In some respects, there has never been a better time to get braces. There are more comfortable not to mention attractive options to straighten teeth.

Maybe for as long as you can remember you’ve had less-than-straight teeth. Perhaps your teeth have shifted over time. Whatever the case may be there is no time like the present to gain (or regain) a straight smile.

The longer you live with crooked teeth, the more complications can arise. You may have problems cleaning between crowded teeth. This can lead to decay, which leads to tooth damage and tooth loss. Crooked teeth can also place strain on other parts of the mouth, the jaws and muscles. That frequent headache, for example, may not be caused by the everyday stresses of work and family commitments. You may have the stress placed on your mouth from misaligned teeth to blame for these and other conditions that may not immediately appear related to oral health, including neck pain.

The root of the problem

Do your teeth look more crooked than they have in the past? Gum disease is a common problem. It can cause teeth to shift. The good news is gum disease is highly preventable and damage caused by this inflammation can be reversed.

Dr. Gordon Kent will want to assess the health of your gums and mouth. From there he can help identify the orthodontic treatment that is best for you. If it is determined that shifting and other symptoms such as bleeding and swelling are caused by gum disease, it’s necessary to bring the condition under control before embarking on treatment.

After all, conventional braces and invisible aligners such as Invisalign work by gently moving teeth into place within the very bone that supports them. Gum or periodontal disease can have a damaging effect on both the tissues and the underlying bone. If anything, orthodontic treatment can make the condition worse. It should also be said that traditional braces require diligent and careful brushing around the gum line. This can take some getting used to with braces, but proper oral hygiene is vital to keep the sticky, bacterial plaque film from forming. Plaque and its hardened form, tartar, can irritate and inflame the gums.

One of the benefits of Invisalign is the aligners that straighten your teeth can be removed for brushing and flossing. This eliminates the challenge associated with braces of cleaning around the gum line. In turn, it also helps to prevent gum disease. The aligners may also be removed for eating and for special occasions, as long as they are worn for at least around 22 hours a day.

To find out more about how Invisalign and other modern orthodontic methods work, call to schedule an appointment at the Smile Center. Unlike other providers in the Buffalo NY area, Dr. Kent’s patients benefit from his advanced orthodontist training as well as extensive training and experience across many disciplines, including dental implantology. For this reason Dr. Kent rarely has to refer patients to other specialists, which means added convenience with all your dental needs under one roof!