Considering orthodontics in San Diego from Rio Vista Family Dentistry? Not sure if you could benefit from braces, Invisalign, or other orthodontic treatments?
People choose to get orthodontic dental treatment for a wide variety of different reasons. And in this blog, we’ve put together a few top signs that may indicate that orthodontic dentistry is right for you.
1. Your Teeth Are Crooked, Crowded, Or Make You Self-Conscious
Teeth that are very crooked or crowded may cause you problems when you eat or speak, like issues chewing or speech impediments. It’s also a lot harder to clean your teeth properly if there are uneven spaces and gaps between them, or if they’re really close together. This can lead to a higher risk of oral health issues like cavities and gum disease.
Even if they are not causing any serious oral health problems, crooked, crowded, or uneven teeth may make you feel self-conscious about how you look. And that’s important, too. If you’re embarrassed about your teeth, you may hide them when you smile or laugh.
So whether your crooked teeth are affecting your oral health or they are purely a cosmetic issue, it’s definitely worth looking into orthodontic treatment to improve the alignment of your teeth and jaws.
2. You Have Bite Problems Affecting Your Oral Health And Appearance
Overbites (the upper jaw further than the lower jaw) and underbites (the lower jaw protruding further than the upper jaw) are both common orthodontic issues. Severe bite problems can make it harder to chew and eat, and also may negatively affect your appearance.
For example, an overbite may make your chin look “sunken” and cause a weak chin or jaw line. Conversely, an underbite may cause your chin to stick out further than it should, which can also make you feel self-conscious.
3. You Are Experiencing Jaw Pain And Discomfort
If your teeth and jaws are not properly aligned, this can contribute to other oral health problems like teeth grinding (bruxism) and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ/TMD).
So if you have noticed issues like pain in your jaw muscles, frequent headaches, or teeth grinding, this may be an indicator that you have an unhealthy bite. Orthodontic treatment can provide relief by aligning your teeth and jaws properly, and may completely eliminate issues like TMJ/TMD in some cases.
4. You Have Sleep Apnea Or Other Breathing Difficulties Like Mouth Breathing
In some cases, orthodontic problems can lead to problems like sleep apnea, or contribute to harmful breathing habits like mouth breathing.
For example, if you have a narrow palate, you may be more prone to mouth breathing. This also contributes to sleep apnea, since a narrow palate can be more easily blocked by other tissue in your airway when you sleep.
Find Out if You Need Orthodontic Treatment At Rio Vista Family Dentistry!
We hope the above tips have been helpful, but the only way to know for sure if orthodontic treatment is right for you is to consult with a dentist. So don’t wait. Contact Rio Vista Family Dentistry online or call today at (619) 299-1122 to schedule an appointment with one of our Mission Valley dentists, get a full orthodontic screening, and find out if orthodontic treatment is right for you in San Diego.
