You’ve finally gone through the process of getting braces, but you’ve noticed something different with your smile. Fortunately, you can expect to see a crooked smile with braces. In fact, this is normal, and we’ll explain why. Plus, you’ll learn more about how your treatment will give you that straight, symmetric smile that you’ve been waiting for.
According to the American Association of Orthodontists, it’s common to notice temporary changes in your bite and smile as your teeth begin to move and align properly.
What Causes a Crooked Smile with Braces?
To begin with, you may have noticed your crooked smile with braces that didn’t seem so obvious before. No worries. You could be experiencing one of the following temporary conditions.
Uneven Tooth Movement
In the beginning stage, shortly after getting your braces, you might notice subtle changes in the alignment of your teeth. For instance, teeth that seemed straight before now appear to be a bit crooked. This results from the movement of teeth caused by the braces, which will change over time.
If you’re curious how braces actually improve your smile, read how braces treatment gives a better smile.
Jaw Misalignment
Another possible cause relates to the alignment of the upper and lower jaws. In some cases, patients are already dealing with jaw misalignment before getting braces. The position of the jaws affects your facial symmetry, causing a crooked or canted smile.
On the other hand, some movement does occur after the braces are put in place, but that means that they’re doing their job of properly realigning everything. Either way, your jaw alignment will change throughout the course of the treatment in relation to the repositioning of your teeth.
If you’re unsure whether you need braces in the first place, here’s how to know if you need braces.
Soft-tissue Imbalance
Soft tissue refers to the tongue, gums, and the inner lining of your cheeks. At times, while wearing braces, you might experience some irritation, which may affect your smile.
However, as you adapt to your orthodontic treatment and as your teeth get realigned, you’ll notice less discomfort. In fact, braces often resolve soft-tissue imbalance.
How Braces Fix a Crooked Smile
At this point, you might wonder how we fix a crooked smile with braces. The main factor deals with what’s called torque control, which relates to how your orthodontist moves the teeth, specifically the amount of force that’s applied to the roots.
Torque control is key to successful repositioning of the teeth, and the various parts involved with your orthodontic treatment work in conjunction with each other to make that movement happen.
The first example is the adjustment of the wires to apply pressure on a specific set of teeth. This helps to straighten your bite and to properly align your teeth.
Another example involves the use of elastics. They basically guide your teeth to their proper alignment. In some cases, they cause the lower jaw to move forward or backward to better align with the upper jaw, which helps with facial symmetry and straightening your smile.
For patients interested in a more discreet alternative, learn about Invisalign treatment.
Patient Tips
Your help with the process is also necessary for a successful treatment, especially if you follow these tips.
Attend all Appointments
Your orthodontist not only performs a well-check but also adjusts the wires to where they apply the right amount of pressure to move your teeth into their correct positions.
Wear Elastics
The elastics play a vital role in correcting your jaw alignment and improving facial symmetry. They apply additional pressure and work along with the wires to correct over, under, or crossbites.
Maintain Oral Hygiene
Although braces pose an extra challenge, we can’t stress enough the importance of brushing and flossing. Taking the extra time is well worth avoiding the complications that come with plaque buildup.
For more information on our available treatments, visit our orthodontic services page.
When Braces Aren’t Enough
Likewise, there are some situations where additional treatment or surgery is needed to alleviate jaw issues.
TMJ Dysfunction
Temporomandibular joint dysfunction, and known as TMJ, can be treated with over-the-counter NSAIDS, but in more extreme cases, physical therapy to stretch the muscles surrounding the joints or even surgery is necessary to ease the pain. Learn more about TMJ symptoms and treatment options on the Mayo Clinic’s TMJ overview page.
Facial Imbalance
While braces can help rectify facial imbalance, some cases require non-surgical treatment, such as exercises for the facial muscles or dermal fillers. However, there are times when extensive surgery and follow-up therapy are required as a permanent fix to jaw alignment.
Injury
And a traumatic injury, especially a broken jaw, requires an entirely different treatment plan. As an example for minor fractures, your doctor might have you take medication for the pain, apply a cold pack, and stay on a liquid diet.
However, for a jaw that’s severely injured, you might have to undergo any of the following treatments:
- Surgery to attach metal bars or plates that’ll hold the bone in place
- Install wires or elastics that keep your jaw shut until it’s completely healed.
On the other hand, if you dislocate your jaw, you might need surgery on your joints to tighten the connecting tissue that holds the upper and lower jaws together. At the very least, you’ll have to wear a Barton bandage, which holds your jaw in place until you heal completely.
In any of the situations mentioned above, you should consult with an orthodontist to find out what type of bite alignment (if any) would work for you.
For more details on oral health and research-backed guidance, visit the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.
Retainers
Once you’ve completed the treatment, you’ll need a retainer after the braces have been removed. While it seems like yet one more thing to do, you need to know that retainers hold your teeth in place, thus preventing that crooked smile from coming back.
The bone and tissue surrounding your teeth have to adapt to the new positions of the roots. And retainers are the only appliance that keeps your teeth from going back to their original condition.
You can also explore our traditional braces options for lasting results.
Conclusion
When going through orthodontic treatment, patience and following your treatment plan is key to a successful outcome. Once you’re ready for a consultation to find out if you’re a good candidate for braces, schedule an appointment with Grinz Orthodontics. We’ll answer all your questions and get you on the path toward a healthier smile.
