Teeth Straightening & Gum Disease

Many people who are plagued with crooked tooth problems immediately want to go in to a dentist to get braces. But many times, that isn't how it works. The tooth issue could be a result of gum disease. If you has gum disease, your teeth are very vulnerable. They can move around or even come out if your mouth is not treated appropriately, so imagine the problems that could occur if you try to straighten those teeth prematurely.

Identification

• Gum disease is a condition that occurs when bacteria develops around and beneath the gums of the teeth. It is usually a direct result of poor dental hygiene, such as neglecting to floss and brush your teeth regularly. The bacteria separates the gums from the teeth, and then eats away at the bone. Periodontitis and gingivitis are common forms of gum disease.

Teeth Straightening

• To straighten teeth, you need a licensed orthodontist. Teeth are straightened using metal or plastic braces and can take anywhere from 1 to 3 years to take effect. It's important to keep in mind that in order to straighten, your teeth will move inside of your gums according to your orthodontist's specific plans. An untreated, moveable tooth can become dislodged if moved without first being treated by a general dentist or periodontist.

The Problem

• Any qualified orthodontist or periodontist will tell you that you cannot proceed with tooth straightening until you take care of gum disease issues. You need to 1) go through deep cleanings (scalings) or oral surgery (such as bone grafting) to correct problems, 2) remove all cavities and 3) wait a certain amount of time to evaluate your gum issues before orthodontics can be implemented. In order for your teeth to receive braces, they must be in good condition and approved by your general dentist or periodontist.

Solutions

• When you have a gum disease issue and want to straighten you teeth, the common course of action starts with a good scaling, where plaque is removed from around the tooth. After the scaling, your dentist may do oral surgery to scrape bacteria away from the lowest surfaces of the teeth and add artificial bone (grafting). After a period of healing, you will be sent on to an orthodontist, who will plot out your tooth-straightening treatment plan.

Costs

• The combined treatment of gum disease and orthodontic problems can be very expensive. Depending on your specific issues, you can expect to pay as much as $10,000 for a total treatment of both of these common dental concerns.