7 Signs That Tell You Need to See an Orthodontist
If your teeth aren’t as straight as you’d like them to be, don’t worry. It’s likely not a permanent condition and an orthodontist can help. There are several signs that tell you need to see a South Bay orthodontist, or wherever you live.
- Your teeth are crowded and overlap
It’s important to note that if your teeth are crowded and overlapping, this is not necessarily a problem. In fact, most people have some crowding and overlap between their upper and lower teeth. However, if you have any of the following symptoms that might indicate a need for orthodontic treatment:
- You have difficulty chewing or biting food (for example, it hurts when you chew).
- You have frequent gum problems like bleeding or inflamed gums.
- Your bottom front teeth are pushed out of alignment with respect to other teeth in your mouth because they are too large for their space between two upper molars on both sides of your jawbone (called diastema).
- Your jaw is growing at a different rate than your face
If your jaw is growing at a different rate than the rest of your face, it can cause problems with how well you chew and speak. This condition is called growth discrepancy or malocclusion.
If you have this condition, there are two ways for us to treat it: orthognathic surgery and orthodontics (braces). If we think that braces alone won’t be enough to help with jaw growth, we may recommend surgery first before putting on braces.
- Your jaw isn’t growing at all
If your jaw doesn’t grow, it can cause problems with your facial structure. This is known as an “isolated transverse maxillary deficiency.” In some cases, the upper and lower jaws may not grow at the same rate. If this happens and your face continues to grow, it can lead to a wide variety of issues with teeth alignment and tooth crowding.
- You have an open bite
- Your lower jaw is too long and doesn’t fit properly over the upper jaw.
- Your teeth are crooked or crowded.
- You grind your teeth at night, which can lead to gum recession and tooth loss if left untreated.
- You have a crossbite
Your upper teeth are misaligned with the lower teeth, usually because of an underbite, but sometimes because the upper jaw is too short.
A crossbite is when your upper teeth are misaligned with the lower teeth. This can be caused by an underbite or a short upper jaw, and it can cause problems with chewing food, speaking, and swallowing. The best way to fix a crossbite is with braces (or “orthodontics”).
You have an overbite or reverse overbite where the top jaw protrudes beyond the bottom one, causing stress on both sets of teeth as they grind together unnecessarily during chewing and speech.
- If you have an overbite or reverse overbite
Where the top jaw protrudes beyond the bottom one, causing stress on both sets of teeth as they grind together unnecessarily during chewing and speech. This can result in excessive wear on your teeth.
The most common problem associated with this condition is tooth decay and gum disease caused by plaque buildup around dental restorations like crowns or fillings (particularly if they’re not bonded securely). Plaque also tends to accumulate on brackets that hold braces–a fact that may explain why many people report having bad breath while wearing them!
- If any of these situations apply to you, you should make an appointment with an orthodontist soon.
- You’re not happy with the way your teeth look and want to improve the appearance of your smile.
- Your jaw is misaligned or crooked, which can cause facial problems such as TMJ pain and headaches.
- You have gaps between your teeth that make brushing difficult or uncomfortable.
Conclusion
If any of these situations apply to you, you should make an appointment with an orthodontist soon. Whether you are looking to get braces in San Jose, or wherever you live, ensure that seek consultation and treatment from a quality one.
