Braces are becoming more and more popular in the fight to fix oral health issues. There are many different types of braces available for all different types of teeth correction practices. We’re going to take a closer look below at three of the most common reasons that individuals will be recommended braces as a form of treat for.
1. Spacing Problems
Spacing problems in the mouth can be a result of a few different issues. A couple of these issues include proportionally small teeth and missing teeth. These issues cause the bite to not be in alignment to function properly during chewing. All spacing problems can be described as having too much space between the teeth.
If you’ve heard of crowding, this is the complete opposite problem. In orthodontist terms, spacing is medically coined as diastema. This condition affects about 10 percent of the population and is mainly a result of genetic factors.
Spacing problems don’t always require braces. Only in severe cases when the bite is significantly negatively affected by the existing open space in the mouth are braces absolutely necessary. In many cases, individuals choose the assistance of braces to create a more aesthetically pleasing smile. By correcting spacing issues an individual can gain more self-confidence through their new smile.
2. Overbite Problems
Overbite is an oral health condition where the upper front teeth excessively overlap the lower front teeth. In more severe cases of overbite, the lower front teeth are capable of biting into the roof of the mouth, which can lead to gum disease issues.
Overbite can be caused by a few different factors. Some of these include over-development of bone in the mouth, prolonged use of a pacifier, and excessive thumb-sucking. Most orthodontists are able to identify this issue by the age of six.
“If this issue is not taken care of with braces, it can lead to more harmful health problems,” said FastBraces. These include tooth loss, jaw problems, abnormal wear of the enamel, speech problems, chewing problems, gum disease, and tooth decay. It’s highly advised to have overbite taken care of when it’s first recognized than wait until adulthood.
3. Crossbite Problems
Crossbite happens when the lower and upper teeth are too narrow or too wide in relation to each other. For example, when a person bites down the lower teeth can sit too far outside of the upper teeth. This can lead to premature wear on the teeth. In the long run, this can create a misalignment in the jaw movement that can alter the normal jaw growth pattern.
There are a few different types of crossbites that individuals can have. When the crossbite is secluded to the back region of the mouth it’s referred to as posterior crossbite. If the misalignment is clustered to the front of the mouth it’s referred to as anterior crossbite.
When one or more of the teeth grow in an outward direction towards the cheek they can form a buccal crossbite. This last type of crossbite is when the tooth or teeth don’t make contact with the lower tooth or teeth when an individual bites down.
Braces are a common remedy for all of these issues. Depending on the problem, braces will typically be worn from three months to three years. Over this time an experienced orthodontist will continue to tighten the braces to create the correction the mouth needs.
Having these issues of spacing, overbite, and crossbite taken care of when they’re first identified can help save a person from dealing with more oral health problems in the future that would result from these issues being prolonged.
