Gap Bands & The Damage They Can Cause

Gap bands are a potentially damaging new trend being used by American teens. These bands are being sold online and are used to help close gaps in the teeth but are being utilized without the supervision of an orthodontic professional. The damage these bands can cause to your oral health can be expensive to fix and painful to experience.

How Gap Bands are Harmful

Orthodontics, or the practice of shifting the teeth into the correct positions, can be a delicate and complex process. Dental braces and other orthodontic devices are used to make changes over time, allowing the teeth to adapt to the correct positions and stay there. If the teeth are forced to move too quickly or at the wrong angle, permanent damage can be sustained to the roots of the teeth as well as the blood supply and connective tissues. Additionally, if you try to move two particular teeth without taking the other teeth into account, the alignment of the entire jaw can be damaged.

We know that orthodontic treatment may sometimes last a little longer than you’d like and isn’t always attractive to wear. However, the investment will result in a healthy and beautiful smile. You shouldn’t resort to attempting to improve your teeth by undergoing unsupervised orthodontic treatment. If you have problems with traditional dental braces, please contact Firestone Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics. Our Firestone, Colorado child’s dental office will help you make healthy decisions regarding your smile and how to improve it.