No one is perfect and, unfortunately, hardly anyone is born with a set of perfectly straight teeth. But teeth have become something of a status symbol even if no one is born with a perfect pair; it has become expected for people to have an attractive smile. And for many, this means a visit or two to the dentist. Anyone with crooked teeth can correct the problem easily enough with some braces.

Because everyone’s issues are different, a professional must first check out the teeth in question before suggestions can be made on how to straighten them. A misaligned smile does not need to last forever and these days, hardly anyone opts to keep their crooked teeth. A professional can better explain why it is actually important for people to correct their crooked teeth.

Today there are several ways in which a dentist can straighten a set of teeth. The most commonly used appliances are made of metal wires and brackets, which often require extra help from rubber bands which the patient must put on and take off on a regular basis. It utilizes tiny brackets which are first bonded to the teeth by the dentist. When it is time to have them removed, a professional must remove these bonds. Outside of silver, it may also consist of plastic, steel and ceramic. Appliances work by pressing a continuous pressure on the teeth which must be moved.

Because the pressure will let up over time, the patient must see the orthodontist once a month so that they can retighten it. The pressure that braces apply to the smile will allow the teeth to be slowly moved into place. An orthodontist works specifically with braces and teeth straightening, will take x-rays before placing any metal in a patient’s mouth. Such a professional must also thoroughly check a patient’s mouth and perform a clinical examination before making any drastic changes in the mouth’s layout. Typically, an orthodontist will ask a patient or a young patient’s parents, a number of health-related questions before beginning any work. It is not uncommon for some to take “before” pictures of a patient’s face, mouth and teeth. They may also take pictures after the appliances come off, one to two years after they were put on.

Some people’s mouths are far too sensitive for a set of metal braces, and if this is the case the orthodontist will recommend some other means of straightening the teeth. One such way may be to use Invisalign, a set of plastic teeth covers made to conform to a patient’s mouth. These act like the typical braces in that they apply pressure to slowly move teeth, but they do not have to be worn at all times, unlike the metal ones. Remember, only an orthodontist will require patients to return to the office each month so that the appliances may be tightened. Only an orthodontist can determine how long braces must remain on; the length of time will be different for every set of teeth.

Author Bio: Penny Lane visited a Murfreesboro dentist on her last trip to the south to study what new techniques are being used. She searched the term Murfreesboro braces to find a new orthodontist for her children.

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: Murfreesboro dentist,Murfreesboro braces