Beyond the cosmetic concerns, crooked teeth can pose significant health risks that often go unnoticed. That’s why early orthodontic treatment with a trained and licensed orthodontist in Tomball, TX, is so important.

If you or a loved one are interested in orthodontia, seeking care sooner rather than later is key. Indeed, healthcare experts recommend orthodontic intervention for patients starting as young as seven years old. So, save yourself extra time and money by getting started at Harmony Orthodontics in Tomball, TX, today. Our team can help you fix dental issues to avoid costly repairs in the future. Just dial (832) 699-3683 to request your appointment now!

When dental issues (including crooked teeth) go untreated, it can lead to more complex issues in the future. In this blog, we delve into the hidden perils of misaligned teeth and shed light on the potential health implications.

Oral Hygiene Woes

To properly clean teeth, there must be as much surface area exposed as possible. However, misaligned teeth limit surface area and create nooks and crannies that are difficult to reach with a toothbrush and floss. 

These hard-to-reach areas quickly become a haven for plaque and bacteria. Over time, this can lead to tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease. 

Increased Risk of Gum Disease

Crooked teeth not only make cleaning difficult but also contribute to an increased risk of gum disease. Misalignments create pockets between the teeth and gums where bacteria can thrive and populate quickly, leading to inflammation and infection. 

Untreated gum disease can progress to more severe stages, impacting not only oral health but also raising the risk of systemic conditions, such as:

• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Respiratory conditions
• Pregnancy complications

Bite Irregularities

Crooked teeth can result in bite irregularities, such as:

• Overbites
• Underbites
• Crossbites

These issues can lead to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders and uneven wear on the teeth. A compromised bite can also affect the efficiency of chewing, potentially leading to digestive problems and nutritional deficiencies over time.

Speech Impediments

The arrangement of our teeth influences the way we pronounce words. Crooked teeth may contribute to speech impediments, affecting clarity and communication. Over time, individuals with misaligned teeth may develop compensatory speech patterns, potentially leading to self-esteem issues and social withdrawal.

Increased Risk of Tooth Injury

Crooked teeth are more prone to injury, especially during accidents or while participating in sports. Protruding or misaligned teeth are more susceptible to chipping, cracking, or even being knocked out. This not only poses immediate risks but can also lead to long-term dental issues that may require extensive and costly treatments.

Headaches and Jaw Pain

Misalignments can strain the muscles in the jaw and face, leading to chronic discomfort. Persistent headaches and jaw pain can significantly impact an individual’s quality of life, affecting daily activities and overall well-being.

Crooked Teeth? No Problem!

While the health risks of crooked teeth extend far beyond cosmetic concerns, early treatment can prevent or limit the effects of misaligned smiles. If you’d like to explore your orthodontic options with Dr. Wint Tun in Tomball, TX, then contact Harmony Orthodontics today! Our team can help you choose options that benefit your smile and body. So, don’t wait – request a consultation online or call our front desk at (832) 699-3683.

Every person’s smile is unique but not necessarily attractive or healthy. Issues like wide or varied spacing between teeth, twisted or crooked teeth, and overlapping teeth can make a smile unappealing. An orthodontist can close spaces, straighten teeth, and line them up uniformly in the arch to create a more pleasing smile. Orthodontists also correct bite issues for optimal functional comfort and reduced potential for tooth wear/damage. 

We accomplish teeth movements with orthodontics. Dr. Wint W. Tun at Harmony Orthodontics in Tomball, TX, offers three primary treatments to straighten teeth. In today’s blog, we’ll explain these three options:

• Clear Braces 
• Metal Braces
• Invisalign

Clear Braces

Adults and teenagers often want an inconspicuous alternative to metal braces, and clear braces fit the bill. Clear braces feature transparent or tooth-colored ceramic brackets, coupled with nickel wires, which are less obvious than traditional metal orthodontic wires. Around each clear bracket, a clear rubber band acts as a ligature, holding the archwire in place and creating strategic to direct tooth movement.

You might wonder why anyone would choose clear braces over Invisalign clear aligners. Some cases simply don’t qualify for Invisalign. For example, aligners cannot pull teeth farther out of the socket for a longer look or push teeth into the socket for a shorter look. Additionally, twisted teeth aren’t corrected by aligners; they require a bracket and archwire to achieve rotation within the socket.

Patients often select clear braces for top teeth and metal braces for lower teeth.

Metal Braces

Modern metal braces are smaller and less bulky than in previous generations. However, they still feature metal brackets and wires. Because of their durability, metal braces are better suited for complex cases. In addition, metal braces cost less than ceramic braces.

Patients can wear metal braces for six months to two years to achieve the desired outcome. Every six weeks, the patient needs to attend an orthodontic visit so we can adjust the archwires, change out rubber bands (ligatures), and assess treatment progress.

Young patients may want to jazz up their braces with colored bands. Kids often choose school or favorite team colors to show their spirit. Holiday colors are also popular: green and red for Christmas, orange and purple for Halloween, etc.

Invisalign

A popular choice for our image-conscious patients, Invisalign clear, removable orthodontic aligners are custom made from transparent, flexible acrylic, so they aren’t easy to see when the patient smiles or speaks. Furthermore, patients can remove the aligners when eating a meal, cleaning their teeth, or attending a special event, like a photo session or wedding.

Patients wear an aligner for approximately two weeks, then discard it and wear the next one in their series. Each aligner moves teeth a specific degree, and the next aligner picks up where the previous one left off. Most patients wear Invisalign for 6 to 18 months. To meet the projected treatment end date, patients should wear aligners 22 hours per day. Also, patients attend check-ins every six weeks or so.

We offer Invisalign for interceptive or phase one orthodontics in children, as well as for teens and adults. Invisalign Teen comes with 6 replacement aligners and BlueDot technology to measure compliance, at no additional cost.

Which is the best treatment to straighten your teeth?

Dr. Tun offers a no-cost consultation for new patients, with no obligation to accept a treatment plan. She’ll take x-rays, evaluate your teeth, and talk with you about the pros and cons of various orthodontic options. Together, you and she can decide upon the best treatment plan for the future of your smile.

We provide orthodontics for children, as well as adults of all ages. Call us today, in Tomball, to schedule your consultation: 832-699-3683.

To understand why a retainer is essential after your braces come off, we should begin by exploring how the body reacts to braces during treatment. Specifically, I want to tell you about bone remodeling. 

Whether you wear traditional braces or Invisalign, constant forces are responsible for the movement of your teeth. When brackets and archwires apply consistent pressure on a tooth, the bone around the tooth’s root begins to remodel, or change shape, to allow each tooth and its socket to move. As bone resorbs where teeth moved to, it forms anew where teeth moved from. This is bone remodeling. 

The constant force is absent after treatment ends, so bone remodeling slows or stops, allowing teeth to reside in their new, ideal positions. However, remodeling won’t stop immediately. Additionally, forces of any type can prompt bone remodeling to begin again. 

At the completion of orthodontic therapy, bone continues remodeling. A compliant patient will wear his orthodontic retainer all day and night, except during meals and when cleaning the retainer and teeth. Continual retainer wear is advised for the first few months post-treatment because it, in essence, tells the body, “Okay, these teeth are in the right spot. No more pressure.” Your body finally gets the message within about two months of constant retainer wear. 

In the past, orthodontists advised patients to wear a retainer at night for a few years (or a timeframe equal to treatment time). Today, however, with a better understanding of bone remodeling, orthodontists usually recommend that patients wear a retainer for life to keep teeth in proper alignment. 

The good news is that wearing a retainer isn’t like wearing fixed braces. It’s much easier. 

About Orthodontic Relapse

When a patient doesn’t wear his retainer for a week or two, it might feel tight when placed on the teeth. This indicates that teeth began to move when the retainer was absent. It’s a wake-up call that wearing a retainer is imperative to retaining orthodontic treatment results.

Not all teeth relapse. In general, the more crooked teeth were before treatment, the higher the chance of relapse. The most common situations for orthodontic relapse are with open bite cases, in lower molars, and for rotated teeth.

Relapse is more likely to occur when pressures are emitted on teeth or when extra space allows for easy tooth movement. This happens in cases of:

• Bruxism (teeth grinding)
• Third molar eruption/movement/extraction
• Tooth loss
• Latent lower jaw (mandible) growth
• Gum weakness
• Genetic predisposition
• Aging (mainly for lower front teeth)
• Mouth breathing (often caused by enlarged adenoids and tonsils)
• Tongue thrusting (when swallowing)
• Sucking on things

Remember, though, that in the simple act of eating food, our teeth endure 70 pounds of pressure per square inch, so pressures are part of the daily life of teeth. A retainer eliminates the potential for any type of pressure to cause tooth movement. (Spacers or tooth replacement eliminates the potential for open spaces to allow for dental shifting.)

Types of Orthodontic Retainers

Bonded Retainer (Permanent)

A bonded retainer is a metal wire permanently adhered to the back of teeth after orthodontic therapy. Bonded retainers are fixed (not removable, except by a dentist). You won’t have to worry about forgetting to wear, losing, or breaking your retainer, or neglecting to wear it on purpose.

For people who travel, aren’t disciplined, or who know they just won’t willingly wear a retainer, a bonded retainer is a great option.

Removable Retainer

A removable retainer relies upon the patient choosing to wear it. For best results, wear your removable retainer all night long, every night. If it ever feels uncomfortable, call the orthodontist to see if the appliance needs repair or adjustment.

Let’s Talk About Your Retainer

If you don’t wear an orthodontic retainer after treatment, your teeth may relapse. To get teeth back into proper alignment, you will need to undergo some form of orthodontic treatment again. This means additional expense, time, and hassle. Avoid relapse!
Call Harmony Orthodontics in Tomball, TX, today at 832-699-3683. Dr. Wint W. Tun will provide options for retainers that will keep your teeth in alignment long term.