Do you want to improve your appearance, address a bad bite or tooth wear, fix an oral health problem, or prevent it? An orthodontics specialist can jaw your ear for hours. We only have a few minutes to discuss why you would use an orthodontist. They will tell you the how. 

Seek out educated, licensed, and insured professionals. Schedule an initial assessment and consultation before any services are planned. During your first visit, you can observe and gather information on your oral health needs and the practitioners you may choose. Chew over that information to make an informed decision.

“Orthos”(straight) and “Odont”(tooth) means this segment of dentistry is in line to align your teeth and jaw. The procedures they use are advancing similar to most medical science. Clear braces are the newest discrete tooth straightening devices that can be installed by an Invisalign dentist. 

It seems braces are nearly a rite of passage in a modern child’s life. The generations before the new invisible options had different experiences. Bracing teeth in the 1700s was done with metal strapping and crimping. 

Prevention through regular dental care and cleaning will prevent many diseases and issues with your teeth and overall oral health. Your first visit with an orthodontist will begin with a cleaning. How can they inspect something dirty? 

Ancient Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians used diverse materials and methods in dentistry and smile straightening. The Egyptians used metal posts with catgut affixed as the wire. That is an extreme extent to go to for tooth alignment. The Etruscans, a late 4th-century civilization, used alignment mouthguards to preserve teeth so they could eat in the afterlife. What would Elysium be without the ability to chew pizza?

• Retainers are familiar terms for some preventative tools used to prevent problems from developing further. They can be helpful after dental surgeries for alignment retention.
• Aligners are plastic tray-like mouthguards worn over the teeth to correct tooth position over time. Similar to a sports mouthguard.
• Power-chain braces sound similar to the Egyptian style of treatment. Today’s processes and materials used when installing dental braces are different. Regular visits will result in the gradual adjustment of tooth and jaw alignment. 
• Your jaw may need to be widened or narrowed to provide a better bite for chewing and smiling. A palatal expander is used to create that alignment in another gradual process.
• Accelerated orthodontics is a newer process involving high-frequency vibration to stimulate bone growth.
• Clear ceramic braces are a less-visible option to the wire style. They do require more upkeep than traditional braces. 

When prevention and non-surgical treatments and options are exceeded, tooth straightening surgery will be performed. Crooked teeth, overcrowding, spaces, over/underbites, cross alignment, and various dental malocclusions can be resolved with modern oral surgeries. 

All of this sounds expensive. Let that inspire your preventative attention. Depending on state or territory you and your children could be eligible for government assistance with large dental emergencies, injuries, and surgeries. Our pensioners can obtain a Centrelink Pensioner Concession card for assistance as well. Free or discounted dental care is something to smile about.