A healthy, beautiful smile is important for your overall health and life satisfaction. If your teeth are too close to each other, too far apart, too crooked, or if they fit together uncomfortably when your mouth is closed, it’s likely you have malocclusion.
From the root words “mal” for bad, and “occlusion” for closed, malocclusion refers to a poor position of your teeth when your mouth is closed. The solution for malocclusion is orthodontics to straighten your teeth. (The root word “ortho” means straight.)
The specific position of your mouth when it’s closed is called your bite. Your bite can be either healthy or unhealthy, and an unhealthy bite can cause all sorts of problems. Kids and adults alike can benefit from fixing an improper bite.
Needing orthodontic treatment is a good example of when cosmetic dentistry is both beautiful and practical. San Luis Obispo dentist, Dr. Colleran shares all you need to know about getting orthodontic treatment at Michael Colleran DDS.
An orthodontic dentist will examine your mouth and create a personalized treatment plan to achieve your smile goal. There are numerous kinds of orthodontic treatments—most involve appliances made of plastic, metal, wires and elastic bands to move your teeth and jawbones. These materials—sometimes removable, other times cemented in place—put just the right pressure on your teeth to shift them to a proper position.
Below are the most common orthodontic appliances:
In some cases, your dentist may recommend surgery as part of your orthodontic treatment. Or, the dentist may suggest veneers if it will better and more easily help you achieve the smile you desire.
Malocclusion can cause a lot of problems in your daily life besides feeling embarrassed by crooked teeth. Straightening your teeth and improving your bite can help with:
Cons of Orthodontics
Some orthodontic treatments cause initial tenderness in your mouth, but this should pass within a few days. Orthodontics can also be hard to afford (see our financing tips below!) You will have to take extra time to properly brush your teeth if you have braces.
You might not want to start a new orthodontic treatment right before a big life change like getting married or starting a new job, so talk with your dentist about ideal timing. But overall, orthodontic treatments are low-risk and provide important, long-term benefits.
Affording Orthodontics
Orthodontics is important for the proper functioning of your mouth, oral health, and a beautiful smile, but you might get sticker shock at the price of treatment. If you need help affording orthodontic care, you have a few options.
Dentistry is the general practice of providing oral health care. Orthodontics is a dental specialty that treats malocclusion and teeth straightening. All orthodontists are dentists, but not all dentists are orthodontists. Many San Luis Obispo dentists are general dentists providing orthodontic services.
If you want to see a dentist about problems with your teeth alignment, call Michael Colleran DDS today. We’ll answer any questions you might have. We look forward to helping you straighten your smile!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Dr. Colleran is a nationally renowned dental author and lecturer and an expert on laser dentistry. He has spoken across the country on laser dentistry and had articles appear in several professional journals. He is also sought after by dental manufacturers as a consultant for product evaluation and research. Dr. Colleran is an instructor for the Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry, which teaches LANAP and other laser dental procedures to dentists from across the globe.
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