Orthodontics

Properly aligned teeth allow for better overall oral health and hygiene, clearer speech and a friendly smile. While the American Dental Association (ADA) suggests an orthodontic exam should be performed at a young age, orthodontic treatment might be necessary at any age. You’d be surprised how much your teeth can move as you get older! However, prevention and early detection is key, so monitoring your teeth early and regularly is optimal for dental health.

Should you need braces, or other dental work, it’s likely not as harsh an experience as you might remember it was when you were younger. Recent state-of-the-art advancements in dental appliances and imaging has created successful outcomes in shorter time periods with less discomfort.

Some conditions that might necessitate braces in both children and adults are:

• Overbite – When the lower front teeth bite into the upper tissue.
• Crossbite – One or more teeth bite inwards towards the tongue.
• Underbite – The lower jaw is longer than the upper jaw.
• Overjet – Protruding upper teeth that extend beyond normal. This is a condition usually
  associated with a smaller jaw.
• Breathing / Swallowing problems
• Speech / Chewing problems
• Missing or extra teeth
• Space between teeth
• Self Esteem – There’s nothing wrong with wanting a nicer smile! Corrective dental work
  can improve your self-image, and make you more confident.

These are some child-specific issues for which braces are used to correct:

• Teeth growing in the wrong place, which can be fixed with proper realignment.
• Thumb sucking – when your child sucks their thumb for too long they can develop a protrusion of the upper front teeth, as well as mouth breathing.

What happens when I need braces?

There are 3 phases in the orthodontic treatment plan.

1. Planning Phase
2. Active Phase
3. Retention Phase

Phase 1: Planning

Orthodontic treatments can take between six and thirty months to complete. It all depends on the severity of the dental issues, which varies from patient to patient. What’s important is to identify the issues and the level of care that’s needed. This is completed in Phase 1.

Phase 1 of orthodontic treatment is the planning stage. Over the course of a few visits, one of our orthodontists will diagnose your dental issues and create a strategy to realign your teeth in the most effective and practical way. Here are some procedures to expect in Phase 1.

• Health and dental evaluations – Dental health and overall physical health are interlinked. Problems in your teeth or jaw can often be caused by other medical problems. In Phase 1, the goal is to evaluate and confirm that prior medical issues are under control so that when you move forward with orthodontia nothing can prevent your treatment plan from being effective.
• Castings – Also known as a study model, your orthodontist will ask you to bite down on to a gel-filled dental tray. The gel will harden and will be used as a plaster mold to create models of your teeth. Orthodontists use these plaster models to analyze each tooth and how it relates to the dental issues that need to be fixed.
• 3D X-Rays – X-rays provide a better look of what’s going on beneath the surface. Orthodontists can pinpoint the exact position of each tooth and the health of the root.
• Computer generated images – These images allow the orthodontist to develop a treatment plan and determine how specific dental treatments could affect the shape of
  the face and symmetry of the jaw.
• Photographs – Before, during, and after photographs of your teeth and face can demonstrate how your dental treatments have been progressing, and the effectiveness
  of the treatments on your teeth, jaw, and face.

Phase 2: Active

This is when your braces are secured in your mouth and are working on realigning your teeth. Your orthodontist will work with you to find the best dental appliance for your needs, whether it be fixed or removable. Here are some options they might choose:

Metal Braces

These are the most common types of braces and probably the most recognizable. Comprised of brackets, this system is adhered onto each tooth and wired up to constantly provide gentle pressure on the teeth to realign them. Traditional brackets are metal, however clear ceramic brackets are available as well. Most patients find ceramic brackets to be the more comfortable option.

Damon Braces

These supports are fitted and applied to every tooth like traditional braces but instead have sections that fix and change the supports frequently. Damon braces utilize a patented slide component that connects an archwire to the sections. This system moves more fluidly with the teeth as they are realigned and no manual tightening is needed. This cuts down on the need for frequent visits to the orthodontist. Damon System braces gently guide teeth into realignment with less discomfort and friction in a shorter time frame. Brackets can be either metal or transparent tinted.

Invisalign®

Invisalign® functions the same way as traditional metal braces. The only difference is that Invisalign® trays are nearly invisible and can be removed at-will. Learn more about our Invisalign® program here.

Phase 3: Retention

For most, the removal of braces does not mean the conclusion of your treatment plan. Instead, it’s the beginning of the maintenance and retention phase. This means using a retainer so your teeth don’t migrate back to their original position. A retainer is a custom-made dental accessory that can either be removable or fixed into your mouth. They are generally made of transparent plastic and thin wires and fit in your mouth comfortably. Learn more about this phase.