Orthodontics is all about straightening or moving your teeth to give you an even bite and an aesthetically pleasing smile. Braces are a major part of orthodontics in Stevenage. But it is about more than just the appearance of your teeth; it also concerns their health and function. Orthodontics helps to ensure the long-term health of your teeth, gums and jaws, by making sure the pressure of your bite gets spread evenly across all your teeth.
Do I need orthodontic treatment?
Many people have crowded, crooked or protruding teeth. Orthodontics in Stevenage, at Smilecraft, will straighten your teeth or move them into better positions. This not only improves their appearance and the way your teeth bite together, but also makes them easier to clean.
Sometimes the upper and lower jaws meet in such a way that they bite together incorrectly. This can put a strain on the muscles of the jaw, cause jaw and joint pain and even headaches in some cases. Orthodontic treatment at our practice can correct this to ensure you bite more evenly and so reduce the strain on your jaw.
A little bit of history
In the early 1900s, orthodontics involved using gold, platinum, silver, steel and gum rubber to form loops, hooks and ties. In fact, 18 karat gold was routinely used for wires, bands and clasps. Why gold, you might ask? This is because it is malleable and easy to shape. However, gold had its drawbacks. Because of its softness, it required frequent adjustments and it was hugely expensive. These gold bands wrapped entirely around each tooth, meaning the original modern brace was rather glitzy!
In the 1930s, stainless steel became widely available, but using it for braces was considered rather controversial. It wasn’t generally accepted as a material for orthodontic treatments until the late 1950s.
Thankfully times have changed and now your orthodontic treatment is more accessible and affordable, but also much more reliable and safe.
With ever advancing technologies and equipment, orthodontics in Stevenage has never been so successful and innovative. Give us a call today to see how we can help you get your smile back into shape.