An effective long-term solution to straightening your teeth and correcting your bite is orthodontics. Orthodontics is a subspecialty area in dentistry that focuses on aligning and straightening teeth using wires and brackets that apply force to the teeth to move them into a particular position. The discipline has advanced over decades and today treatment is a lot shorter and more comfortable than it was in the past.

Patients who have problems with their bite and the way their top and bottom teeth line up against each other should consider having orthodontic treatment. Treatment does require good oral hygiene habits by the patient and regular visits to the practice for check-ups and adjustments. Depending on the extent of the alignment required with your teeth, treatment can take from several months to a year with reliable results. Thanks to fixed permanent retention you can be assured that your teeth won’t move after treatment is completed.

The main benefit of having orthodontic treatment is that straighter teeth are healthier teeth. When your bite is properly aligned and your teeth are straightened, there are less gaps and areas for food to get trapped and plaque to build up on the teeth, causing decay. In that sense, orthodontics is a long-term investment in your oral health.

All In A Row

If every tooth grew straight and true, there would be no need for the science of orthodontics. Unfortunately, though, nature rarely provides a full set of 32 perfectly planted teeth. Often several teeth will grow out of alignment, will look crooked or twisted, and may leave uneven gaps.

In children (adults too) teeth can be brought back into better alignment using braces, but many adults now prefer to use ‘invisible braces’ or Invisalign. The system uses computerised three-dimensional modelling to create see-through aligners which are unnoticeable when worn. They are made to fit your teeth exactly and over time they persuade your teeth into slightly changed positions, giving you a straighter smile.

Invisible braces are worn for 24 hours a day, being removed only when you are eating, or brushing your teeth. They slowly persuade your teeth to move minutely, so they need replacing about every 14 days with the next invisible brace in the series. We’ll regularly check progress as, over the course of 6 -18 months (the exact time depends on the degree of correction required), your smile straightens.

At Evergreen we’ll help you decide whether you’d like to straighten your teeth, and whether traditional braces or Invisalign would be a better option. Once again, our only objective is making you happier with your smile. Please click here to book your FREE consultation with one of our certified practitioners.