Why is Orthodontics Important?

Many people think about getting orthodontics but are not sure. Undergoing treatment has many benefits, such as the following:

1. Higher self-esteem – studies show that people get braces to feel better because their looks improve. When our appearance improves, we feel better about ourselves.

2. Motivation for oral care – if you undergo orthodontics in Grande Prairie, you will feel more motivated to maintain excellent oral care. 

3. Prevents TMD – When you have a malocclusion, your jaw suffers because forces are not well distributed. After your teeth are aligned, your TMJ (temporomandibular joint) does not stress.

4. Less risk of cavities – when you have crooked teeth, you accumulate dental plaque. It leads to dental caries without good oral care.

5. Save money – Even though getting orthodontics near you is an investment, in the long run, you save money because you prevent many oral issues when your teeth are in the correct position.

Our orthodontics dentist in Grande Prairie works with all kinds of braces. We will describe them below.

Types of Braces

Among them, you can find:

1. Metallic braces

Even though they are less popular because of the aesthetic options, metallic braces work excellently and are the best cost-effective option. 

Your doctor will cement the brackets on the front surface of your teeth and place a wire that joins them together. They will place elastics around the brackets to keep the wire in its place.

Every three to four weeks, visit an orthodontic dentist near you. They will change the elastics, and you will feel soreness pressure for the next 48 hours because your teeth will gradually move to the correct position.

These braces are permanent and may cause discomfort due to the wire and metallic devices. On the other hand, they have the lowest price among the rest.

Orthodontic treatment with metallic braces takes about two years.

2. Clear braces

Clear braces are the ceramic ones. They match the color of your dentition, but they are not fully unnoticed. 

Since they are bigger, your smile looks bulkier; nevertheless, they are more aesthetic than metallic ones, and in pictures, you can barely notice them.

They are cemented the same way as metallic, and treatment takes approximately two years.

They are more expensive because of the aesthetic factor. We suggest you not wait more than three weeks between checkups because the elastics of these are tooth-colored, and after three weeks, they stain due to the pigments in your foods and drinks. You must maintain rigorous oral care if you are a clear braces wearer.

3. Invisalign

Finally, you have Invisalign. It is the most popular system to align teeth because it is nearly invisible (hence the name).

The system consists of clear aligners that patients wear for two weeks each until their teeth are aligned. Your dentist will scan your mouth for the aligners. When ready, they will give many sets (numbered) to you.

They will advise you on how to use them. You must wear the trays almost all day (22 hours a day); otherwise, treatment does not work. 

Invisalign is removable, and you can remove them before meals and your oral care routine. If you have a special event, you can make the exception and not wear them; however, be diligent with their use for orthodontic treatment to progress.

Invisalign treatment is no faster than traditional braces. It takes about two years, and it can be more or less, depending on the malocclusion. 

Due to all its benefits, it is the most expensive orthodontic treatment nowadays; however, it is worth the investment. It is both aesthetic and comfortable for the patient.