Normally, the upper teeth and lower teeth jaw should neatly align together. When they abruptly become misfit, the possible risk of gum disease and tooth decay increases. Orthodontics is a part of dental treatment. It helps to diagnose and treat the teeth and jaw arrangement with the help of dental devices like –
- plates
- braces.
Orthodontists in Los Angeles CA identify dental issues and jaw alignment by-
- performing a visual examination
- checking the photographs of the teeth and jaw.
Typically, an orthodontist uses X-rays or scans the teeth to check their condition.
What is the need for orthodontists in Los Angeles?
Improper arrangement of teeth that appears to be crowded, crooked and overlapping tends to lower confidence and arouse a range of oral problems. The most common problems include:
- Tooth decay
If teeth are closely aligned, it becomes difficult to clean them properly. As a result, the person may face plaque buildup leading to tooth decay and even gum disease.
- Gum Injury
In case a tooth of the upper jaw doesn’t come together with its paired tooth on the lower jaw properly, there could be digging into the gum. Hence, causing damage.
- Difficult to Eat
Another problem of misaligned teeth of the upper and lower jaw is the inability to eat, chew or swallow properly. The action of eating and chewing food can result in uneven wear and tear of the mouth. Again, this could even affect speech or drying out the mouth.
- Prone to injuries
If a tooth sticks out, the chances of getting injured or traumatised during an accidental fall or sports are much higher.
- Lowers Self-Confidence
Dental issues can make anyone feel embarrassed and uncomfortable to confidently smile.
Common Orthodontic Problems
Visit an top orthodontist in Los Angeles CA if you are dealing with:
1. Bite Issues
Typically adults have a misaligned bite known as malocclusion. There are four types: excessive overbite, underbite, crossbite and open bite. Bite issues affect the shape of the face and cause many physical problems like headaches, grinding, clenching and speech problems.
When the teeth of the upper jaw repeatedly bite over the teeth in the bottom jaw more than usual, it is called excessive overbite or buck teeth. Even with the closed teeth, you would be able to see the lower teeth. The teeth of the bottom jaw rest in front of the upper teeth in the case of an underbite. It is also known as the bulldog look.
An open bite is said when the mouth is closed and there is a visible gap between the teeth rows in the front or sides. This can be due to small teeth, missing teeth, misshapen teeth, growing teeth, a large jaw or multiple causes.
Crossbite tends to be a genetic form of malocclusion. Sometimes, children have an inborn narrow upper jaw that causes misalignment of the teeth with the lower teeth. If you leave without fixing it, crossbite teeth may cause pain and damage jaws.
2. Temporomandibular Disorder
The temporomandibular joint enables the movement of the jaws. Sometimes, people experience severe pain in the jaw muscles and it becomes difficult to move them for eating, chewing or talking. This is called TMD.
3. Sleep Apnea
A person may start having sleeping problems or interrupted sleep due to the teeth and jaw alignment. This may happen when the breathing gets interrupted while sleeping. An orthodontist conducts a study and examines the patient to improve this condition.
Treatments
Orthodontics make use of different devices to move teeth and align them in a proper position. These orthodontic Los Angeles devices include:
- Fixed braces – Orthodontics use fixed braces to align teeth. These devices are attached to either the front or back of every tooth and tied with a wire to put gentle pressure. The consistent pressure gradually moves the teeth to fit in the right place.
- Elastics – Elastics are small rubber bands. They stretch between the upper and lower braces to get extra force to set teeth.
- Clear Aligners – One has to wear clear aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day. However, one can take them out while drinking and eating or while cleaning them.
- Plate – It’s a plastic orthodontic device that fits in the mouth to move or hold teeth in place with the help of springs and wires. Its work is similar to fixed braces but unlike the latter, a plate can be easily removed from the mouth.
- Surgery – In severe orthodontic cases, the orthodontist may recommend surgery to eliminate buried teeth or at least make them trouble-free to release. An orthodontic surgery can help in improving jaw problems or the outcome of its treatment.
Children should make their first visit to the Cal Dental Group no later than 7 years of age as the best time to consult an orthodontist is during childhood. While not all need treatment, it is a good time to identify if there are any potential problems to watch out for. Nonetheless, adults can also get orthodontic treatment to remove any kind of orthodontic issues.
