Getting Braces on Upper Teeth Only (EASY READ FACTS)

Last Updated on October 13, 2021 by Gio Greenard

Patients at our dental clinic often ask, “Is it possible to have braces on upper teeth only?” This can be a significant decrease in costs and discomfort if it is possible. It is common for people to wear braces or Invisalign products for years before obtaining the desired results. While we understand the validity of your concerns, when you feel that your lower teeth are relatively straight and do not have significant gaps, the reality is that this single arch orthodontic treatment is difficult to assess without years of experience. In this article, we’ll show you all about braces on upper teeth only. Let’s get cracking.

People Also Ask

• Can you get braces on the top teeth only?
• How much does braces cost for top teeth only?
• Can you get braces just on the bottom?
• Is it normal to get top braces first?

Factors of Upper Teeth Treatment

There are so many factors involved that require expert judgment, on a case by case basis, of how the teeth will align and form a proper bite after years of treatment. Because braces often have to be worn for years to gently nudge the teeth into place with accumulative adjustments, it is generally in a patient’s best interests to have the flexibility and control of being able to align both sets of teeth at the same time.

Will My Upper and Lower Teeth Be Unbalanced

When we explain this, patients often ask, “Will my upper and lower teeth be unbalanced?” The answer is very complicated. Everyone has different jaw lengths and alignment needs that have to be carefully calculated and reassessed regularly. It is usually acceptable to use this single arch orthodontic treatment in cases where the patient has spaces between their teeth and an underbite on the top and otherwise normal teeth below. This is because, when the teeth are crowded, the adjustment pushes them forward. If there are spaces, the teeth are pushed backward after being straightened and adjusted.

Is There a Bad Effect If I Will Put Braces Only in My Upper Teeth

When patients meet said criteria of having a spacey underbite on the top teeth and relatively straight teeth below, they may ask, “Is there a bad effect if I will put braces only in my upper teeth?” In these cases, if we believe in our expert opinion that your bite will align after the top teeth are straightened and the underbite is corrected, there will be no other foreseeable problems.

These special cases, when a single arch orthodontic treatment is appropriate, exist only when there is an underbite of crowded teeth on the top, and the back molars are aligned and working properly. Very few people, realistically, qualify for this type of treatment. Even among those who do, they may need minimal adjustments to the lower teeth afterward, in some cases, if the bite is still imperfect.

Another situation may occur where you have an overbite on the top teeth and the lower teeth are straight and relatively normal. In this case, a single arch orthodontic treatment makes sense because the top teeth will be pushed back after the alignment, correcting the overbite.

The opposite is true for a single arch orthodontic treatment on the lower teeth. If the lower teeth are crowded and you have normal straight teeth on top and an overbite that may be corrected with moving the lower teeth forwards, then you may qualify for this treatment.

Interproximal Reduction

Another technique for working with overcrowded teeth is called interproximal reduction. If there is 4 to 8 mm of crowding, you may eliminate a tooth and bring the others closer together or simply use this interproximal reduction technique to remove enamel from teeth and reduce their size.

This technique has been used since the 80’s but is only taken with extreme caution because there is no way to add more enamel after it is stripped away. Only patients with exceptional oral hygiene qualify for this procedure because the stripped surfaces are more textured and require a higher level of maintenance to prevent decay and halitosis.

Why You Should Trust Our Office to Obtain the Best Results

Aligning teeth and getting that perfect smile is a precious virtue that you carry with you for your entire life. It is worth the wait and investment to get the perfect results you desire. When you have your dental work completed at our office, you have the benefit of working with dentists who have seen the full range of issues involved with braces.

We can judge by the X-Rays and your bone structure exactly how far the teeth may be manipulated in the sockets. There is, realistically, only so far that braces can be effective when people have different jaw lengths and other abnormalities that don’t align perfectly or look aesthetically pleasing.

When you are having work done on your body with lifelong consequences, it is always in your best interests to find the professional with the best tools and training. We pride ourselves in keeping abreast of all the latest developments and retaining our edge by ongoing training on new dental techniques. You will never be disappointed with our results because we will do everything possible and much more to meet your satisfaction goals.

People who have irregularly shaped teeth, disharmony, or extensive damage, may opt for dental implants to obtain that Hollywood smile. We advise all our clients to have their children keep all their baby teeth. It is now possible to regrow stem cells from your original teeth in a lab for replacements.

When it comes to your smile, we know exactly what methods are ideal for each patient and the type of results they can expect. We have a portfolio of success stories where we took incredibly difficult overbites, underbites, and disharmony, and transformed them into some of the brightest smiles in town. There is a large gap in any professional service between the best and the worst because skill level, tools, training, resources, and experience can make all the difference in the world.

Which tip will you try first???
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Conclusion

Call Dr. Pannuci today to book an appointment, if you need braces for upper teeth or a full mouth and receive a world-class professional assessment of your problems. The saying goes that you can tell the satisfaction of your dentistry clients by the smiles on their faces. This is how we measure success!

BEACH BRACES ORTHODONTICS
220 N. Aviation Blvd. Suite A
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Phone: (310) 379-0006

Dr Patricia Panucci

Dr Patti Panucci attended the University of Louisville School of Dentistry for four years, where she graduated with a DMD degree (May 2000) among the Top 10 in her class. Following that, she headed west to Los Angeles to complete her three-year residency at one of the top-ranked orthodontic programs in the country – the University of Southern California.

Along with her certificate in orthodontics, Dr. Panucci earned a master’s degree in craniofacial biology. During those three years, she fell in love with Southern California beach life and decided that this was where her future lay.