The best smile is a straight smile. Why? More than boosting self-esteem and creating important first impressions, a well-aligned set of teeth improves your health. At Dr. Hattar Dental and Orthodontics, your Victorville, CA, dentist, Dr. Fahed Hattar, uses modern orthodontic treatment to create the healthiest of smiles in children, teens, and adults. Learn how orthodontics can help you.
Wearing braces
Millions of people wear braces, and they're not all children and teens. The Academy of General Dentistry states that adults, too, benefit from orthodontic treatment. Your Victorville, CA, dentist will examine your teeth, gums, and bone structure to determine the extent of your alignment problems and then compose a treatment plan specific to your needs.
These days, braces come in a variety of forms:
- Traditional metal brackets and wires
- Ceramic, or tooth-colored, braces
- Lingual appliances, applied to the back side of teeth (hidden from view)
- Clear aligners, such as Invisalign and ClearCorrect
- Palatal expanders
- Space maintainers
Whatever your need, Dr. Hattar will choose the appliances sure to meet your goals and to safely and gently move your teeth into healthier positions. All treatment plans include periodic check-ins at Dr. Hattar Dental and Orthodontics, and most people wear a bonded-in or removable retainer after they complete their treatments.
What are the health benefits of braces?
Many people approach orthodontic care with only personal appearance in mind. While how you look and how you feel about your smile impacts your confidence and interpersonal relationships, braces give you so much more.
First of all, orthodontic patients learn how to take care of their teeth. From the most complex of metal hardware to the simplest of plastic aligners, braces encourage people to brush and floss carefully, see their dentist regularly and start eating nutritious diets. They may even give up bad habits such as biting their fingernails, eating hard candy, and grinding their teeth.
Beyond these benefits, the results of orthodontic care include:
- Resolution of ear and facial pain and migraines which often accompany poorly aligned smiles
- Lowered chance of oral injury (lacerations, chipped teeth) when protruding front teeth are corrected
- Less wear and tear on tooth surfaces
- Ease of oral hygiene when teeth are no longer tightly spaced and crooked (and therefore, have less decay and gum disease)
- More distinct speech
- Elimination of biting and chewing problems
- Better digestion as people can chew their food more thoroughly before swallowing
Find out more
Dr. Fahed Hattar would love to tell you all about the many advantages of orthodontic care. If you or your child need a complete smile evaluation, please contact Dr. Hattar Dental and Orthodontics in Victorville, CA. The office is open Monday through Friday beginning at 9 am. Please phone (760) 243-3595.