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- Santa Barbara, CA 93101
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If you have orthodontic issues, the benefits of treating them go far beyond improving the appearance of your smile. You can see significant oral and overall health improvements from orthodontic treatment. There are also psychological benefits.
We receive a lot of questions about these benefits here at Orthodontics of Santa Barbara, so we put together this article to help answer the most common. If you have any other questions, please call our office and we will be happy to answer them!
Treating orthodontic issues can dramatically improve one’s oral health in many ways, including:
An incorrect bite can cause excess wear, cracked or chipped teeth, headaches, facial distortion, and other issues. Orthodontic treatment corrects bite issues and prevents these problems.
Orthodontic problems like crowded or crooked teeth increase the incidence of both tooth decay and gum disease. Completing orthodontic treatment reduces the chances of these problems occurring to normal levels.
One of the most common orthodontic issues is a misaligned jaw. This can be a painful issue and can make it difficult to eat properly. It also increases the risk of future dental problems.
Crooked or crowded teeth are hard to keep clean. It is more difficult to brush these teeth properly. It is also hard to floss them. This makes them prone to plaque and tartar buildup, which leads to tooth decay and periodontal (gum) disease. Orthodontic treatment corrects these issues.
Dental health and overall health are connected in more ways than most people realize. Poor oral health can lead to poor overall health. The following are just a few of the health issues that can be improved or corrected with orthodontic treatment.
Misaligned teeth and jaws can make it hard to chew properly and even cause speech issues. Orthodontic treatment corrects these issues and restores proper functioning. This will improve any speech problems and lead to less painful eating and better digestion.
The Temporomandibular Joint, more commonly known as the TM joint or just TMJ, connects your skull and your jaw using a hinge on either side of your face. TMJ disorders can be caused by several problems, but one of the most common is a bad bite. Correcting this problem with orthodontic treatment will improve the working of the joint and reduce pain.
Having a bad bite or a misaligned jaw can cause strain to your jaw, which creates tension and thus pain in your neck and shoulders. Correcting these issues with orthodontic treatment will eliminate the tension and reduce the pain.
Orthodontic issues can restrict your airways, leading to serious issues with your sinuses. Correcting any alignment issues will help clear and open these airways, letting you breathe more easily and reducing other sinus issues like pain and pressure.
Orthodontic treatment results in a straighter, more appealing smile. This makes people more confident in their smiles and lets them smile more without being so worried about their appearance. It also creates a major boost in overall self-esteem and self-confidence.
Undergoing orthodontic treatment can have a number of other benefits depending on the person, how serious the orthodontic issues are, and what secondary effects are caused by the misalignment or bite issues. Some bruxism (teeth grinding) issues can be corrected with proper orthodontic treatment.
A few of the issues that orthodontic issues can cause in some patients include migraines, sleep apnea, and tinnitus. Treating the orthodontic issues can relieve those issues in these patients.
The first step is to come into our orthodontist office in Santa Barbara for a consultation. During your appointment, you will receive a comprehensive dental exam, including imaging. The doctor will then discuss any orthodontic issues you have and recommend a treatment plan tailored to your individual needs, goals, and budget.
You will have a chance to ask any questions you have and make sure you understand the treatment(s) being recommended. Once you have agreed to a treatment plan with the doctor, treatment can begin. You will come back to the office to have your braces placed or pick up your first set of Invisalign® trays.
After you begin treatment, you will return to the office periodically for checkups to see how well you are progressing. When your treatment is complete, your braces will be removed (or you will stop wearing the Invisalign® trays). You will then need to wear a retainer, either temporarily or permanently, to keep your teeth from shifting back out of alignment.
The cost of orthodontic treatment varies widely and depends on each patient’s individual needs, which type of treatment he or she is undergoing, the length of the treatment, and other factors. Traditional metal braces are generally the cheapest option and Invisalign® Clear Aligners are the most expensive, with porcelain ceramic braces falling in between the two.
Insurance may or may not cover all or part of the cost. We will check your insurance benefits and give you a detailed financial breakdown during your consultation. Our Santa Barbara office is happy to offer several financing options and patient arrangements as well to help patients get the care they need.
We treat both children and adults here at the Orthodontics of Santa Barbara and offer multiple options to meet your orthodontic needs, from traditional metal braces to the newer Invisalign® clear aligners. We offer flexible appointment times to help you fit your dental care into your schedule and accept most dental insurance plans.
Call (805) 979-9070 and make your first appointment with Orthodontics of Santa Barbara today!
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