Why Both Dental and Orthodontic Care Are Important - Hardy Pediatric dentistry & Orthodontics

Why Both Dental and Orthodontic Care Are Important

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orthodontic care

Orthodontic care goes hand-in-hand with dental care to achieve your best results.  At Hardy Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, we specialize in both dentistry and orthodontics. Both are highly beneficial to every patient and both help give you the best oral health you can possibly imagine. We have purposely designed our office so that you can receive your dental care and orthodontic care all in one place from infancy through adulthood. At Hardy Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, we believe that prevention and proper oral care are the key to having strong, healthy and beautiful teeth that last a lifetime. Let us show you how beneficial each can be for your life!

 

Why Dental Care Is Important

There is a popular printable that is found in many dental offices that reads, “You don’t have to brush all your teeth, just the ones you want to keep!” This saying is so true, as excellent oral hygiene coupled with proper dental care is vital for keeping all of your teeth AND keeping them healthy. We specialize in preventative dentistry, meaning that we seek to prevent gum disease and tooth decay that is ever so prevalent in the United States today. The American Dental Association reports that a staggering 64.7 million American adults have some form of gum disease. That equates to about ½ of all adults. Gum disease starts out as gingivitis, or a buildup of bacteria-infested plaque that coats your teeth and eats away at the tooth enamel. Gingivitis also irritates the gums, causing them to be red, swollen and inflamed. When gingivitis progresses, it turns into gum disease and in its severe form it’s known as periodontal disease or periodontitis. In that stage, gums have receded from the teeth and teeth begin to fall out. Around 178 million Americans are missing one or more teeth in their mouth–it doesn’t have to be that way!

 

Gum disease is 100% preventable and can be combatted with simply brushing and flossing your teeth several times a day and seeing the dentist often. We can provide treatments for gum disease as well as tooth decay that can keep your teeth healthy and strong for years to come. When bacteria erodes hard tooth enamel, it can seep into the pulp (or center part of the tooth) and cause decay. Dental care treats decay by ridding the tooth of infection then sealing the tooth to prevent further infections.  Dental care also helps provide needed tooth replacements, root canal therapy and more for teeth that have severe infections or have fallen out. Proper dental care can literally keep your teeth from decaying and falling out so that you can enjoy a healthy smile for your entire life.

 

Why Orthodontic Care Is Important

Why is having straight teeth so important for the health of your mouth? For starters, straighter teeth have a lowered risk for tooth decay and gum disease. With crooked teeth, the teeth settle into abnormal angles, some of which would make it hard to clean the teeth effectively or to floss properly. This leads to tooth decay in those areas. The position of the teeth also affects the way you speak. Sometimes, straightening the teeth is the key to correcting speech problems. Crooked teeth can also affect the strength of your jaw and how you chew. When teeth are not aligned properly, overtime, fractures can occur because of the uneven distribution of weight placed on the teeth when chewing. 

 

Orthodontic care is also key in correcting bite problems such as overbite, crossbite, underbite and malocclusion. We frequently treat young patients with orthodontic care at ages generally between 7-10. This is to correct the alignment of the jaw and how the teeth line up with one another. The jaw is softer at a young age.  Orthodontic care can generally correct bite and jaw problems before the jaw completely hardens in adolescence. Early orthodontic care can also help pave the way for teeth to settle correctly in the mouth as adult teeth emerge instead of becoming crowded. Orthodontic care keeps your jaw and mouth in proper alignment and appearance.

 

You Can’t Have One Without the Other

Both dental and orthodontic care strive to increase confidence and self-esteem through a healthy, balanced smile. Straighter teeth lead to increased confidence in children and adults alike. Dental care can ensure that you keep all your teeth and that you keep them healthy. Orthodontic care will ensure your jaw stays aligned properly and has a normal appearance. Studies have shown that a straighter, whiter smile also contributes to the perception of someone being more confident, successful, attractive and trustworthy. You need both orthodontic care and dental care to get you there and keep you there. You also need both to keep your mouth healthy.

So from infancy to later adulthood, we urge you to strive for proper dental and orthodontic care. At Hardy Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, we can provide you both of these services under the same roof. To schedule an appointment with us, simply call our office at (720) 887-6003. Have the best of both worlds with healthy, straight teeth!