Why is orthodontic treatment so important?
Everyone wants a beautiful smile - and everyone should have a healthy one. The orthodontists goal is to achieve both for the patient.
Crooked and crowded teeth are hard to clean and maintain. This may contribute to conditions that cause not only tooth decay but eventual gum disease and tooth loss. Other orthodontic problems can cause abnormal wear of tooth surfaces, excess stress on supporting bone and gum tissue, or misalignment of the jaw joints with resultant chronic headaches or pain in the face or neck.
When left untreated, many orthodontic problems become worse. Treatment by a specialist to correct the original problem is often less costly than the additional dental care required to treat the more serious problems that can develop in later years.
The importance of an attractive smile should not be underestimated. A pleasing appearance is a vital asset to one's self-confidence. A person's selfesteem often improves as treatment brings teeth, lips and face into harmony. In this way, orthodontic treatment can benefit social and career success as well as improve one's general attitude towards life.
