Orthodontics
Orthodontics
Years ago, dental braces were only appropriate for pre-teens and teens having problems with their bite (malocclusion). Today, orthodontic treatments are not only for pre-teens and teens, but for adults as well. Close to 30% of all orthodontic patients in the United States are adults. But it pays to start early for maximum effectiveness: the American Dental Association recommends that children receive an orthodontic evaluation by age seven.
A malocclusion is usually a restorative issue, since it may interfere with eating and speaking. It may also be an esthetic issue that involves cosmetic dentistry since a malocclusion may prevent the development of a beautiful, well-aligned smile or facial jaw lines.
No matter what your age, orthodontics can protect your bite (occlusion), maximize your teeth's effectiveness in performing their functions, and create a well-aligned smile. In orthodontics today, the teeth and underlying roots are repositioned, providing better support for the crown of the tooth. Orthodontic treatment can also rejuvenate your facial appearance by reshaping the jaw, neck, and lips, especially when combined with maxillo-facial surgical procedures.
Finally, well aligned teeth make oral hygiene easier to accomplish. In fact, today’s orthodontics has been associated with the benefits of greater esthetic appeal, more comfort and reduced treatment time.
Orthodontists
Orthodontists are the dentists who focus on the practice of orthodontics. An orthodontist is typically required to complete an additional two to three years of post-dental school education before becoming a certified practitioner of orthodontics.
The Orthodontic Evaluation
If you are a candidate for orthodontics, you would likely be referred by Stewart Family Dentistry to an orthodontist for evaluation of your bite. During the first orthodontic visit, your orthodontist may use several methods to develop an individualized treatment plan, including:
- Oral, facial and functional evaluation (examination).
- Intraoral and facial photographs.
- Panoramic and cephalometric x-rays.
- Impressions for models of the teeth and bite.
An orthodontist will review your dental records, perform a clinical assessment, take x-rays of your mouth and head, as well as make models of the teeth by creating an accurate impression of the teeth - all of which is studied in order to formulate the best plan.
During the second visit, your orthodontist will typically review the treatment plan and estimate the number of months for the active phase of treatment. The standard treatment phase is two years. After this, you may be required to wear a retainer for a while.
Orthodontic treatment time can vary, based on age, the required changes to produce a satisfactory outcome, and how closely you follow your treatment plan. For example, younger patients may respond more quickly to treatment than adult patients because the bones supporting young teeth are more pliable than older bones. But adults tend to follow treatment instructions more consistently than pre-teens.
In some cases the treatment time is longer. For example, oral surgery and recovery may be needed before or during the braces treatment.