The global perception of orthodontics has radically evolved over the years. Traditionally seen as a treatment for cosmetic enhancement, orthodontics has now widened its scope, with practitioners like Miami Designer Smiles realizing that improving breathing and swallowing is just as important, if not more so, than straightening teeth for a beautiful smile.
Unearthing the True Value of Orthodontics
Let’s set the scene with a situation you can probably recall. As a child, you likely knew peers who wore braces, and the assumption was they needed them to fix crooked teeth. Few understood, however, that viable orthodontic treatments served a much deeper purpose than enhancing one’s looks.
Orthodontics is no longer limited to improving aesthetics; it plays a crucial role in enhancing patients’ overall health. At Miami Designer Smiles, Dr. Concepcion Sanchez-Garcia and Dr. Raul Garcia have long embraced the philosophy of complete oral wellness through comprehensive and multidimensional orthodontic care.
Natural Teeth Positioning: The Building Block of Oral Health
One of the primary goals of orthodontics at Miami Designer Smiles is the creation of more space in the mouth to allow for natural teeth positioning. This approach provides numerous benefits, improving the structure and health of your oral cavity, and leading to better jaw joint protection and general health.
Teeth positioning impacts everything from how you chew your food to how you speak, not to mention the viability of your breathing and swallowing. Experts initially designed braces with the understanding that creating an attractive, straight smile would subsequently contribute to improved oral function.
The Non-Aesthetic Benefits of Orthodontics
So, how does orthodontics affect breathing and swallowing? And how does it contribute to a patient’s general health and wellness apart from delivering a straight smile? Let’s find out.
- A better-aligned jawbone and teeth can open up airways, promoting better oxygen flow during sleep, which is especially important for those suffering from sleep disorders like Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
- Orthodontic treatment helps provide a permanent solution for oral problems that cause difficulty while swallowing.
- Orofacial muscular imbalance is a common condition that can be relieved through orthodontic adjustments.
- Orthodontics allows for more appropriate space for the tongue, reducing instances of speech and swallowing difficulties.
Innovations in Orthodontics
Controlled Arch Braces
Traditional braces, focusing primarily on aesthetics, often result in teeth crowding. An innovative solution, called Controlled Arch Braces, practiced at Miami Designer Smiles, takes a more holistic approach to treatment. With Controlled Arch Braces, the primary objective is not just to create a pretty smile, but to ensure that the underlying oral health concerns are adequately addressed.
Miniscrew-Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion (MARPE)
At Miami Designer Smiles, the team utilizes MARPE, an advanced non-surgical method used to expand the upper jaw, rectify airway problems, and enhance facial development. Unlike regular jaw expanders which rely solely on dental force, MARPE uses mini implants placed in the palate to allow for skeletal-level expansion. This technique is particularly useful for teens and adults whose palatal sutures have fused, thus preventing traditional expansion methods.
Long-Term Health Benefits
Achieving enhanced oral function through orthodontics at Miami Designer Smiles has long-term health benefits that extend well beyond a beautiful smile.
Improvements to overall health and well-being include:
- Better sleep: By opening up airways and improving breathing, orthodontic treatments can drastically improve sleep quality.
- Improved digestion: Properly aligned teeth and a healthier mouth lead to better chewing and swallowing, which can contribute to improved digestion.
- Heightened self-esteem: A straight and healthy smile is more than just a confidence booster – it’s a testimony to your commitment to overall health.
Orthodontics at Miami Designer Smiles goes beyond just aesthetics to address comprehensive oral health and wellness. It is not just about carving out perfect smiles, but more about improving lives – one patient at a time.