the bad bite.

Headgears are worn at night when you are sleeping, since they may inhibit any activity that involves opening of the mouth such as chewing, brushing of teeth, and speaking.