At least once in your lifetime, you might think about whether or not you need braces. At Pendleton Orthodontics, an appropriate dentist will help determine if you need braces and then guide you about the entire treatment in detail.

You might have teeth that are in line. However, braces are worn for more than just one cosmetic reason. Braces are also worn because you have a dental problem that affects your oral health.

If the following signs apply to you, you must consult a trusted orthodontist and plan your actions accordingly.

Crowding

Crowding is one of the most common conditions that is addressed in wearing braces. When there is not enough space for all your teeth to fit in your mouth, you experience crowding. People of all ages deal with crowding, and mostly, crowding gets worse as you age and makes it difficult for you to brush or floss your teeth.

This causes plaque and other dental issues. However, this can, fortunately, be fixed with braces.

Gaps

Gaps are the opposite of crowding. People who experience gaps or spaces miss a tooth or have a prominent jaw. This problem makes you conscious about your smile and reduces your confidence and self-esteem.

Overbite

Over-biting is caused when your upper jaw teeth overlap on your lower jaw teeth. This is not noticeable; however, it can lead to various oral health problems. The chances of your front teeth getting hurt in an accident increase, and it can also cause extreme gum recession.

Underbite

As the name says, under-biting is the opposite of overbite. This generally happens when you have an inappropriate jaw size and causes difficulty in chewing or biting. In addition to this, it can also increase the process of facial aging and create facial imbalance.

Open bite

Another abnormal bite is an open bite. You can check this by biting your teeth down. If both the sets do not touch each other, you have an open bite. This issue usually causes difficulty in buying and speech formation.

Crossbite

Have you ever noticed that your upper tooth crosses behind the lower opposing tooth? If yes, then you may have a crossbite. If it is left untreated, it can cause wrong jaw growth and extreme gum recession. This issue can be fixed with braces. However, if you ignore it for too long, it will be unable to restore fractured teeth.

Avoiding these signs will only lead to future complications. Therefore, you must consult an orthodontist who will take X-rays and do a complete facial examination before suggesting orthopedic treatments.

It’s also worth mentioning that if you have missing teeth, it’s best to check out dental implants in Chesapeake VA, or one near you, before getting braces.