Can You Get Braces For The Bottom Or Top Teeth Only?
There are times when a patient enquires about having braces only on the bottom or the upper teeth instead of the usual full mouth of braces. This might seem like a great option to those who feel that their bottom or top teeth are straight enough and the misalignment isn’t quite visible when they smile or talk.
It might seem like a viable option, especially if it could potentially cut your treatment costs. But the question is: Can you get braces for the bottom or top teeth only? Let us find out.
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What Is Single-Arch Orthodontic Treatment?
A dental arch is a curved structure in your mouth consisting of your gum and bone, where your teeth sit. This gives a crescent shape to the layout of your lower and upper teeth.
In orthodontics, one-arch or single-arch treatment means getting braces on only one arch of teeth at a time – either the bottom or the top but not on both simultaneously.
Can You Get Bottom Braces Without Top Braces?
Although not typical, this method could be suitable for some people.
Why Do People Get Bottom Braces Only?
Some of the possible reasons for people wanting a single-arch orthodontic treatment are:
- You may only be doing it to improve the aesthetics of your smile.
- You are satisfied with the way your top teeth look. The misalignment, if any, may be barely noticeable.
- It may be a cost-effective way of enhancing your smile, although this may not cut treatment costs by 50%.
- For some, having braces only on the bottom arch makes it less visible.
It is important to note that there are several factors to consider before deciding whether a patient should get braces on only their top teeth or bottom teeth.
When Is It Ok To Get Single-Arch Braces?
On the surface, having braces only on the arch where there is crowding might seem a sensible thing to do. Why fix something that isn’t broken, right?
But orthodontic treatment goes beyond just straightening or adjusting the appearance of your teeth. One of the main reasons why people require braces is to adjust the bite, which is how your top and bottom teeth fit together.
Aligning the bite can be a delicate and complex matter. In sporadic cases, braces only on the bottom or teeth may be effective. Only after comprehensively analyzing how your top and bottom teeth interact and work together can a single arch treatment be suggested.
Problems with Single-arch Braces
Having braces only on one of the arches can pose some problems in bite correction. In the course of straightening, teeth shift backward or forward to fill in the gaps. This shift in one of the arches may create new bite problems that did not exist previously.
What most people fail to understand is that having a proper bite where the bottom and top teeth work together is far more important to your dental well-being than simply correcting misaligned teeth. The bottom arch might have straight teeth but be completely misaligned with the top arch or vice versa.
Problems with the Bite
Having a bite that is slightly out-of-whack may not pose a severe problem for you. Your teeth could experience other problems if they are out of alignment significantly.
- An Overbite is when your top arch goes far over your bottom arch.
- An underbite is when your bottom arch goes over your top arch.
- A Crossbite occurs when some of your teeth sit in the front while the others sit behind the point where both the arches meet.
- An Open bite happens when the teeth don’t match up.
The above bite problems can result in damaging the enamel of your tooth, TMD, or teeth grinding, clicking in your jaw, soreness, and headaches. This will weaken and damage your teeth in the long run.
Full Braces To The Rescue
This is why it is critical that you discuss this with your orthodontist. When it comes to orthodontic treatments, no two cases can be treated the same. A cookie-cutter approach simply doesn’t work, and the treatment must be specifically tailored to meet the patient’s needs.
Most orthodontists recommend getting a full set of braces on both dental arches. This is because braces work to correct the bite while aligning your teeth, keeping your teeth and jaws healthy.
When you get braces for your bottom and top teeth, your orthodontist will factor in all the details necessary to offer you a customized treatment plan.
When it comes to choosing braces only for the bottom or top teeth, there’s never a simple answer! In extremely rare cases, a patient may really require a single arch treatment. If such cases, your orthodontist will consider them after careful evaluation.
If you have any further queries you can contact Dr Redmond today.
Can You Get Braces For The Bottom Or Top Teeth Only?
Dr. Bill Redmond is a native of Southern California, the son of an orthodontist and the husband of a general dentist. That makes family gatherings pretty interesting…if you like teeth!
