Cosmetic? Not really
If you are looking for orthodontics on our website, you will find them under the tab for cosmetic dentistry. Somehow, braces have come to be seen as a cosmetic solution, but they are so much more than that.
Yes, orthodontics does give people beautiful straight teeth that create a lovely smile, but straight teeth are also healthier teeth, which is why orthodontics is available to some children on the NHS.
However, NHS orthodontic treatment is pretty underfunded, and so treatment is only given to kids with issues with their jaws not meeting properly, rather than simple misalignments.
It is this that has led to all other forms of realignment being considered as cosmetic. One or two crooked teeth at the front of your mouth probably aren’t going to give you jaw ache, or headaches, or any of the other things that can happen with an overbite, underbite or crossbite.
Misalignments and health
Mildly misaligned teeth are more prone to decay. This is because they create more crevices and crannies that are harder to brush and floss clean, and in which plaque can build up. Build-up can lead to decay and gum disease, both of which can lose you your teeth in the long run. Well aligned teeth are stronger too, because they support each other better, and the pressure from biting and chewing is evenly distributed. When one or two teeth are taking the brunt of the pressure, they can wear out and crumble away.
Then there’s looking good. We see this as cosmetic, but having a good smile plays an important role in mental and emotional wellbeing. When we love our smile, we use it all the time. When we don’t, we suppress it. Smiling releases serotonin, the happy chemical, in our bodies, and then we feel happier and smile more, feel happier, smile more, and so on. Smiling is our most important communication tool, and helps smooth our path through life’s interactions with friends, family, colleagues, and brief encounters with strangers. Without a good smile, we can end up isolated and depressed.
As you can see, orthodontics is not an indulgence, it is a health tool at the Old Windsor Dental Practice in Berkshire. Come and use it!
