When to straighten? Now or later?

There’s no perfect time for braces.  However, generally speaking, younger is better & much more convenient than older.

A few reasons are:  Kids tend to be more resilient than adults.  Adults’ lives are more chaotic and busy.  Kids also have fewer fillings, crowns, implants, periodontal issues, etc.

So, if you’re wondering if Johnny is ready for braces, please stop by for a consult.  If Johnny has all his permanent teeth (most 12 year olds do) then it may be the easiest time for him to do braces.

Or if you’re an adult yourself there’s no better day than today.  For some of you adults you may need to muster the courage to put braces back on or use clear aligners.  But once you’re ready and get started you’ll realize braces (or aligners) as an adult is easier than ever.  Straightening teeth has been proven to be one of life’s best investments!

Really? Why do I need to wear rubber bands?

Wires and braces straighten the teeth.  But wires and braces don’t do much for the bite. Instead, rubber bands or elastics move the teeth to allow a good bite.  In other words, rubber bands interdigitate the bite.

Most Americans have an overbite that requires rubber bands worn one way: to move upper teeth back.  A smaller group of Americans have an underbite that require rubber bands worn the opposite way:  to move lower teeth backward.

So, regardless where your teeth are — underbite or the more common overbite — please follow instructions for rubber band wear from your orthodontist.  Only this cooperation allows efficient correction of your bite.  In fact, how long you’re in braces depends more on your cooperation with rubber bands than any other factor.

If you’re not sure, go ahead and wear the rubber bands 23/7.  Sometimes you’ll be asked to only wear rubber bands at night, but most of the time we need you to wear rubber bands 90-95% of the time (only remove during meals) to achieve an ideal and timely result!

A great outcome finished on time or early is a win-win situation that will not only make you smile.  Your parents and the orthodontic team will also be grinning ear to ear!  So, let’s hear it for rubber bands!!!

 

Why get braces?

Braces do more than create a perfect smile, though braces do that very well.  Most people elect to get braces to straighten crowded teeth, and make themselves feel more confident.  But there’s more to it than that.

I’ll list below a few conditions that braces corrects:

Overbite: upper teeth are far ahead of lower teeth

When this is excessive, braces can do much to improve someone’s appearance and function.

Underbite:  lower teeth are in front of upper teeth

Correcting this greatly improves individuals’ appearance and improves the bite or how the teeth fit together.

Open bite: top and bottom teeth don’t overlap

Correcting this allows teeth to overlap properly and to bite into food in the front part of the mouth.

I hope these 3 conditions posted above help you understand that braces do more than straighten.  Yes, braces allow ideal biting in the front and back of the mouth.  So, you get a lovely smile — what most people originally seek — and a well-fitting bite — something that will give you life-long benefit.