Southern Dental in Houston offers orthodontic treatments, such as braces, to deal with the problems of dental and facial irregularities, including a misaligned bite. And today, you can even get braces that are practically invisible!

Why Braces?

Crooked or misaligned teeth not only affect the attractiveness of your smile, but also can be a factor in your ability to eat, or even speak, efficiently. You feel more comfortable and self-confident with properly aligned, attractive teeth.

Poorly aligned teeth can lead to headaches and pain in the face or neck. They also are more difficult to clean, which can lead to an increased risk of tooth decay and gum disease. You may chew less efficiently, and the back surfaces of your teeth may be worn down prematurely. When your teeth are straightened with braces, you are less likely to develop decay or suffer injury, and your overall health is improved.

At Southern Dental, orthodontic treatment, such as braces, is more typically used on children and adolescents, but orthodontics are effective at any age and are increasingly sought by adults who want a better, more professional appearance.

Orthodontics refers to the straightening or re-alignment of teeth. This specialty was usually geared towards diagnosing and treating younger patients in order to prevent and restore the misalignment of teeth. Nowadays, the treatment helps both teenagers and adults alike to maintain a beautiful smile. Orthodontic treatments can benefit patients with the alignment of their teeth, better oral hygiene, improve speech and chewing abilities, etc.

What can orthodontics treat?

• Aesthetic issues: orthodontic treatments can help improve the look of your smile by re-aligning any misaligned teeth to give you the perfect smile. Other treatments can help reshape the lips, jaw or face to improve your looks or fix any problems.
• Anteroposterior deviations: refers to the discrepancy of a closed jaw which can result in an overbite – where the upper teeth are more forward than the lower teeth or an underbite – where the lower teeth are more forward than the upper teeth causing the jaw to not close properly.
• Overcrowding: refers to when adult teeth do not have enough space to grow and develop correctly. This common problem can be fixed by the realignment of the teeth in order to create the space necessary for the teeth to grow correctly.

What types of orthodontic treatments are available?

• Fixed braces: Braces consist of a metal or ceramic dental base which is glued to each tooth, with a dental wire going through each base. The wire is gradually adjusted so that the teeth can be trained and aligned correctly. Once the teeth have achieved the proper alignment, the braces are then removed and other treatments can be implemented to maintain the teeth in their correct position.
• Removable devices: dental devices such as headgear, face masks, and retainers can be used to treat deviations or improve the position of the teeth that can be removed for eating and other activities.
• Invisalign: a modern approach to straightening teeth, using a custom-made series of aligners created for you and only you. These aligner trays are made of smooth, comfortable and virtually invisible plastic that you wear over your teeth. Wearing the aligners will gradually and gently shift your teeth into place, based on the exact movements your dentist or orthodontist plans out for you. There are no metal brackets to attach and no wires to tighten. You just pop in a new set of aligners approximately every two weeks, until your treatment is complete. You’ll achieve a great smile with little interference in your daily life. 

At Southern Dental Associates, we are dedicated to improving and restoring your smile to a beautiful, healthy condition. We are happy to provide you with the necessary information and discuss your options. Don’t hesitate to contact us!