EARLY TREATMENT
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that all children have an orthodontic evaluation no later than age 7. Seek treatment earlier than age 7 if your child has:

Difficulty chewing
Open-mouth breathing
Thumb or finger sucking
Overlapping or crowding of erupting permanent teeth
Jaws that click or pop
Biting of the cheek or into the roof of the mouth
Speech problems
Grinding or wearing down of teeth
Obvious abnormal bite development of any kind

Warning signs in 7-year -olds

1. Do the upper teeth protrude?
Excessive protrusion of the upper front teeth is a very common problem in orthodontics

2. Is there a deep bite?
The upper front teeth cover the lower front teeth too much

3. Is there an “underbite” ?
The upper teeth fit inside the arch of the lower teeth

4. Is there an open bite?
There is a space between upper and lower front teeth when the back teeth are together

5. Is there too little room for the permanent teeth?
Crowded upper or lower teeth.

6. Do the front teeth line up?
The spaces between the two upper front teeth and the two lower front teeth should line up with each other. If they do not, the probable cause is drifted teeth or a shifted lower jaw.

7. Is there a crossbite?
The upper back teeth fit inside of the lowers.


ADOLESCENT TREATMENT
Full orthodontic treatment for adolescent usually starts when all or most permanent teeth are erupted including 12-year-old molars. This is around age 12-13. Duration of full treatment can be anywhere from 18 to 36 months, 24 months is common. Treatment time depends on many factors such as the difficulty of the case, patient compliance, hygiene etc. The braces we use are the newest technology. They are “self-ligating”, which means they do not need to be tied in with elastic ties; instead, they have a little clip that snaps into place. In the early stages of treatment this reduces friction, which allows teeth to move faster with minimal force and discomfort. Clear brackets are also available for the front teeth.


ADULT TREATMENT
Crowded teeth and a “bad bite” can contribute to gum and bone loss, tooth decay, abnormal wear of the tooth, headaches and jaw joint (TMJ/TMD) pain. Healthy teeth can be moved at almost any age. Many orthodontic problems can be corrected as easily and as well for adults as children. Orthodontic forces move the teeth in the same way for both a 75-year-old adult and a 12-year-old child. Some factors, such as lack of jaw growth, may create special treatment planning needs for the adult. Orthodontic treatment in adults can restore good function, increasing the health of the teeth, gums and jaw joint while improving personal appearance and self-esteem, no matter the age. The new techniques and appliances we use greatly reduce discomfort levels, decrease the frequency of visits, and shorten treatment time. Your options may include metal braces, ceramic (tooth colored) braces or clear aligners (Invisalign) that can be worn to improve mild cases of misaligned teeth. We provide clear aligners as a service to our patients. This technique is basically a series of computer generated, clear, trays that fit over the teeth. The patient wears the trays (“aligners”) full time except to eat, and changes them approximately every two weeks. Each tray moves the teeth a small amount. The teeth are aligned in a stepwise process.

TMJ dysfunction

Headaches, facial or neck pain can be a sign of Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction or “TMJ”. Other symptoms may be the following: muscle pain, limitation of jaw movements, tooth wear, receding gums, notching of the teeth at the gum line, and adverse bony changes within the joint. TMJ dysfunction can be caused by disharmony between teeth and jaws. Treatment can reduce or eliminate the possibility of further damage. When patient presented with signs or symptoms o TMJ dysfunction additional records may be ordered for a complete diagnosis, such as TMJ images (x-rays). Treatment for TMJ dysfunction usually involves splint therapy. The splint is a very effective appliance that is custom made for each individual. Splint will be adjusted as needed to reduce painful symptoms and stabilize the entire chewing system.

Orthognathic surgery

The upper and lower jaws are the bases upon which the teeth are aligned. When the jaws are too short or long, or too wide or narrow, the proper bite often cannot be achieved with braces alone. The orthodontist together with an oral surgeon formulates a combined treatment plan. In some sever cases orthodontics and orthognathic surgery may be the only treatment option.