Not all vampires have fangs. According to folklore and modern novelizations there are plenty who don’t. If we’re talking good old Dracula though, sharp, long, pointy canine teeth are the norm. What if your own canine teeth are the opposite? What if they are high in your mouth and not at all where “vampire” teeth are supposed to be? Enter braces, a solution for mortals who want a symmetrical smile.
Moving Fangs Into Place
People go to orthodontists for all sorts of reasons, but one common issue many patients have is worrying about small or high canine teeth. If these high cuspids are sitting up too far in the gums, the problem could be caused by any number of reasons, including:
- Poorly erupted teeth
- Crooked teeth
- Gapped teeth
- Open bite
- Overbite
These alignment issues and malocclusions require braces or Invisalign to correct the problems but, over time and with careful design by your orthodontist, the high canines will go into place for a straight, beautiful smile with every tooth in the right place.
Extruding Poorly Erupted Teeth
Teeth that are not fully erupted are a common orthodontic problem and orthodontic extrusion – also known as forced eruption – is a common practice used to position these teeth down from the supporting bone and tissue.
- Extrusion uses braces to shift certain teeth down with strategically placed brackets and carefully positioned orthodontic wire.
- Every movement is miniscule – you’re not going to feel the teeth as they’re forced down and into alignment in your smile.
- The effort is gradual and only lasts until the preferred alignment is reached.
- The force exerted to create movement depends on how much the teeth need to shift. Teeth, gums, and bone can be shifted together, or force can move just the teeth themselves.
- Extrusion is a method that can only be used with conventional braces, not Invisalign.
A Note About Fangs for Your Halloween Costume
If you are going to the dark side this Halloween and want to don bloody fangs as part of your costume, please reconsider. Whether you have conventional metal braces or Invisalign, trying to attach anything to your occupied teeth is a bad idea. Invisalign trays could be damaged by fake teeth and wearing vampire teeth or an entire plastic mouthpiece over braces could dislodge a bracket or wire.
Should you be in a position where you really need to get fangs on your teeth, talk to your orthodontist before you try anything on your own. There could be ways to get the look you want for one night without damaging all the hard work you have put in to straighten your smile and correct those canines.
Get Braces to Fix a Flawed Smile
The last thing anyone wants is to end up at the orthodontist after Halloween because of damaged hardware and interrupted treatment. Braces are intricate work customized to each patient. Be patient, follow the rules, and, before you know it, you can dress up as a full-blown vampire and wow everyone with your straight smile. Contact Soleil Orthodontics in Woodinville, WA, to learn more.