Brace yourself: An industry journal found “an absence of published evidence” that straightening your teeth is healthy.
And a growing number of orthodontists say braces are overused.
This is about to get metal
People spend $9.6B every year on orthodontics. About half of all kids have let the pros get up in their grills.
But for a profession concerned with uniformity, opinions on the research are misaligned:
The pro-braces crowd says:
- One study found crowded teeth were flush with bacteria.
- Another said people who don’t get orthodontic treatment were more likely to have periodontitis, a serious gum infection.
The brace-haters’ take:
- Some of the studies showing that braces help your oral health aren’t fully polished — several aren’t randomized.
- One paper found that fewer than 5% of people fit the traditional criteria for a perfect bite, questioning the necessity of treatment.