How Orthodontists Can Help Your Smile

You already know that it’s important to visit your dentist twice a year for teeth cleanings. But did you know that orthodontists can help your smile in other ways?

Braces

You’re probably familiar with traditional metal braces, but today’s orthodontic solutions are smaller and more comfortable than ever. These consist of small brackets that are affixed to the front of each tooth with an arch wire that runs through them and can be tightened to apply more or less pressure on different areas of your mouth. These wires are also designed to help guide teeth into their proper positions.

Brackets come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors and may be made from ceramic, plastic, metals or a combination. They have a slot that holds the arch wire and a ring or “o” shaped hook on each side to hold tiny elastic rubber bands, known as ligatures.

Your teeth play a vital role in chewing your food before it gets to your stomach, so misaligned teeth can cause problems with the way you sound out words or even impact how your teeth grow and develop over time. This is why it’s important to get your teeth fixed early.

Invisalign

If you are looking for a way to straighten your smile without using metal braces, you can get clear aligners. These are made of clear plastic, and are almost invisible when worn. They can also be easily removed to eat and brush your teeth. Invisalign can be used to treat most types of misaligned teeth.

Your orthodontist will take digital impressions of your teeth and then use these to create your customized clear aligners. They will check in every six to ten weeks, and make sure that you are on track to reach your goal.

Invisalign can correct many dental issues, including crooked teeth, an overbite or underbite, and crowded teeth. However, not everyone is a candidate for Invisalign, and patients with severe gum disease may not be able to wear the aligners properly. To see if you are a good candidate, ask your orthodontist Glendale if they offer Invisalign and schedule a consultation. During this visit, you can discuss your personal needs and goals with the doctor. They will also tell you if your dental insurance will cover Invisalign.

Smile Makeovers

A smile makeover is a combination of dental treatments that are designed to improve the aesthetics of a patient’s smile. It may include teeth whitening, veneers, dental implants or crowns among other cosmetic treatments. A patient’s treatment plan will be customized for their unique needs.
The first step in a smile makeover is a dental exam and smile analysis. During the dental exam, the dentist will look for tooth decay, gum disease, bruxism and other issues. Any problems found will be addressed before the smile makeover begins.

A smile makeover is ideal for patients that want to change their appearance and boost self-esteem. It can also help people that are dealing with missing or damaged teeth. In such cases, the patient may require a dental implant or dental bridge to replace their tooth. Lastly, a smile makeover can lighten yellow and stained teeth caused by poor oral hygiene, coffee and tea. Treatments like whitening can last for a lifetime with proper care.

Early Treatment

orthodontist Glendale problems can be corrected more easily at an early age before jaw growth is complete. Early treatment also reduces the amount of time that a child will spend in braces or other corrective devices. It is a great way to avoid future complications like crowded teeth, jaw irregularities and a crossbite.

Ideally, children should get their first orthodontic evaluation by the age of seven, and earlier is better. This allows our orthodontists to evaluate the teeth, face and jaws for irregularities.

Early treatment can be used to address issues like a crossbite, a squint, an overbite or underbite, severe dental crowding, an unusual jaw size or narrow dental arch, and long-term thumb or pacifier sucking that has affected teeth and facial growth. It can also reduce the need for more invasive procedures like extraction and corrective jaw surgery. Treatment may include one or more types of braces or clear aligners like Invisalign. It may also include other appliances to help guide jaw growth and hold space for adult teeth.