Do I Still Need Orthodontics if My Teeth Look Straight?
If you have a great-looking smile, you may still need to get braces or orthodontic care with clear aligners.
That may surprise you, but it’s true. The appearance of your smile is just one facet of good oral health. That’s why it’s so important to visit our Kansas City, MO, practice for a professional dental exam. Let’s go over some reasons you may still need orthodontics if your teeth look straight.
Your Front Teeth Aren’t the Whole Story
Even if your smile looks great, that doesn’t mean your teeth are properly aligned. Smile aesthetics are, ultimately, just an aesthetic.
Even with a nice smile, you may still experience an overbite, an underbite, a crossbite, or other kinds of alignment issues that aren’t immediately apparent.
Potential Dental Problems Despite Straight Front Teeth
Here are some problems that people with straight front teeth may experience. These issues can often be addressed with orthodontic care.
Spacing Issues That Affect Molars and Premolars
Your molars and premolars aren’t always visible when you laugh and smile, yet they play a crucial role in your ability to bite and chew. Any alignment issues affecting these teeth can be corrected with ease thanks to orthodontic care.
Problems With Biting and Chewing
Do your teeth feel like they don’t fit right when they meet? Does this make eating certain foods a challenge? Do you avoid some foods because they are painful to eat? This is often a sign that you need some orthodontic correction for better bite alignment.
Issues With Speaking and Pronunciation
Crooked teeth can lead to speech impediments, unintentional whistling noises, and other issues that affect pronunciation and enunciation. These problems often accompany other issues related to malocclusion.
Teeth Grinding (Bruxism)
Teeth grinding occurs at night. Your teeth may shift and clench against each other while you sleep. This may be due to stress, but it can also occur because your teeth are not aligned and struggle to find a comfortable resting position.
TMJ Disorders (TMD)
The jaw joint is extremely complicated. Dysfunction of the jaw joint leads to TMJ disorder, which is more than just a little popping in the jaw. Poor dental alignment (and teeth grinding) is one of many contributing factors to cases of TMD.
You Have Persistently Sore, Sensitive Teeth
Any of the above issues can lead to your teeth feeling sore or sensitive, even you have straight front teeth. It just goes to show how interconnected different parts of the mouth are and why you need a skilled dentist to help address your issues.
How Clear Orthodontic Aligners Can Help You
Orthodontics is essential for improving your dental alignment and addressing the problems listed about. Our Kansas City dental office offers clear aligners to help shift teeth into a better overall position.
These clear aligners can be removed as needed to eat your favorite foods. Cleaning is easy, and the clear trays are hard to detect even when they are in place. Adults and teens can benefit from clear aligner orthodontics.
Contact Our Practice to Learn More
For more information about orthodontic treatment and whether or not it’s right for you, contact our Kansas City dental office. We can examine your teeth and give you an honest assessment of your treatment options.
