When it comes to age, Orthodontic treatment is not just for kids! Your teeth can be straightened and your bite can be improved at any age, from 7 and up, as long as you have teeth. When it comes to orthodontics, we have a solution for every smile. from clear aligners to ceramic braces or metal braces, we offer all kinds of treatment options to treat all kinds of mal-occlusions.
Traditional metal braces are one of the most effective and original treatments in any orthodontic practice. In fact, they are what most people think of when they picture orthodontic treatment. But braces have come a long way over the years, and our modern metal braces are smaller, more comfortable, and more efficient than ever. Metal braces straighten your smile using a system of metal brackets affixed to your teeth, a thin metal archwire running through them, and small elastic bands to hold it all together. These elastics can be customized with fun colors, or clear for added discretion. Metal braces are one of the most reliable and cost-effective ways to align teeth and develop a better bite. That is why they are a great alternative for kids, teens, and adults.
Ceramic braces (also known as clear braces) are more discreet than traditional braces. While traditional braces are made of metal, clear braces are made of a type of ceramic that blends with the natural color of your teeth. Ceramic braces are a discreet, esthetic, and effective way to improve your smile besides being almost unnoticeable.
In the world of dental care, technology has led to numerous advances that years ago seemed impossible. While many aspects of dental care have been changed due to these advances, no area has been impacted more than orthodontics. While years ago patients expected a mouth filled with wires and brackets, today’s technology has made the process much more comfortable and far less noticeable. with clear aligners, you can now straighten your teeth without wires and brackets, using a series of clear, customized, removable appliances called aligners. It’s virtually undetectable, which means hardly anyone will know that you’re straightening your teeth. You can remove your aligners to eat, brush and floss to minimize your risk of gum disease and cavities. There are also no restrictions on what you can eat and drink or your daily activities. Whether you are on a tight schedule or you travel a lot, clear aligners’ therapy reduces the number of regular follow up visits.
It is best for the orthodontist to see children by age 7 to advise if treatment is required and when the best time to commence treatment would be. The first permanent molars and incisors have usually come in by the time, and crossbites, crowding, and other problems can be evaluated. When treatment is begun early, the orthodontist can guide the growth of the jaw and guide incoming permanent teeth.
Early treatment can also regulate the width of the upper and lower dental arches, gain space for permanent teeth, avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions, reduce likelihood of impacted permanent teeth, correct thumb sucking, eliminate abnormal swallowing or speech problems, and most importantly it can address any skeletally related problems such as constricted upper jaw which can b seen as posterior cross-bite, retrognathic upper arch and retruded mandible. It’s very important to address skeletal problems at an early age during which the growth of our child can be stimulated to work in our favor. If addressed at the right age and stage in a child’s dentition, Phase One treatment, if necessary, is initiated on children between the ages of 7 and 11.
The primary objective is to correct significant problems, such as jaw growth and width, or to prevent such problems from becoming more severe. These problems are best addressed in a growing child so that their growth trajectory can be influenced by orthodontic appliances before bones solidify as they age, i.e., the prevention of extracting permanent teeth to make room for the teeth to fit, or correcting an underbite to avoid jaw surgery as an adult. This can, in turn, improve self-esteem and self-image. However, since new teeth have erupted that haven’t been treated, as well as additional jaw growth, a second phase of treatment is almost always mandatory. In other words, early treatment can simplify late treatment.
Corrective jaw surgery (orthognathic surgery) treats and corrects abnormalities of the facial bones, specifically the jaws and the teeth. Often, these abnormalities cause difficulty associated with chewing, talking, sleeping and other routine activities. Moreover, these abnormalities can be aesthetically unpleasant and jeopardize the facial appearance of the patient lowering his self-esteem. Orthognathic surgery corrects these problems and, in conjunction with orthodontic treatment, will improve the overall appearance of the facial profile
Due to the fact that growth is completed in adults, rare cases may require orthognathic surgery (jaw surgery) to achieve ideal results. In many cases in adult’s age where surgery is considered to be necessary, it could have been avoided if the problem had been addressed at early age during childhood, other problems where we have genetics working against us will eventually need surgical correction.
Just as orthodontics repositions teeth, surgical orthodontics (also known as orthognathic surgery) corrects jaw irregularities to improve the patient’s ability to chew, speak, and breathe and most importantly it can improve his facial appearances. In other words, surgical orthodontics straightens your jaw. Moving the jaws also moves the teeth, so braces are always performed in conjunction with jaw correction. This helps make sure teeth are in their proper positions after surgery
Your orthodontist will consider surgical orthodontic treatment for non-growing adult patients with improper bites and those with facial aesthetic concerns. Jaw growth is usually completed by age 16 for girls and 18 for boys. All growth must be completed before jaw surgery can be performed. However the pre-surgical tooth movements using the commonly known orthodontic treatment can begin one to two years prior to these ages.
