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    When Do You Need an Orthodontist?

    Chances are that you'll need the services of an orthodontist at least once in your lifetime. If so, here is a handy guide when it's time to see one.

    It's not necessarily true that when you're happy, you smile a lot. Even the happiest people will resist smiling if they have something to hide, literally. A lot of people have crooked teeth and that's the very reason why they don't intend to show their teeth when they smile. In fact, some even cover their mouth using their hand just to hide those imperfections.

    When you have crooked teeth, that's definitely an embarrassment. But the good news is that you can help yourself by seeing an orthodontist.

    Orthodontists be definition are dentists who specialize and are experts in making teeth move. Part of the expertise and services they provide is to realign crooked teeth in order to make them straight and eventually give you a rather healthier and prettier smile.

    Job Description

    The main reason why everyone needs to see an orthodontist is the same, whether the patient is a child or an adult. That reason is to treat malocclusion or what is commonly referred to as bad bite. Orthodontists are a very valuable type of dental professional because they are the only ones who are trained in straightening teeth and then improving the bit through the correction of how the teeth fit together as well as how the jaw should line up.

    If you're trying to imagine what this doctor will do to you, just imagine braces, aligners, trays, and other dental appliances. These are the things that will help you eventually get a better smile. Also, retainers are used in order to hold teeth in the right position.

    Let's assume you already have a family (general) dentist. (Visit this website for more information on dentists.) He will be the same expert who can provide you with recommendations if you are in need of an orthodontist, such as in the case where treatment of a dental issue needs teeth realignment.

    Crooked and crowded teeth, including overbites can be causes of tooth decay, especially when these problems aren't addressed the soonest possible time. Also, having crooked teeth all your life will also increase the chances of developing gum disease and even the loss of a tooth.

    Likewise, suffering from a bad bite may also lead to more serious problems like inability to chew food or abnormal speech or talk. Also, if bad bite isn't fixed, it will correspond to a lot of wear and pressure on the teeth due to grinding and clenching.

    Practice Has Come a Long Way

    Orthodontics as a dental science has come a long way and it has a long history. Through artifacts, it has been proven that the Greeks and Etruscan civilizations already had sophisticated and well-designed orthodontic appliances. The stainless steel brackets and wires meanwhile were officially introduced to patients in the 1920s, while ceramic and porcelain brackets were unveiled in the 1970s. Today, the braces and other dental appliances used in orthodontics have become very sophisticated and advanced for them to be comfortable to the person wearing it. Some even are nearly invisible, making them almost totally undetectable.

    provided by Allentown Dentist, Family Dental Service.