If you’ve only ever needed general dental treatments, you may not have a clue what an orthodontist in Harley Street is, or what they do. An orthodontist is a regular dentist that has done an extra qualification to focus on this particular area of dentistry.
Orthodontists are concerned with the harmony of the teeth, jaws and mouth. They aim to bring everything into alignment. This is not just because it looks nice, but also because it’s healthier. Someone with a misaligned jaw may experience jaw pain, headaches, have difficulty chewing, have sensitive teeth, grind their teeth or clench their jaw.
Teeth are also healthier when they are properly aligned – this is because there are fewer nooks and crannies for bacteria to hide in and cause decay and disease. And they are also easier to keep clean as you will be more able to get your brush and floss into all the gaps.
So, if you do have wonky teeth, an overbite or underbite, a crossed, crooked or gapped smile, a visit to the orthodontist in Harley Street could be well worth your while.
What do they do?
In a word – braces. The orthodontist in Harley Street uses a range of dental appliances to correct the teeth and jaws, most commonly braces of various kinds. For teens, the dreaded metal train track braces are often used. This is because they are still the most efficient way to correct serious misalignments of the teeth and jaw. However, things have moved on since the 80s and metal braces are now made of more lightweight materials and can even come in different colours for your image-conscious teen.
For adults, the orthodontist in Harley Street may offer discreet or invisible braces – great if you don’t want to announce to the whole world that you are having treatment. These range from lingual braces that fit to the back of the teeth to clear plastic aligners that fit over the teeth and gums like mouth guards. Certain kinds of fixed metal braces also now come in clear ceramic and tooth-coloured materials to blend into the teeth.
Call in and talk to our orthodontists at Harley Street Dental Clinic about how you could benefit from a straighter smile.