Treatment
Early Treatment
Early interceptive treatment at ages 7-10 includes correction of unsightly crowding, retraction of upper teeth that are too protrusive and may be at increased risk of fracture from trauma, and early correction of disfiguring tooth overbites when they are adversely affecting the child's developing self-image. If in doubt as to whether or not your child has an orthodontic problem that may require early treatment, we would be glad to perform a simple examination to determine the nature of the problem. This is a courtesy visit.
Adolescent Treatment
The ideal time for most patients to start "Braces" is between the ages of 10 and 12. Many problems are related to skeletal and facial growth so timing is important. After skeletal growth is complete, changes in jaw development and position are difficult if not impossible. The dental development from patient to patient is very variable, and females typically mature dentally about 6 months ahead of males. Typical time frames are from 16 to 24 months, depending on the type and severity of the problem.
Adult Treatment
Braces aren't just for kids anymore. Teeth alignment can be changed at any age if your gums and bone structure are healthy. We offer a variety of treatments that are designed for different age groups – including adults. A new smile can begin today.
Orthodontic treatment at later stages in life can dramatically improve your personal appearance and self-esteem. Improving the health of your teeth and gums is equally important. Crooked teeth and a bad bite can contribute to gum and bone loss, tooth decay, abnormal wear of the tooth enamel and surfaces, even headaches and sometimes jaw joint (TMJ/TMD) pain.
Good news! The new techniques and appliances we use greatly reduce discomfort levels, decrease the frequency of visits, shorten treatment time and may allow you to choose from several options. Your options may include metal braces, translucent braces, retainers, and even transparent aligners, like Invisalign, that can be worn at night to improve mild cases of misaligned teeth. The initial exam is complimentary.
A large percentage of our patients are adults, and they agree that it's never too late to improve their greatest asset - their smile!
Dental Care
You should continue to see your family dentist every 6 months during orthodontic treatment. Great oral hygiene is important to keep you teeth healthy and prevent any white spots from occurring on your teeth!
Emergencies
Loose band or bracket: If the band or bracket is still attached to the wire and is not sticking you, leave in place and place wax on it if it is uncomfortable. If it comes out completely, place the band or bracket in an envelope and call our office as soon as is convenient for you.
Loose wire: Try to place the wire back in the slot with tweezers. If that is not possible, clip wire with fingernail clippers behind the last tooth to which the wire is still securely fastened.. If there is any discomfort, use wax.
Soreness: Use Ibuprofen (Advil) or Tylenol and try salt water rinses or wax.
If you feel unable to handle the problem on your own, or if something is broken, please call our office to schedule an appointment.
Most Common Orthodontic Problems
Crowding: Teeth are poorly aligned because the dental arch is too small and/or the teeth are large.
Overjet or protruding front teeth: Upper teeth that stick out too far are prone to injury and often indicate a poor bite, often due to a lower jaw that is short in proportion to the top jaw. Thumb and finger sucking can also contribute to this problem.
Deep Overbite: This occurs when the top front teeth completely cover/overlap the bottom teeth. The lower front teeth can impinge into the gum tissue of the palate and deep bites can also contribute to excessive wear of the lower incisors.
Open Bite: An open bite is when the upper and lower front teeth do not touch upon biting resulting in a gap or an opening between the 2 arches. Sometimes it is difficult to bite and tear food with this condition.
Spacing: If teeth or missing or too small, or if the dental arch is too wide, excessive spacing can appear between teeth.
Crossbite: Posterior crossbites can occur when the top jaw is too narrow or the bottom jaw is too wide. Anterior crossbites can be a sign that the lower jaw is longer in proportion to the top jaw causing the lower front teeth to protrude past the upper incisors. This is found in only about 3-5 percent of the population.
Impacted teeth: When teeth do not erupt properly either due to lack of space or erupting in the wrong direction teeth may get "stuck" in the bone and not come out. This frequently occurs with upper canine teeth.