Crooked and misaligned teeth can affect people in more ways than one might think. On top of affecting self-esteem and confidence, they can also make it difficult to chew and even speak. Thankfully, these days, there are many straightening procedures available to correct the alignment of your teeth. Whether you have an underbite or overbite, teeth spaced too far apart or too close together, or any other issue with occlusion, here are three procedures to talk through with your dentist.
1. Braces
Perhaps the most well-known of all teeth straightening options is braces. Braces are a set of brackets that are affixed to the teeth and gradually tightened over time to shift your teeth into the preferred position. To fit your braces, a specialist orthodontist will create moulds of your upper and lower teeth.
Braces are generally one of the most affordable options for teeth straightening, and these days, they're available in a variety of styles. If you don't like the traditional "train track" style braces, you can opt for invisible-style braces. However, braces can be a little uncomfortable at first, and they take time to straighten your teeth, so they're not the right option for everyone. Not every dentist can offer braces.
2. Veneers
If you're looking for a quicker way to straighten your teeth, veneers could be the answer. Veneers are a thin covering of porcelain or composite resin bonded to the front surface of your teeth. They can be used to cover up any gaps in the teeth, correcting minor misalignment issues.
Veneers straighten teeth much quicker than braces, giving you a perfect smile as soon as they're applied, and they also don't come with any long-term discomfort. However, if you need a lot of veneers, they can be more expensive. Plus, since veneers are only bonded to the side of your teeth, they can't correct major misalignment issues.
3. Dental crowns
Dental crowns can be a good middle-ground for those with moderately crooked teeth. A dental crown is a shell that's bonded to the entire surface of the tooth, fitting over it like a cap. As such, to apply them, your dentist will need to shave down your teeth so they're small enough to place a crown over.
Just like veneers, dental crowns are a quick and efficient option for tooth straightening, creating instant results. Since they cover the entire surface of the tooth, they can also correct slightly bigger alignment issues than veneers. However, since dentists have to remove a lot of tooth bone to apply them, they may not be ideal for people who have otherwise healthy teeth and want to keep them as they are. That said, this does make crowns a good idea for people who also want to correct decayed teeth at the same time as their misalignment.
Reach out to a dentist for more information.
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