Orthodontists from Smilebar are specialists who treat misaligned jaws and teeth. They correct open bites (cross bites), overbites (overbites), underbites (underbites), and crowded or overlapping teeth.
They are also trained in spotting issues that could lead to future problems. Treatment options can include braces or removable devices. After treatment, they may recommend retainers to maintain the new alignment.
Orthodontics
Orthodontics is a specialty area of dentistry focused on the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of irregularities in the teeth and bite. Essentially, these include crooked teeth and spaces between them; teeth that don’t meet properly; or jaws that are misaligned.
Orthodontic treatment can correct these conditions and improve the appearance of your smile as well as your oral health. Crowded teeth or crooked smiles can be hiding places for harmful germs that can cause gum disease and tooth decay. Misaligned jaws may also strain the temporomandibular joints (TMJ), leading to pain and dysfunction.
Orthodontists use a combination of X-rays, study models, and a visual examination to diagnose and correct orthodontic irregularities. Once the information is gathered they can suggest the best course for correction. Depending on the severity, fixed dental braces might be recommended. These braces are made of metal, clear or ceramic brackets which are affixed on each tooth. An archwire is used to gradually train them into alignment. In some cases, removable appliances, such as retainers or Invisalign aligners, might be used instead of braces.
Generally speaking, orthodontic treatments are most effective when they begin in early childhood or adolescence. However, people of any age can benefit from straighter, healthier teeth and a more functional jaw. Interceptive orthodontic treatment can also help to reduce the risk that more serious dental problems will develop in the future.
In some cases, orthodontic treatment might call for surgery to correct serious jaw problems, such as an underbite or overbite. Surgical Orthodontics is usually reserved for patients who have finished growing and haven’t received the most effective treatment with other forms.
Whether you’re in need of orthodontic care to address an existing condition or to prevent future ones, it’s important to find a skilled orthodontist that offers a variety of treatment options and works with patients of all ages. Call an orthodontist in your area today to make an appointment.
Braces
Braces are a common way for people to straighten their teeth and improve their smile. The system uses constant, gentle pressure to alter the position of your jaws and teeth. This results in a healthy bite. The pressure comes from the brackets glued to your teeth, which are attached to an archwire that is bent in various ways to apply pressure. The wires are also regularly adjusted and tightened by your orthodontist, which slowly shifts your teeth into their proper positions.
The brackets are available in different sizes and shapes. Many patients also enjoy the option of choosing the color. They are attached to the front of teeth using a resin-based dental adhesive. The brackets serve as handles for inserting the archwire and applying pressure to your teeth. The brackets used today are sleek and small compared to those of a previous generation. They can also be made from ceramic or stainless-steel.
There are a number of problems that can be corrected with braces, but one of the most common is overcrowding. Overcrowding happens when your teeth are crowded. This can have a negative impact on your appearance as well as your health. Food can get stuck and cause cavities in the spaces between teeth. Braces can help with overcrowding because they move your teeth forward, backward, or sideways. A device called an expander can help younger patients with overcrowding. It widens the upper jaw to create more space for their teeth.
The archwire, which is the main component in your braces has a number of horizontal slots held in place by brackets. These slots allow your orthodontist bend the wire in different ways to exert pressure in specific directions on your teeth. The wires have shape memory, which means they are designed to return to their original pre-bent form over time, and this helps to guide your teeth into their correct positions. Your orthodontist replaces the archwire periodically during follow-up visits, switching from a thinner or more rigid wire as needed to provide more pressure or less pressure and to fine-tune you bite.
Invisalign
Invisalign braces are a modern, alternative to metal braces. Instead of straightening teeth with brackets and wires, Invisalign uses clear plastic aligners to gradually shift the position of the teeth until they are straight. The orthodontist reviews your dental history, takes photos and X rays of your mouth to determine if Invisalign will work for you.
During the treatment, you’ll wear your aligners everyday (except when eating or drinking!) until you get the results you want (typically in about three to six months). You will need to return to the office to pick up your new trays, and to monitor your progress. During these visits, your orthodontist will also be able to address any issues you might have, including pain, discomfort or the development of cavities.
Your orthodontist will also use this opportunity to provide any necessary cleaning or maintenance, such as cleaning your trays and keeping them fresh and clean to avoid smelly buildup or bacteria. The orthodontist will typically recommend brushing your trays every morning and night with a toothbrush and toothpaste, and they may also suggest using a dental cleaner tablet to help keep your aligners fresh and free of odors.
Other Treatments
Unattractive smiles can limit social opportunities. Crooked or twisted teeth are also more difficult to clean and floss, which leads to leftover food particles causing decay. Orthodontic treatment, which can take 18 months or more, corrects crooked teeth and misaligned jaws so they fit and function correctly. It can also improve dental health by preventing gum disease. This is caused by a plaque build-up and if untreated, can lead tooth loss.
A misaligned bite can also create digestive problems, as chewing isn’t done properly which results in fewer nutrients being absorbed from the foods eaten. In addition, if a person’s front teeth protrude too far they can be easily chipped or damaged by accidental trauma to the mouth.
In addition to straightening and aligning teeth, orthodontists treat malocclusions, which are conditions where one or more of the upper and lower teeth don’t fit with the rest. This can include an overbite, in which the upper teeth overlap the bottom teeth too much; and underbite, in which the lower teeth protrude too far forward.
Overcrowding is also treated, when there isn’t sufficient room in the patient’s jawbone for their adult teeth to emerge. In some cases, this can be corrected by the removal of teeth to create space. A palatal expander may be used to widen the upper jawbone and make room for permanent tooth.
Other orthodontic treatments can include the use of dental braces, which are a combination of brackets that are affixed to each individual tooth and an arch wire that connects the brackets. These can be made of metal, ceramics or clear (“invisible”) materials. They may also use headgear or facemasks, which fit around the head and attach to the braces to further encourage the growth of the teeth and jaw bones into proper alignment.
They can also use removable appliances like clear aligners, which are invisible trays that can be worn to move the teeth into alignment. They can also place small tooth-colored bumps, known as bonding, to help move the teeth into position, and they can perform resurfacing procedures on the teeth to reduce their thickness and appearance.
