Straight teeth help an individual to effectively bite, chew and speak. Straight teeth contribute to healthy teeth, gums and a perfect smile. Properly aligned teeth and jaws may alleviate or prevent health problems. Teeth that work better also tend to look better. An attractive smile is a pleasant ‘side effect’ of orthodontic treatment.
Various Reasons for Braces
- Crowding
- Spacing
- Deep bite
- Underbite
- Cross bite
Treatment
Treatment first consists of Diagnosis which consists of:
- A comprehensive exam
- Full set of X-Rays
- Cephalometric X-Ray (a view of the side of your skull)
- Diagnostic models of your teeth
- Diagnostic pictures
- TMJ analysis and various other tests may all be done
These are done to determine the best possible treatment for you, and all options will be explained to you by Dr. Bogg and her dental staff.
Duration and type of treatment will be described to you, and the fee will also be discussed at this time. There is no standard fee because the fee depends on type of treatment.
Patients can be treated at nearly any age. However, the best time to consider orthodontic treatment is before the bones mature so any adjustment to the facial appearance can more easily be made. For example, a retruded or a flat chin appearance can be corrected without surgery or a fast-growing jaw can be treated with early diagnosis. Therefore an orthodontic exam is usually recommended around age 7 or 8 depending on the child’s ‘dental’ age.
Frequently, the positions and size of the jaw, if abnormal, can be corrected with removable or fixed appliances before braces. For example: if the size of the jaw is too small, an expander can be used to make enough room for all teeth to erupt. Braces may then be used later to straighten the teeth out. This is called Two Phase Orthodontic Treatment.
Braces are not just for children anymore! A lot of adults are now conscious about the way their teeth look and are looking for a nice straight smile.
Various Treatment Modalities
Traditional Braces: The brackets are metal and they are bonded to the teeth. Teeth movement occurs by using step by step wires. When teeth movement is completed, a retainer has to be worn to keep the teeth in their place. The duration of treatment depends on each individual and the severity of the case.
Ceramic brackets: These brackets are typically clear or tooth-colored and are far less noticeable than metal brackets. These also use either metal or coated wires to move the teeth to the desired position. Once treatment is completed, a retainer has to be worn.
Invisalign or Clear Braces: This is an alternative to traditional braces is a series of clear, customized, removable appliances called aligners. Not only are these braces invisible, but they also are removable so they won’t trap food and plaque between your teeth, as metal braces can. You’ll wear each aligner for about two weeks and only remove it for eating, brushing and flossing.
Six Month Smiles: Six Month Smiles utilizes specialized clear braces to gently straighten and align teeth in an average time of just six months. Treatment time can vary depending on the severity of the situation.
What is right for you?
The best way to find out is schedule a consultation with Dr. Bogg to find out what modality would work the best for you.
Untreated orthodontic problems may lead to tooth decay, gum disease, destruction of the bone that holds teeth in place, and chewing and digestive difficulties. Orthodontic problems can cause abnormal wear of tooth surfaces, inefficient chewing function, and excessive stress on gum tissue and the bone that supports the teeth. Misalignment of the jaw joints, sometimes leading to chronic headaches or pain in the face or neck (known as TMJ problems) also may be treated with orthodontics.