People with crooked teeth or bad bites will often become self-conscious about their smile, leading them to smile with their lips closed, cover their mouths when laughing, or speak up less when among strangers in an effort to hide their teeth. A beautiful Molen smile can relieve that self-consciousness and allow you to laugh, smile, and speak with pride.

If your teeth are crowded or badly misaligned, you have probably noticed that it can be more difficult to brush and floss them thoroughly. This can lead to cavities, unsightly staining, bone loss, and/or gum disease, making a difficult situation even worse. After orthodontic treatment, our patients can easily reach all the surfaces of their teeth when brushing or flossing, helping to ensure that their dazzling Molen smile stays healthy for life.

Did you know that the health of your mouth can impact your entire body?  The risk of gum disease is increased by having crowded or crooked teeth, and the bacteria from gum disease can enter the bloodstream and create inflammation and secondary infections. A misaligned bite can create difficulty in biting and chewing food, negatively affecting your overall health and nutrition. Straighter teeth can help alleviate these issues, and the good news is that it is never too late to see the benefits of orthodontic treatment— whether you’re 7 or 70, our doctors and team will design your unique treatment plan to ensure you receive a beautiful smile and a healthy bite.

Most people are unaware that the position of the lower jaw directly impacts your ability to breathe freely. In addition, the width of the upper jaw and palate influences your ability to breathe through the nose. Orthodontics done properly can have a positive impact on both these areas of your airway. Our doctors have extensive experience and training in dentofacial orthopedics—an extension of the specialty of orthodontics.

Early interceptive treatment using dentofacial orthopedics on growing kids allows our doctors to slowly and comfortably increase the width of the palate while also helping the lower jaw grow forward. Addressing these issues early sets children up for success and decreases their risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea or sleep disordered breathing when they’re older. Even if you’re older and done growing, orthodontics can still improve your nighttime breathing. If you’re chained to a CPAP every night or have a family history of sleep apnea, contact our doctors to see if there may be an orthodontic solution to your breathing or sleep issues. If there’s not an orthodontic solution, we’ll refer you to the appropriate specialist who can help you get a good night’s rest.

Teeth that aren’t aligned properly often experience uneven stresses and forces when chewing or biting, which eventually leads to worn down and damaged teeth. In addition, a severe overbite can increase your risk of tooth and lip damage while playing sports like soccer, basketball, or baseball. (Please always wear a mouthguard!) Your treatment from the experts at Molen Orthodontics will keep your smile healthier, straighter, and safer.

Your teeth are a key component in the formation of the many sounds you make when you speak. Misaligned teeth can make it more difficult to correctly pronounce certain sounds, causing lisping or whistling. Patients with open bites and tongue thrusts can also suffer from speech problems. Braces can align the teeth to their optimal position, allowing the lips, teeth, and tongue to work in concert when speaking, reducing speech impediments, and boosting confidence.

Badly aligned teeth are also at much higher risk of damage if you tend to grind your teeth at night. While emotional factors or stress are often at play with teeth grinding, a misaligned bite can also cause unintentional teeth grinding by creating interferences and slides within the bite. Prolonged teeth grinding or bad bites may lead to increased pressure on the temporomandibular joints, also known as the TMJs, which in turn may play a role in creating jaw pain, muscle & neck pain, and headaches.

At Molen Orthodontics, we’re well known for going the extra mile to craft beautiful smiles and for delivering the same high quality of care to our patients that we’d deliver to our own children. Our reliance on the most advanced treatment options means that we don’t use headgear and always avoid the unnecessary extractions of teeth. Regardless of your age or how complex your case is, once your treatment is complete, you’ll have a more natural appearing smile.

As you can see, orthodontics is about so much more than simply straightening teeth “for looks.” There are multiple health and personal issues that can be caused by a poorly aligned bite, and the team at Molen Orthodontics is looking forward to working with you to give you a smile that brings you happiness and health.

Find out how we can give you a beautiful healthy smile for life—schedule your FREE consultation now!