Here at Moffett & Walley Orthodontics, we hear from adults every day who have spent years feeling unhappy about their tooth look or function. Many are worried that the chance of improving their smile has passed them by and they’ll be stuck feeling self-conscious about it forever. If this sounds like you, we have good news—it’s never too late to achieve a healthier, more confident smile!
More adults than ever before are exploring how orthodontic treatment can help correct a wide range of orthodontic problems, including crooked teeth, overbites, underbites, and more. Although the most obvious benefit of treatment is a beautifully straight smile, there are many lesser-known advantages to adult braces. We’ll explore some of these below, so keep reading to learn more!
Improved digestion
You may be surprised to find there’s a connection between your stomach and your smile, but it’s an important one. Your teeth are a crucial component of the digestive process, and chewing your food is the first step in this. If you’re unable to chew properly due to misaligned teeth, it can have a negative effect on your whole digestive system. When your teeth have trouble breaking down food, it will pass through the digestive system much more slowly. Chewing may also be painful if you’re experiencing tooth or jaw pain related to a bad bite. This may even limit what and how often you can eat.
Improved chewing
Related to the above, it can be difficult to bite and chew your food effectively when your teeth and jaws are out of alignment. If this is left untreated over time, it can contribute to excessive wear and tear on your teeth and may lead to the muscles of the jaws weakening. This can cause painful chewing, which has the potential to exacerbate any issues you’re already having.
Improved speech
Your speech can also be affected by the alignment of your teeth and jaws. Misaligned teeth can influence the placement of the tip of the tongue, which is essential to properly form certain sounds, including ‘t’, ‘n’, and ‘d.’ As experienced orthodontists, Dr. Moffett will be able to help identify any speech issues related to misalignment. They’ll also assess the severity of these issues and create an effective treatment plan based on your specific needs and goals.
Improved jaw alignment
Misaligned teeth can have a noticeable effect on your jaw muscles and joints. If the jaws are forced to compensate for bad positioning, the joints will adapt in response. However, the new position will often cause further damage. This is why we tend to see both jaw issues and misaligned teeth in patients. Some of the symptoms you may experience with improper jaw alignment are:
- headaches or migraines
- jaw that seems to pop or “creak”
- pain in the jaw, neck, or shoulders
- sleep disorders
The personalized treatment plans created by Dr. Moffett will help minimize or even eliminate these symptoms by properly aligning your teeth and jaws. This approach will give you a smile that feels as good as it looks!
Improved oral health
Brushing and flossing are essential for maintaining oral health, but when your teeth are crooked or crowded, they can be difficult to clean. This can cause a build-up of plaque and bacteria, increasing the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, cavities, and gingivitis. While these are common dental ailments, they’re also preventable! Orthodontic treatment can move the teeth into more optimal positions, making it much easier to maintain an effective oral hygiene routine.
Improved treatment options
The cutting-edge technology and efficient techniques available with modern orthodontics allow us to offer adult patients a wide variety of treatment options. These are more comfortable and customizable than ever before and enable our doctors to give you the results you desire without surgery or extractions in most cases. We offer the following treatments for a total smile transformation.
Traditional metal braces are an orthodontic staple and with good reason! This is one of our most efficient treatments currently available, particularly for more severe or complicated cases. Modern braces use high-quality stainless steel, but innovations in the design mean they’re much more comfortable than previous versions. The total treatment time also tends to be shorter than it used to be.
These braces work the same way traditional braces do but benefit from using clear, white, or tooth-colored brackets. For an almost invisible treatment option, we can use them with matching elastics or ties! This makes them popular with our more image-conscious patients. Clear brackets are more delicate than metal braces, so we generally recommend them only for older teen and adult patients.
Invisalign clear aligner therapy
The Invisalign system uses a series of clear removable aligners to move the teeth instead of brackets and wires. These are made of a soft but strong thermoplastic resin material and customized to fit comfortably over your teeth. For this treatment to succeed, the aligners must be worn for 20-22 hours each day and switched out for the next in the series every 1-2 weeks.
Because Invisalign aligners are removable, you can eat and drink whatever you want while you’re in treatment. Your oral hygiene routine will be a whole lot easier, too! Our adult patients love the freedom and flexibility that Invisalign aligners offer them.
All of these options can be a great fit for busy adults! You can trust Dr. Moffett to recommend the treatment method they feel will work best with your smile, lifestyle, and goals.
Get the smile you’ve always wanted with Moffett & Walley Orthodontics
Moffett & Walley Orthodontics is proud to offer patients the full package: expert care, clear communication, a rewarding orthodontic experience, and exceptional results. If you’d like to learn more about the many ways an aligned bite can benefit you, get in touch today to schedule a FREE consultation with our Clinton or Madison office!