One of the best parts of my job is seeing the bright, confident smiles of patients who are just finishing their braces treatment and looking at their newly aligned teeth for the first time without braces. Although these beautiful smiles are the most visible reason why people get braces, it is certainly not the only reason. A nice smile may be attractive and eye-catching for most people, but to orthodontists and oral health professionals like myself, they indicate a lot more. Braces are one of the best ways to attain a bright, healthy smile, but there are many other reasons why a person may get braces.

Correct Alignment Of Jaw

One of the most common reasons why people get braces is to correct the alignment of their jaw. Issues like overbites, underbites and crossbites are not just indicative of crooked teeth. The misalignment of teeth in these situations is caused by the jaw itself. When the jaw is out of alignment it doesn’t just make teeth look crooked, it can actually cause undue stress on other teeth. This is because a misaligned jaw will cause certain teeth to get used more than others, leading to issues like tooth crowding, which makes effective flossing and brushing difficult, leading to bad breath and tooth decay. With proper braces treatment however, this unseen issue can be quite easily corrected.

Overbites & Underbites

Overbites and underbites are also best corrected by using braces. These issues can lead to difficulty eating and can actually alter the appearance of a person’s face. With braces however, the bite issues and jaw pain can be corrected, and the appearance of the patient’s face is slightly altered for the better. Other less known issues like a crossbite, where a patient’s back teeth are misaligned, can also be treated effectively with orthodontic appliances.

While a nice, bright smile is often the most apparent reason for people to get braces, it is far from the only reason. If you have experienced any of the issues described above, or are simply curious about how braces can improve your overall oral health, be sure to contact the friendly staff at South Surrey