Do You Need Braces

Many of us don’t really notice that we might need braces or some sort of treatment to straighten crooked teeth, or pull teeth together, or fix an overlap, but braces can help these abnormalities.

If dental floss gets stuck between teeth, or won’t go between teeth at all, it might be beneficial to visit your dentist for an evaluation as the teeth may be too close together.  Crowded teeth make it difficult to receive proper cleaning by the dental hygienist.  Plaque can build up and cause abnormal enamel wear, cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease.  With overcrowded teeth, you may be at risk for developing periodontitis.

Maybe you have some teeth with too much space between them.  This can happen when teeth have been lost by injury or disease.  The vacant space allows the remaining teeth to spread out.  The function of your bite and jaw may be impaired by large gaps between teeth.

More problems to consider are an overbite or an underbite.  An overbite is when the upper teeth extend an abnormal distance over the lower teeth.  An underbite is the opposite of overbite, causing the lower teeth to extend too far beyond the uppers.  It can be difficult to chew when you have misaligned bites and your jaw muscles may become tight and strained. 

The extra strain on the hinges that attach your jaw to your head can cause temporomandibular joints, or TMJ.  TMJ is very painful and can take many days to resolve.

Metal braces are still available today and are the least expensive, but there are other options like ceramic braces which are less conspicuous, and invisible braces like Invisalign which are a series of multiple aligners that work gradually to shift teeth into place.

Consult with your dentist in Billings, MT for the best options for your particular situation.