Straight Teeth For Young Smiles And Not-So-Young Smiles

There are few dental advancements that are more appreciated than modern braces. Teeth straightening hardware of past generations had many drawbacks. It ordinarily involved a whole orthodontic tool kit—full metal bands, headgear, elastics, spacers, and wires poking every which way. If you played an instrument that required the use of your mouth, well, it wasn’t pretty.

Some orthodontic patients found their conventional braces uncomfortable, bulky, and downright ugly. They also provided many hidden nooks and crannies for bacteria to quietly drill into your enamel.

If you are too young to remember old school braces, you can’t truly appreciate the state-of-the-art ceramic braces, clear braces, and Clear Aligner aligners available today. Even traditional metal braces are now smaller, less conspicuous and more comfortable.

The advancements in orthodontic treatments and reduced treatment times is one reason many adults have chosen to have their teeth aligned if they were unable as a kid.

Does that mean you don’t need to have your son or daughter seen by an orthodontist if you suspect tooth alignment problems? Absolutely not! If facial attractiveness and increased self-esteem are not essential reasons to straighten your child’s crooked teeth, consider the fact that crooked teeth and bite misalignment can impact speech development and make it hard for your child to eat a healthy diet. Crowded teeth also make proper brushing difficult, increasing the risk of tooth decay.

The American Association of Orthodontics counsels parents to have their child evaluated by an orthodontist when they are young. It is critical to identify problems with teeth and jaw development early. Your orthodontist or pediatric dentist will know the proper age to begin treatment if required.

We provide many cosmetic dental procedures at Premier Dental Esthetics – Peter S. Young, DDS in Arcadia. Did you know that porcelain veneers can solve some less-extreme tooth alignment issues? If your teeth are fairly straight but your smile is compromised by a couple of damaged or chipped teeth, reasonably priced porcelain veneers may be your one-visit solution.