How to correct misaligned teeth?

What do you see everytime you look into the mirror and smile? Is it crooked and misaligned teeth? Numerous people across the globe are compromising with the same condition. But don’t worry; you don’t have to compromise with this dental issue. You can visit your dental care clinic, and select one of the following ways to correct misaligned teeth.

Braces

Dental braces are the most common way to straighten crooked and misaligned teeth. A full set of braces contain different components, such as elastic bands, metal brackets, and metal or plastic wires, that collectively align teeth. These braces can effectively straighten severely misaligned and crooked teeth as well. Depending on the extent of your misalignment, the braces may take 1-3 years to straighten your teeth completely. During the course, the metal wires put pressure on the teeth and bring them together or back in the desired position.

Invisalign

Invisalign, also known as clear braces, are transparent aligners that slowly straighten and align teeth over a period. Clear aligners are ideal for straightening minor to medium level misalignment for adults. Invisalign are custom-made, tight-fitting aligners that seamlessly blend with your natural teeth and slowly straighten teeth due to malocclusions and minor overcrowding. The only drawback of Invisalign is that you will have to visit your emergency dental care clinic or orthodontist every 2-3 weeks to get new pairs of clear aligners. Over the time, Invisalign slowly shifts the teeth and finally align them to the desired position.

Retainers

Retainers are often used to keep teeth in the right position after the alignment treatment with braces or Invisalign. In simple words, retainers prevent teeth from shifting their position after the alignment treatment. Retainers independently can also correct straighten teeth with a small degree of irregularity. Depending on the severity of your irregularity and whether you are wearing them alone or after the treatment, you can choose from two types of retainers:

Fixed Retainers

Also known as bonded lingual retainers, these retainers are made from metal wires and acrylic. The fixed ones are bonded to the inner curvature of your upper or lower teeth.

Removable Retainers

Just like the fixed ones, these retainers are also made of metal or acrylic. These are generally removable retainers custom-made to be attached to the external arch surface of teeth.

Palatal Expander

Palatal expander, also known as the rapid maxillary expansion appliance or orthodontic expander is a metallic framework that consists of screws attached to the upper molars. This appliance is used to widen the upper jaw with crooked, misaligned, or overcrowded teeth so that the upper and lower teeth fit together better. The device is generally suggested for children and teenagers younger than 15 years old because the bones of the upper jaw are still developing. During this phase, expanders apply pressure to teeth in order to align them.

You can visit a dental care clinic to know everything about these procedures, the duration these procedures require, cost of the treatment, and whether you are the right candidate for either of these procedures. The orthodontists will examine your oral condition and suggest you the best solution.