How to Achieve Your Best Smile
Your smile says a lot about you. It’s also one of the first things that people will notice so it’s not a bad idea to invest in improving it. While brushing and flossing will help keep your teeth pearly white, structural issues will require a different type of intervention.
As a leading dentist in Woollahra, Optimal Dental Care believes that every patient is unique. Our approach to orthodontics is tailored and involves exploring all potential options — from traditional braces to Invisalign — to help our patients achieve their best smile.
Read on to discover a little more about the options available to you and how we approach orthodontic treatment.
What is orthodontics?
Orthodontics is a dental specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of dental irregularities. These irregularities can include crooked teeth, the alignment of the jaw, and bad bites (overbite, underbite, crossbite, and more).
Traditionally, fixing these issues required the application of braces or a plate. While these options are still popular today, there is a range of other strategies a dentist might use to help improve the appearance of your smile and the functionality of your teeth.
The link between your smile and health
Improving your smile isn’t just about your appearance. The teeth in your upper and lower jaw should fit together like puzzle pieces. If they don’t, the risk of you developing teeth and gum disease may increase.
A poor bite or a mouth filled with crooked teeth may result in the following health problems:
● Tooth decay and gum disease: Crooked and overcrowded teeth tend to be more difficult to clean. Plaque may build-up, resulting in tooth decay and gum disease.
● Gum injury: If your teeth don’t meet nicely in the middle of your mouth, they may dig into your gums, increasing the likelihood of injury.
● Difficulty eating: While children might find particularly tough foods take extra time to break down, they shouldn’t have any prolonged difficulty. If your child is struggling to finish their lunch at the same time as their peers or is always the last one to polish off their dinner, it could be a sign there’s an issue with their bite and the alignment of their jaw.
● General wear and tear: It’s natural for our teeth to erode over time. However, crooked and uneven teeth may experience decay at an increased rate, heightening the effects of general wear and tear.
In addition to these issues, your smile can have a significant impact on your self-esteem. Studies have shown that around 1 in 3 Australians over the age of 15 feel uncomfortable about their dental appearance. Feeling embarrassed about your teeth or finding it difficult to eat and drink certain products can cause you to avoid particular social situations or not follow up on employment opportunities.
Improving your smile
Fortunately, there is a range of strategies available to help improve your smile. While orthodontic treatments are commonly associated with children, there are plenty of options available for adults.
Here at Optimal Dental Care, we are passionate about helping our patients through tailored treatment and prevention strategies. These include:
Braces
Braces are certainly the traditional option for fixing crooked teeth and adjusting jaw alignment. They are comprised of small brackets that attach to the teeth and wires that connect each of these brackets. The wires slowly and subtly pull teeth into the correct position.
Braces are typically worn for between 2 to 4 years. They may be coloured or ceramic, the latter of which blend into the teeth.
While braces are normally worn by children, they may be a suitable option for adults as well.
Invisalign
Invisalign is a different type of braces that are transparent and practically invisible in your mouth. Like traditional braces, Invisalign can be used to correct crooked teeth and fix jaw issues.
The first step in fitting Invisalign is undergoing a 3D scan of your mouth and jaw. Here at Optimal Dental Care, our equipment includes the latest 3D CBCT scanner, which is a simple and effective way of gaining the information required.
From the imaging results, a custom Invisalign plate can be developed that will help mould the smile of your dreams.
Plates and appliances
While the visible appearance of your teeth is very important, so too is the functionality of your mouth and jaw. Plates and other associated appliances can be used to guide jaw development in young children or help fix long-standing issues.
At Optimal Dental Care, we focus on providing comprehensive care to our patients. As such, we work with a range of health professionals to help improve jaw issues and ensure all patients look and feel their best.
If you are located in Sydney’s eastern regions and have been searching for “orthodontics near me,” we encourage you to contact the friendly and experienced team at Optimal Dental Care. As a leading dentist in Bondi, we have developed a reputation for providing our patients with tailored, professional, and accessible dental care. Book an appointment today to discuss how we can help you achieve your best smile.
