Braces on the Top Or Bottom Teeth Only…A Good Idea?

Let’s be honest, braces are super expensive and they do NOT look good…So if you only need them on your top or bottom teeth, it would make sense to do so, right?

We call this a single arch treatment. While single arch treatment can be effective, there are a lot of factors to consider before going with this option.

If the price is what made you think about doing this, you should highly consider at-homes invisible aligners as they are super cheap and work well to straighten your teeth. Check our article on this subject.

What Is A Single Arch Orthodontic Treatment?

A single arch (sometimes called one-arch) treatment is when someone uses braces or Invisalign on just the top teeth or the bottom teeth.

A lot of orthodontists will put braces on the top teeth at first and then moving onto the bottom teeth, or the opposite. This is not the same thing…We are talking about when the orthodontist puts braces on EITHER the top or the bottom.

The orthodontist will need to look at your bite and the relationship between the lower and upper teeth because changing just one set of your teeth will affect your Overbite. 

When Is A Single Arch Orthodontic Treatment Effective?

Again, it depends because each case is different.

Crooked teeth tend to shift forward once they are straightened, so if you have crowded lower teeth, straight upper teeth, and an overbite (top teeth stick out too far past the bottom teeth), then getting braces on the bottom teeth only might be a solution.

If you have spacing between the upper teeth and have an overbite and you happen to be happy with how your bottom teeth look, then braces on the top only might be a good solution because closing the spaces will have the opposite effect of straightening crowded teeth. The overbite will improve because the teeth will move back while closing the gap.

If you have an underbite (upper teeth are behind the bottoms ones) and crowded top teeth, single arch treatment might be good for you also.

Is There Any Risks To Getting Braces On Just The Top Or Bottom Teeth?

Yes, there is. Again, your bite is extremely important and your smile is not only dependant on the position of your teeth. If for some reason your jaws are not balanced it can definitely affect how well your teeth can fit together (if one is larger or smaller than the other one).

Single arch treatment can actually leave you with a WORSE bite which might cause your front or back teeth t touch too hard or not touch at all. An even bite is extremely important as it helps distribute everyday forces on the teeth evenly and prevents the wearing of the teeth and trauma of the gums. You want BOTH a healthy smile AND a beautiful smile.

The position of your teeth is important too. Again, crowded teeth will most likely move forward when straightened and teeth with spaces between them will move backward.

If you happen to have an underbite and you want to just straighten the crooked bottom teeth, you will most likely make it worse.

If you have an overbite and your top teeth are crowded, straightening the top teeth lone will most likely grow your overbite.

Again, you need to go see an orthodontist in person in order to get an in-depth answer to this question because they need to evaluate your bite.

If the price is what made you think about doing this, you should highly consider at-homes invisible aligners as they are super cheap and work well to straighten your teeth. Check our article on this subject.