Are braces medically necessary or cosmetic?
Braces have both medical and cosmetic benefits, often serving more than one purpose for the wearer. Read on for more information on how braces can improve oral health and confidence.
Medical Reasons for Braces
The list of health advantages that braces provide is extensive. Braces can help with:
Bite improvement. Braces align teeth and fix improper bites, which helps with jaw pain and headaches.
Gum disease prevention. Plaque and particles of food get stuck in crooked or misaligned teeth, resulting in bacteria that cause gum infections. Straightening the teeth makes them easier to clean with floss and a toothbrush to protect against gum disease.
Better digestive health. Teeth aid in digestion by breaking down food. If teeth are misaligned, it can be difficult to chew, and large chunks of food may enter the stomach, leading to digestive discomfort and stomach distress.
Tooth decay prevention. Braces can help with tooth decay. As with gum disease prevention, overlapping and misaligned teeth make it harder to properly clean plaque that eats away at enamel and causes cavities.
Protection against bone erosion. Improperly aligned teeth can lead to bone and jawbone erosion. Just as bacteria from poor cleaning can affect the teeth and gums, it can also reach the bone and erode the gums.
Better speech quality. Teeth play a large role in how we speak. Gapped or misaligned teeth can cause whistling, pronunciation difficulties, and slurring problems. Aligning teeth can fix these issues.
Cosmetic Reasons for Braces
Braces may be considered cosmetic for these reasons:
Aesthetics. One main purpose of braces is to fix crowded or crooked teeth, leading to better facial symmetry and a straighter smile that can increase confidence.
Personalized treatment options. Dental offices offer many aligner options that fit different preferences and lifestyles. For example, patients may choose traditional metal braces, clear aligners, or ceramic braces.
Cosmetic oral health. Aligning teeth also makes them easier to clean, making them whiter and less prone to the visual results of tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease.
Experience the Benefits of Braces
For a healthy, more confident smile, contact our office today. Our qualified staff is happy to help you have a successful braces journey that will impact your life forever!