Defining a “Narrow Smile”
The majority of experts refer to a smile as being short or narrow if it reveals six teeth or less when a patient smiles. To clarify, this is not to imply that there is something inherently flawed with each and every smile that falls into this group and you will not use the same technique to widen your smile as someone else. The structure of the face and the bones play an important part in a variety of areas of dental health and care, and every smile is unique. Even people who are genetically similar, such as twins, have somewhat different smiles. However, there are many different approaches that are available if one is self-conscious about their grin, and those with narrow arches often wonder how to widen teeth arch structure easily. These treatments are intended to create a more prominent arch, which will result in a more expansive smile. So do braces widen your smile overall? Can braces widen your smile in a short period of time, and can braces make your mouth wider? It depends on the root cause.
Why Does It Happen?
Since narrow smiles are almost always the result of narrow arches, gaining an understanding of the factors that contribute to the development of narrow arches enables us to comprehend the rationale for the widening techniques utilized by particular treatments to widen your smile. Teeth that are not properly aligned are typically the culprit in cases with narrow dental arches. The maxillary arch, known as the upper section of the mouth, is typically the source of the issue. In a healthy mouth, the maxillary arch has the shape of a U and is curved. The shape of distorted arches is often more of a V shape, and it tapers out at an earlier point than it should. This results in the teeth shifting inward, creating more room between the teeth and the cheeks. This gives the appearance of hollow cheeks from the outside. But can braces widen your jaw? You can certainly widen your smile with braces, coupled with spacers and aligners, if a narrow arch is the cause. A well-trained doctor knows how to widen teeth arch structure using a variety of methods.
Alterations in the shape of the arches can also contribute to the development of other diseases, including overbite and underbite, and even breathing difficulties in some cases. The collapse of the dental arch, which results in a more constrained facial profile, can also be caused by missing teeth. The lack of this underlying bone structure causes the lips to thin out and gives the face an aged appearance. This is because the cheeks are not supported by the lips. Having teeth missing in the front of the mouth makes the largest section of the smile appear darker, which gives the impression that the front teeth are more prominent than they actually are. Sometimes in effort to widen teeth smile structure, some orthodontists use braces to widen smile before and after surgery to fix these problems.
Birth problems such as a cleft palate can lead to a narrow facial structure. In this case, surgery may be required before any orthodontic work can begin because it is necessary to repair the birth defect before proceeding with orthodontic treatment. These are typically the most severe cases. The patient should also keep in mind that a narrow grin, caused by crowded teeth, is an issue that gets worse over time. This is due to the fact that crowded and misaligned teeth create a poor bite, which in turn subjects teeth to stress that is not natural. This can result in the chipping and cracking of teeth, as well as tooth loss in the long run. It is also worth mentioning that some people do still have a narrow smile after braces, or attempts to widen teeth smile structure is unsuccessful. This is rare, but is a possibility.
Treatments
Even though there are brand new treatments being developed every day, the majority of orthodontists still rely on these tried and proven procedures when it comes to expanding smiles caused by narrow arches. If you have questions about how to widen mouth structures, or “will braces widen my smile?”, read on.
Invisalign
This treatment, which functions in a manner comparable to that of braces and retainers, may be administered depending on the degree to which the teeth are out of alignment. Invisalign is a clear, custom-made appliance that, in comparison to traditional metal braces, may move teeth more quickly and discretely into their ideal positions. The aligners may be removed easily and have been customized to fit the patient’s mouth precisely. They are generally effective after a period of twelve months, and their use is believed to be less invasive than that of traditional braces. Some people still have a narrow smile after braces, and require further treatment with retainers or Invisalign. Those who still have a narrow smile after braces tend to prefer this treatment. If you have ever asked yourself “what is the cost of Invisalign near me?” or ” what is the cost of aligners in Richmond Texas?” consider the Aliana best orthodontist reviews and call for a quote.
Braces
In orthodontics, “braces” refers to a system of brackets and wires that are worn on the teeth and adjusted on a regular basis in order to move the teeth into the appropriate position in the mouth. The length of time it takes for braces to be effective ranges anywhere from one to three years, depending on the state of the patient. The teeth are moved in the desired direction as a result of pressure that is applied to them as the wire is gradually tightened. This pressure causes the teeth to move in the desired direction. In some cases, they are used in conjunction with headgear, functional expanders, or retainers. So can braces make your mouth wider? In most cases, yes. As the cost of braces is trending downward, the use of braces to widen smile appearances is one of the more popular methods.
Veneers
Dental veneers are a type of dental restoration similar to dentures but in a more limited form. They are made of thin porcelain and glued onto the front of a tooth to create a more natural look. Although they do not address the underlying issue, these individually crafted restorations help patients feel more confident by giving the impression of a fuller mouth and a wider grin. They are the treatment of choice for masking a discolored tooth or repairing damaged teeth. This therapy is available for people who want to improve the appearance of their smile by correcting flaws like crooked teeth, chipped teeth, or gaps. On the other hand, this treatment does not alleviate any problems caused by the narrow arch itself. Those who wonder “how to widen my smile” without breaking the bank, this is an affordable option.
Palatal Expander
This is a device for orthodontic treatment that professionals fasten to the roof of the mouth, within the arch of the teeth, and gradually widens the arch over time. It does this by gently turning a key that opens the palate, which in turn presses against the molars, and this widens the jaw. Orthodontists recommend in particular for younger patients who still have delicate jawbones and have not yet completely fused together as a unit, especially when considering how to widen mouth structure less invasively. Adults who already have fused bones could take longer to see results from the procedure. It is frequently employed in tandem with other orthodontic treatments, such as braces or Invisalign. Those who wonder “can braces widen your smile?” often do not consider that a separate device might be needed to widen the arch. The use of braces to widen smile before and after surgery to fix facial abnormalities is often paired with the use of expanders.
Is It Necessary to Get Treatment?
We now know the answer to the question “can braces fix a narrow smile?” Yes they can. The use of braces to widen smile structure is actually quite common, but not always cosmetic. There are a lot of different factors to consider when deciding whether or not to get treatment for a narrow smile or a narrow palate, some of which go well beyond the realm of cosmetics. A person might not care about the appearance of their teeth, but they might benefit from treatment if they have difficulties speaking due to speech impairments or problems with the shape of their mouth, especially those that cause difficulties with eating and swallowing, and might benefit from a “widen teeth smile” procedure. If the shape of the patient’s mouth is making it hard for them to do normal things, treatment is usually suggested. A person might also need braces to widen smile before and after other treatments. As is often the case, braces are often necessary for a patient if they satisfy any of the following requirements:
- Teeth that are forced out of alignment and may be crowded or gapped due to a limited palate and might need braces to widen smile structure.
- Incorrect alignment of the teeth might make it difficult to floss or brush.
- Broken or chipped teeth
- Chewing with a clicking sound in the jaws
- Teeth that are unable to close properly on each other
- Difficulties producing specific sounds or eating specific foods
- You keep biting the tongue.
Moving Forward
We should count ourselves fortunate that contemporary technology makes it possible to easily correct most cases of narrow smiles. Orthodontists do indeed know the best methods of how to widen teeth arch and narrow smiles effectively. The vast majority of cases do not call for any kind of medical intervention like facial reconstruction surgery, and the majority of cases of narrow smiles are due to cosmetic concerns. Even the smallest adjustments can lead to observable improvements in the treatments that have been discussed here. Depending on the patient’s age and the severity of the condition, widening a smile is frequently a very simple process, one that has a long history of producing excellent results. If you wonder “can braces make your mouth wider?” or “can braces widen your smile?” then schedule a consultation today! If you are concerned about the cost, wondering “cost of Invisalign near me?” or “what is the average cost of aligners in Richmond Texas?” then look no further. The Aliana best orthodontist group has the answers you need.