Pros About Dental Braces

Dental braces are orthodontic appliances used to move a patient's teeth. Braces have many advantages for patients who have teeth that do not properly occlude--or come together--or that are misaligned. These orthodontic devices help to reduce a wide variety of both emotional and physical problems in individuals of all ages.

Straight Smile

• One of the greatest benefits of dental braces is that they can greatly improve a patient's smile. Poor dental occlusion in which the top and bottom teeth do not meet properly can be a social handicap. The appearance of a person's teeth can have a negative influence on his self-esteem, and wearing braces helps to improve this. Braces are able to do this because they feature bands, brackets, arch wires and auxiliary parts that move teeth in multiple possible directions.

Oral Function

• Braces prevent physical problems that result when teeth do not meet together correctly. Braces improve chewing that would be challenging if teeth have poor occlusion. Poor dental occlusion can make it harder for a person to produce certain speech sounds, and braces can have a positive effect on this issue. Braces help reduce occlusion problems that sometimes lead a person to clench and grind his teeth habitually and thus experience temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain, reports "Torres and Ehrlich Modern Dental Assisting." A strong overbite can increase a person's chances of fracturing his top front teeth, according to Goldreich Orthodontics. A poor bite can cause the teeth and gums to wear--another reason braces can be beneficial to a person's oral health.

Plaque

• Braces help prevent problems such as dental decay and periodontal disease. When the teeth are straight following orthodontic treatment, removing plaque from tooth surfaces and areas between teeth becomes much easier. This is important because improper plaque removal can cause gingivitis--inflammation of the gums--as well as periodontal disease--inflammation of the teeth's supporting tissues and bone.

  Plaque is a sticky substance that consists of bacterial deposits and is the chief cause of periodontal disease. When plaque remains on the teeth and hardens, it becomes calculus--a hard material that collects on tooth surfaces. Patients who have calculus cannot remove it themselves; instead, they must rely on a dentist or dental hygienist to do this, according to "Torres and Ehrlich Modern Dental Assisting." Straight teeth allows for easier brushing and flossing at home.