Straighten Your Smile with Orthodontics
Crooked teeth can affect both the appearance of your smile and your oral health. When teeth are not properly aligned, they are harder to keep clean, increasing your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. In addition, misaligned teeth can put extra stress on your jaw, leading to headaches and other types of discomfort. Dr. Gregory S. Strain and our team have built a relationship with a local orthodontist who comes into our Metairie, LA, office weekly. Depending on your needs and preferences, we can offer traditional orthodontics or clear aligners for more discreet treatment.
Orthodontic treatment can improve your appearance, oral health, and confidence.
A straighter smile offers more than just a cosmetic enhancement. When your teeth fit together properly, you can experience a range of benefits, including:
- Improved oral hygiene
- Greater comfort
- Fewer issues with clenching or grinding
- Clearer speech
- Better nutrition
- More self-confidence
Orthodontics can bring your teeth and jaw into better alignment, so you can benefit from a healthier, more comfortable bite. A straight smile can help you avoid serious oral health concerns so your teeth last a lifetime.
What We Can Treat with Orthodontics
Our team can use orthodontics to treat a wide range of issues. Some of the common conditions which can benefit from orthodontic treatment include:
- Underbites: the lower teeth cover the upper teeth
- Overbites: the upper front teeth stick out too far over the lower teeth
- Open bites: the front or side teeth do not touch when biting
We can design a personalized orthodontic treatment plan to straighten your smile and improve your overall oral health.
- Crossbites: the upper teeth do not align with the lower teeth properly
- Overcrowding: the teeth overlap or the jaw lacks sufficient space
- Gapped teeth: noticeable spaces appear between the teeth
Another issue which orthodontics can treat is a misplaced midline. When the center of your upper front teeth does not align with the same point on your lower front teeth, braces or clear aligners can shift the position of these teeth for a more symmetrical appearance.
Planning Your Treatment
Your Treatment Options
At our practice, we offer both traditional metal braces and clear braces. The right treatment option for you will depend on the extent of your misalignment, as well as your lifestyle, budget, and other considerations.
Braces
Traditional braces consist of metal brackets which are bonded to the front surface of your teeth and connected with an archwire. The wire is held in place by rubber bands. The brackets and wire work together to apply consistent pressure to your teeth and guide them into place. Regular tightening of the wire is necessary to guide your treatment. A typical treatment plan with braces lasts about one to three years. Your timeline will depend on the severity of your case and issues we need to address.
Clear Aligners
We offer two brands of clear aligners, Invisalign® and ClearCorrect, as an alternative to traditional orthodontics. These aligners are custom-made from clear, BPA-free plastic, and fit over the front of your teeth to apply similar pressure to braces. The aligners are removable and virtually invisible, making them more comfortable and convenient than traditional braces. However, these aligners cannot always apply the same level of pressure to teeth and may not be right for more complex cases.
Find Out More
If you are interested in straightening your smile, contact our office online or call one of our three convenient locations today. We can help you determine which type of orthodontics is right for you.