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What Does Your Smile Say About You?
For most people, an attractive smile is an important part of the overall impression a person makes. A beautiful smile radiates confidence and projects a positive image about you. A beautiful smile is a powerful part of looking and feeling your best. Dr Reeves and his staff can make a real difference in your smile.
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Our patients typically seeks orthodontic treatment for one of the following reasons. |
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Health |
Crooked teeth are harder to clean. This can make the gum tissue more susceptible to disease and the teeth more prone to decay. Straight teeth are definitely healthier teeth.
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Function |
Teeth that are crowded, protruded, or misaligned do not usually function ideally. This can result in excessive tooth wear and sensitive teeth.
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Stability |
Teeth and jaws that are well aligned can be stabilized to reduce undesirable shifting.
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Aesthetics |
Appearance is our most popular reason for orthodontic treatment. An attractive smile enhances self esteem and self confidence which can make a positive difference at school, at work, and in the community. Boosting self confidence will give you and your child smile power.
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Are You A Candidate for Orthodontic treatment?
Beyond creating a great smile, orthodontics also improves bad bites or "malocclusions." A malocclusion occurs when the teeth or jaws are not properly aligned. Malocclusions can affect the way you clean your teeth, the way you chew, or the way you smile. Often times malocclusions can even affect the way you feel about your smile. Below are some of the malocclusions which can be successfully treated with orthodontics.
Protrusion of Upper Front Teeth
This type of bite can result from the upper teeth being too far forward or the lower teeth being too far back. Function and aesthetics are affected with this bite. |
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Overbite
The upper front teeth cover too much of the lower front teeth. Many times the lower front teeth bite into the roof of the mouth. (Ouch!)> |
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Crossbite
This is when the upper teeth fit inside the lower teeth. Often times we see unfavorable jaw growth and excessive tooth wear with untreated crossbites. |
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Openbite
The upper and lower front teeth do not overlap. We often see habits and tongue thrusting with this bite. Proper chewing is definitely affected. |
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Crowding
This occurs when teeth do not have enough room to erupt. Appropriate expansion can correct crowding, most times without tooth removal. |
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Spacing
Most of the time spacing is an aesthetic concern, but sometimes spacing can mean missing teeth.
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Dental midlines not matched
This usually indicates that the back bite does not match properly. Function may be negatively affected by this type of malocclusion.
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What Can Happen If Malocclusions Are Not Treated?
According to studies by the American Association of Orthodontists, untreated malocclusions may result in a variety of problems. Crowded teeth are more difficult to properly brush and floss which contributes to tooth decay as well as gum disease. Protruding teeth are more susceptible to accidental chipping from trauma. Crossbites can result in unfavorable growth patterns and uneven tooth wear. Openbites can result in tongue thrusting habits and speech issues.
The bottom line is, with all the wonderful benefits of successful orthodontic treatment, your investment in orthodontics is an investment in your health.
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