Do I need Braces?

One of the first things we notice about each other is our smile.  If you are not happy with the appearance of your smile, you may be asking yourself “Do I need braces?”  A smile can determine whether or not two people become friends or whether they might end up dating in the future.  A nice smile can even play a role in landing you a job or career at a company you’ve always wanted to work for.  For these reasons and many more, including reasons related to your health, it is important to have a nice smile.

Sometimes, although we take great care of our teeth, they may not grow into our mouths the way we would like them to.  They may be too small, too large, or you may have too many teeth trying to crowd themselves together.  Fortunately, orthodontics can take care of most of these issues.

Whether or not you need braces depends on a plethora of variables.  There are some warning signs that may indicate if you need braces:

• Speech difficulty such as a lisp, may indicate a malocclusion or misaligned teeth.
• Crowded or misplaced teeth.  If you have teeth that seem to appear as if they’re sitting sideways, overlapping or that protrude significantly further than surrounding teeth.
• Mouth breathing
• Teeth that are too far apart. Sometimes this comes from teeth that are too small or missing teeth.
• Facial Imbalance or asymmetry
• Early or late loss of baby teeth
• Frequent or persistent bad breath.  This could be related to many types of health issues and you will want to consult with your general practice physician and/or family dentist if this issue is accompanied by other symptoms.  However, should you experience frequent or persistent bad breath related to bacteria build up related to constantly getting food stuck between your teeth that you are unable to remove, you may benefit from braces.
• Jaws that recede, shift or protrude or even makes sounds
• Biting into the side of your cheek or roof of your mouth
• Teeth grinding
• Difficulty chewing – this can stem from teeth alignment issues

There are many different reasons a person may need or benefit from braces.  And, often times, you may not have a medical necessity for orthodontic treatment, but may want to improve the appearance of your smile.  Whether you need or simply want to improve your smile, make an appointment today with Dr. Shullman and get a professional answer to all of your, “Do I need braces” questions.