When most people think about orthodontic treatment, they think about achieving a straighter smile. While appearance can certainly be one reason people consider braces or aligners, orthodontic care can also have important functional and oral health benefits.
Crooked, crowded or poorly aligned teeth can sometimes make cleaning more difficult, affect the way the upper and lower teeth meet, or contribute to difficulties with biting and chewing. Orthodontic treatment aims to improve the alignment of the teeth and, where necessary, correct problems with the bite and jaw relationship.
Understanding these broader benefits can help patients make informed decisions about whether orthodontic treatment may be appropriate for them.
What Is Orthodontic Treatment?
Orthodontics is the area of dentistry concerned with diagnosing, preventing and treating problems involving the alignment of the teeth and jaws.
Orthodontic treatment may be recommended for:
- Crowded teeth
- Crooked or rotated teeth
- Gaps between teeth
- Overbites
- Underbites
- Crossbites
- Teeth that do not meet correctly
- Certain jaw alignment concerns
Treatment may involve traditional braces for teeth, clear aligners, retainers or other orthodontic appliances depending on the patient’s needs.
Healthdirect notes that orthodontic treatment can improve both the function of the teeth and jaws and the appearance of the smile.
How Can Orthodontic Treatment Benefit Oral Health?
The potential oral health benefits of orthodontic treatment extend beyond having straighter teeth.
Healthdirect identifies several possible benefits of appropriately prescribed orthodontic treatment, including improving the bite, reducing damage associated with a poor bite, limiting tooth wear and improving overall mouth health.
The benefits will vary depending on the orthodontic problem being treated.
1. Straighter Teeth Can Be Easier to Clean
Crowded or overlapping teeth can create areas that are more difficult to reach effectively with a toothbrush or interdental cleaning.
Plaque can accumulate when teeth are not cleaned thoroughly. Over time, plaque contributes to tooth decay and gum disease. Healthdirect recommends brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and cleaning between the teeth every day as important foundations of oral health.
Correcting significant crowding may make some areas easier to access and maintain.
However, orthodontic treatment does not replace good oral hygiene. Patients still need consistent brushing, interdental cleaning and regular dental care before, during and after treatment.
2. Orthodontics Can Improve Your Bite
Your bite describes how your upper and lower teeth meet when you close your mouth.
When teeth or jaws are poorly aligned, the condition is commonly called a malocclusion. Examples include an overbite, underbite or crossbite.
Depending on its severity, a bite problem may affect:
- Biting
- Chewing
- Tooth wear
- Jaw function
- Speech in some circumstances
Orthodontists are specifically trained to diagnose and manage problems involving the alignment of the teeth, bite and jaws.
Correcting a clinically significant bite problem can therefore be about improving function as much as changing appearance.
3. Treatment May Help Reduce Uneven Tooth Wear
When teeth do not meet properly, certain teeth may experience greater forces than others.
Over time, an abnormal bite can contribute to uneven tooth wear or damage in some patients. Healthdirect lists reducing damage caused by a poor bite and limiting tooth wear among the potential benefits of orthodontic treatment.
Whether orthodontic treatment is needed depends on the type and severity of the bite problem, so an individual assessment is important.
4. Orthodontic Treatment Can Support Chewing
The teeth are designed to work together when biting and chewing food.
Significant misalignment can sometimes interfere with this process. Healthdirect identifies difficulty or pain with biting and chewing as reasons someone may benefit from orthodontic assessment.
Improving how the teeth meet may make biting and chewing more functional for patients whose malocclusion is causing difficulties.
5. Orthodontics May Help With Certain Speech or Functional Problems
The position of the teeth and jaws can influence how some sounds are produced.
Not every speech problem is caused by tooth alignment, and orthodontics is certainly not a universal treatment for speech difficulties. However, some orthodontic problems can contribute to functional concerns involving speech, breathing or chewing.
Healthdirect notes that orthodontic treatment may help in certain cases involving these functions.
Assessment is important because speech difficulties can have many causes and may require input from other health professionals.
6. A More Comfortable Bite May Support Long-Term Dental Health
Orthodontics forms one part of broader dental health care.
Correcting a significant alignment problem may help distribute biting forces more appropriately and reduce problems associated with a poor bite.
However, orthodontic treatment does not prevent every dental problem.
Long-term oral health still depends on:
- Good brushing
- Cleaning between the teeth
- Fluoride exposure
- Healthy dietary habits
- Avoiding smoking and vaping
- Regular dental examinations
Healthdirect recommends regular dental check-ups because they can help identify oral health problems before they become more difficult to manage.
Who Might Benefit From Orthodontic Treatment?
Orthodontics is not just for teenagers.
Children, adolescents and adults may all benefit from assessment depending on their dental development and individual concerns.
Signs that an orthodontic assessment may be useful include:
- Crowded teeth
- Noticeably crooked teeth
- Large spaces between teeth
- Upper and lower teeth that do not meet properly
- Difficulty biting or chewing
- Significant tooth wear
- Teeth that protrude
- Jaw alignment concerns
Healthdirect also notes that some children may benefit from assessment where there has been early loss of baby teeth, persistent thumb sucking or other developmental concerns.
Does Everyone With Crooked Teeth Need Braces?
No.
Minor tooth irregularities do not automatically require orthodontic treatment.
The decision depends on factors including:
- Severity of the alignment problem
- Bite function
- Oral health
- Age and dental development
- Patient preferences
- Potential benefits and risks
- Treatment feasibility
An orthodontic assessment can determine whether treatment is clinically appropriate and which options may be suitable.
What Types of Orthodontic Treatment Are Available?
Modern orthodontic care includes several approaches.
Traditional Braces
Fixed braces use brackets and wires to gradually move the teeth into planned positions.
Clear Aligners
Clear removable aligners are designed to progressively reposition teeth. They can be appropriate for some orthodontic problems but are not suitable for every case.
Other Orthodontic Appliances
Depending on the problem, treatment may involve expansion appliances, bite-correcting devices or other specialised appliances.
Retainers
Retainers are generally used after active orthodontic treatment to help maintain the new position of the teeth.
The most appropriate option depends on your diagnosis rather than appearance or convenience alone.
What Happens at an Orthodontic Assessment?
An orthodontic assessment typically begins with an examination of your teeth, bite, jaws and facial structures.
Diagnostic information may include:
- Photographs
- Dental X-rays
- Digital scans
- Dental models
The practitioner can then discuss the findings, whether treatment is recommended, available options, expected treatment duration, potential risks and costs.
This is also an opportunity to ask questions and understand what treatment could realistically achieve.
How Long Does Orthodontic Treatment Take?
Treatment time varies considerably.
Factors affecting duration include:
- The type of orthodontic problem
- Severity of misalignment
- Age
- Treatment method
- Biological response to tooth movement
- How consistently appliances or elastics are worn
- Attendance at follow-up appointments
Healthdirect notes that orthodontic treatment to straighten teeth can take 18 months or longer in some cases because teeth must be moved gradually.
Your treatment provider can give you a more individual estimate after assessment.
Looking After Your Teeth While Wearing Braces
Good oral hygiene becomes particularly important during orthodontic treatment.
Fixed braces create additional areas where food and plaque can accumulate.
Patients with braces should pay particular attention to:
- Brushing thoroughly around brackets and wires
- Cleaning between teeth every day
- Using fluoride toothpaste
- Following dietary recommendations
- Attending regular dental examinations
- Attending scheduled orthodontic reviews
Healthdirect notes that people wearing braces need to clean their teeth carefully and limit excessive sugary foods because oral hygiene problems can develop during treatment.
Your dental team can demonstrate techniques and recommend appropriate cleaning tools.
Do You Still Need Regular Dental Check-Ups During Orthodontic Treatment?
Yes.
Your orthodontic appointments and routine dental appointments serve different purposes.
Your orthodontic provider monitors tooth movement, bite correction and appliances. Your general dental team continues to monitor areas such as:
- Tooth decay
- Gum health
- Plaque and calculus
- Existing fillings
- General oral health
Regular dental care remains important even when you are seeing an orthodontic provider frequently.
Are There Risks With Orthodontic Treatment?
Like any healthcare treatment, orthodontics has potential risks and limitations.
Possible issues can include:
- Temporary discomfort
- Mouth irritation from appliances
- Increased plaque accumulation when cleaning is inadequate
- Tooth decay or gum problems if oral hygiene is poor
- Changes to tooth roots in some cases
- Teeth moving again after treatment if retainers are not used as recommended
Healthdirect notes that orthodontic treatment is generally not appropriate when teeth and gums are unhealthy, which is why existing dental problems should be addressed before treatment begins.
Your dental professional should discuss the risks and expected benefits relevant to your individual treatment plan.
FAQs
What are the main health benefits of orthodontic treatment?
Depending on the condition being treated, orthodontic care may improve bite function, make some teeth easier to clean, reduce abnormal tooth wear and support overall oral health.
Are braces only for cosmetic purposes?
No. While braces can improve the appearance of a smile, they are also used to correct crooked teeth, crowding and bite problems that may affect dental function.
Can adults have orthodontic treatment?
Yes. Orthodontic treatment can be provided to adults as well as children and teenagers. Suitability depends on the health of the teeth and gums and the type of orthodontic problem.
Do straight teeth prevent gum disease?
Not automatically. Straighter teeth may make some areas easier to clean, but preventing gum disease still requires good oral hygiene and regular professional dental care. Gum disease develops when the tissues supporting the teeth become inflamed, commonly in association with plaque accumulation.
Do I need a referral for orthodontic treatment?
Healthdirect states that you do not need a referral to see an orthodontist in Australia, although seeing your dentist beforehand can help ensure your teeth and gums are healthy.
Will I need a retainer after braces?
Retainers are commonly used after active orthodontic treatment to help maintain the corrected position of the teeth. Your treatment provider will explain how and for how long your retainer should be worn.
The Bottom Line
Orthodontic treatment is about more than creating straighter teeth.
For appropriately selected patients, correcting tooth and bite alignment may improve chewing and function, reduce abnormal tooth wear and support better long-term oral health.
However, orthodontics is only one component of good dental health care. Healthy teeth and gums still depend on daily brushing, interdental cleaning, a tooth-friendly diet and regular dental examinations.
If you or your child has crowded teeth, difficulty biting or another alignment concern, a dental or orthodontic assessment can help determine whether treatment is appropriate and which options may best suit your needs. Visit The Peninsula Medical & Dental Centre to learn more about our dental care and available treatment options.
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