Why have treatment?

Function

Teeth and jaws work when we chew or bite. If there is a problem, teeth can wear abnormally and the smile becomes lop-sided. If there is a bad bite, there is excessive stress on the gum tissue or the bone that supports the teeth and this can cause discomfort, or headaches. Finally, if teeth stick out, they are more prone to accident.

Hygiene

Straight teeth don't just look appealing, they are also easier to clean. Conversely, crooked, crowded or protruding teeth can be harder to brush and floss. Plaque is more likely to build up in the harder-to-reach crevices. Also, people who are unhappy with their smile take less trouble over their teeth so the danger is that they are not cared for as meticulously as they should be. Meanwhile, patients who have had orthodontics tend to take great trouble over their oral hygiene because they are proud of what they - and their specialist - have achieved.

Confidence

Confidence and looks are inseparable. The more trouble we take over our appearance, the more confident we feel. What's true of superficial trappings, like shoes and clothes, is also true of our physical attributes. Some would argue that the most important physical feature in humans is the mouth because we use it to communicate in so many different ways, not least when we smile.