An excellent smile is not only about the whiteness of your teeth. Having a misaligned jaw or teeth can negatively affect the aesthetic appearance of your smile. That is where the services of an orthodontist become critical. If you or a loved one has misaligned teeth, an orthodontist can examine the condition of the teeth and recommend appropriate orthodontic treatment.
Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry that mainly focuses on the diagnosis, prevention, correction, and treatment of mispositioned jaws and teeth. Depending on the severity of the misalignment and the health of your gums, your orthodontist could recommend various orthodontic treatments. While most people think of braces when they hear about orthodontists, orthodontic services encompass a far wider array.
Our reliable orthodontists at The Hawthorne Dentist offer many orthodontic services. If you have misaligned jaws or teeth, our experienced orthodontists can help you achieve the smile of your dreams. Aside from boosting your smile appearance, a well-aligned bite and jaws can prevent possible future oral and dental health issues.
The Difference Between an Orthodontist and a Dentist
Understanding how an orthodontist differs from your regular dentist is the first step in understanding orthodontic services. Although these two professionals complete the same initial training and education, an orthodontist will complete an additional residency program for two to three years to secure the orthodontic specialty classification. Below are examples of services that a dentist offers:
- Teeth whitening
- Root canal therapy
- Oral examination
- Filling cracked or fractured teeth
- Tooth extraction
- Teaching oral and dental hygiene practices
- Veneer and crown installation
- Oral surgery
While an orthodontist can perform some or all of the above services, his/her primary focus is on issues affecting teeth and jaw alignment and the appearance of your smile. Additionally, your orthodontist could offer you the services listed below:
- Teeth alignment issues diagnosis
- Correction of teeth alignment issues for an improved bite
- Oral surgery to position your teeth into proper alignment
- Use dental appliances like Invisalign and braces to improve the alignment of your teeth
Common Dental Issues that Could Require the Services of an Orthodontist
Any person, regardless of age, could benefit from orthodontic services. While traditionally, orthodontic treatments were associated with children and teenagers, adults could also benefit from the services of an orthodontist to improve the aesthetic appearance of their smile. Below are signs that you could benefit from the services of an orthodontist:
You Have Gapped Teeth
As the names suggest, gapped teeth occur when you have spaces in between your teeth. While some people could opt to live with gapped teeth, if this condition makes you self-conscious about your smile appearance, an orthodontist could help fix the issue.
You Have an Overbite
An overbite occurs when your teeth on the upper jaw protrude significantly over the teeth on the lower jaw. While the condition could be genetic, it could also be due to thumb sucking, nail biting, bruxism, or skeletal abnormalities.
You Have an Underbite
If you notice that your teeth on the lower jaw overlap those on the upper jaw, chances are you have an underbite. Like an overbite, this condition could be genetic or due to other causes mentioned above. Sometimes, your orthodontist could recommend oral surgery to fix this condition.
You Have an Open Bite
An open bite is a common orthodontic problem when your upper and front teeth do not touch when your mouth is at rest, leaving a gap between them. Aside from affecting your smile appearance, an open bite could affect your speaking ability. If the cause of the open bite is a jaw issue, the orthodontist could recommend surgery to fix the problem.
The cause of the issue will determine the orthodontic treatment your orthodontist will recommend after diagnosis.
You Have a Crossbite
A crossbite occurs when the teeth on the upper jaw do not align correctly with those on the lower jaw. This condition could affect a group of teeth or a single tooth. The orthodontic treatment of a crossbite will depend on the condition’s cause and severity.
You Have Crowded or Crooked Teeth
Also known as dental crowding, teeth crowding is an orthodontic issue that occurs when the space in your mouth is insufficient to accommodate erupting teeth. Premature tooth loss, genetics, small jaw size, and oral habits are some causes of this condition.
Common Orthodontic Treatments Your Orthodontist Could Recommend
Because every patient’s issue is unique, your dentist must conduct an initial exam to determine the appropriate treatment for your orthodontic problem. If necessary, your orthodontist could take X-ray pictures to help him/her develop a custom treatment plan for your unique orthodontic problem.
Explained below are common orthodontic services your orthodontist could recommend for your unique dental or jaw misalignment issue:
Braces
One of the most common and trusted ways to improve teeth and jaw alignment is wearing metal braces. In addition to enhancing the aesthetic appearance of your smile, dental braces can help address oral and dental hygiene concerns by lessening the chances of developing cavities or gum diseases.
Metal braces help straighten your teeth by exerting gentle pressure using brackets and wires. Depending on your needs and preferences, your orthodontist could recommend any of the following types of dental braces:
- Metal braces
- Clear aligners
- Ceramic braces
- Lingual braces
- Self-litigating braces
While even adults can benefit from wearing braces, the ideal age for this orthodontic treatment is between nine and fourteen, when your facial bones and jaws are flexible since they are still developing. How long you must wear the braces depends on the misalignment’s nature and severity.
Clear Aligners
Clear aligners are a popular alternative to metal braces. Most people prefer well-known brands of clear aligners, like ClearCorrect and Invisalign. Instead of using wires and brackets like metal braces, clear aligners use a series of clear aligner trays custom-made for each affected tooth.
If you like how conspicuous metal braces look, clear aligners could be an excellent alternative for straightening your teeth because they are virtually invisible when worn. Another benefit of wearing clear aligners to improve your teeth alignment is the flexibility they offer. For example, they are removable, meaning you can remove them whenever you want to eat, floss, or brush your teeth.
That means it is easier to maintain good dental and oral hygiene when wearing clear aligners than metal braces. Additionally, clear aligners are more comfortable in your mouth than traditional metal braces because they do not have sharp edges or protruding wires.
If you have a minor gap between your teeth or bite issues, clear aligners could be an excellent solution you need for a smile makeover. However, your orthodontist could recommend different orthodontic services if you have severe teeth misalignment issues. Your orthodontist will assess the condition of your teeth’s misalignment to determine if Invisalign would help improve your smile’s appearance.
Palatal Expanders
Also known as orthodontic expanders, palatal expanders are devices orthodontists use to expand or widen your upper jaw to create adequate space for crowded teeth, ensuring proper tooth alignment for a catchy smile.
Your dentist will strategically fix the palatal expander on the roof of your mouth (palate) and gradually move both halves of the jawbones apart to create room for erupting teeth and prevent overcrowding. While even adults can use palatal expanders, these oral devices are mostly recommendable to children with tooth overcrowding or crossbite issues.
Depending on the severity of the teeth misalignment and your age, your orthodontist may require you to wear the palatal expander for a few weeks, months, or even up to a year. Once your orthodontist places your custom-made palatal expanders on the roof of your mouth, regular dental check-ups and adjustments are necessary to ensure maximum comfort and well-being during the treatment period.
Under the right circumstances, palatal expanders can help create enough space to accommodate all your teeth without needing tooth removal or other dental procedures.
Since the outcome or results of wearing palatal expanders are not permanent, your orthodontist will recommend wearing retainers once they come off. Wearing dental retainers once your palatal expanders come off can help prevent your jaws and teeth from reverting to their original position, maintaining the desired results.
Retainers
If your dentist recommends metal braces, clear aligners, or palatal expanders, retainers could be necessary after the treatment to maintain the desired results. As the name implies, retainers are devices that fit over your teeth to help keep them in the new ideal alignment after completing your recommended orthodontic treatment.
Retainers are necessary because once your braces come off, your gums and facial bone will need some time to adjust to their new position. Without the retainers, your teeth and jaw can revert to the original misaligned position after completing your orthodontic treatment, reversing your efforts of teeth alignment.
Depending on your preferences and unique dental issues, your orthodontist can recommend fixed or removable dental retainers. How often you will need to wear your dental retainers will depend on your unique orthodontic issue. The orthodontist will require you to wear your retainers daily and night for about four (4) to six (6) months.
After this period, your orthodontist could require you to wear the retainers only at night for the rest of your life.
Headgear
Sometimes, braces alone are insufficient to fix teeth and jaw misalignment issues. In these situations, your orthodontist could recommend wearing a headgear to help move your teeth and jaws into proper, ideal alignment for the eye-catching smile you deserve.
Unlike braces, you will wear the headgear partially outside your mouth to create the gentle force necessary to move your teeth and jaws into proper alignment over time. While they are more recommendable to children since their teeth and jaws are flexible and developing, adults could also benefit from wearing headgear. Some of the issues a headgear can help fix include the following:
- Malocclusions or bad bite
- Protruding teeth
- Teeth crowding
Depending on your unique dental condition, your dentist could recommend any of the following types of orthodontic headgear:
- High pull headgear
- Cervical pull headgear
- Reverse pull headgear
Regardless of the type of headgear your orthodontist recommends for your teeth misalignment issues, following his/her instructions on wearing them is key to achieving the desired results. That means wearing your orthodontic headgear daily for the specified period. It is natural to feel uncomfortable when wearing your headgear for the first few weeks, but you will become used to it with time.
Your orthodontist could recommend taking a soft diet and over-the-counter (OTC) medications, like ibuprofen, to help you adjust to wearing your orthodontic headgear. How long you need to wear your headgear will depend on the unique nature of your orthodontic issue, but typically your orthodontist could recommend wearing it for six months to two years.
Jaw Surgery
If you have a severe underbite or overbite issue, your orthodontic specialist could recommend jaw surgery to line up your upper jaw (maxilla) with the lower jaw (mandible). Generally speaking, jaw issues are either present at birth or develop later in life due to severe injuries or jaw-related medical conditions.
The primary goal of jaw surgery is to improve your facial aesthetic appearance and functionality by aligning the lower jaw with the upper jaw. By repositioning your jaws, your orthodontist can help fix your bite issues, improve your speech, and boost your dental and oral health.
Depending on the severity of your condition, your orthodontist can perform this procedure with a single dental appointment or multiple appointments. Like any other surgery, prior preparation is necessary to increase the procedure’s effectiveness and to avoid any possible complications.
Before the procedure, your dentist will ask you to disclose your medical history, including any medications you are on, regardless of whether they are prescription or herbal drugs. This is very important because some medicines can cause increased bleeding during the surgery or affect the clotting process after the surgery.
To begin the procedure, your dentist will require CT scans and 3D images of your mouth to determine the severity of your condition and create a precise treatment plan. Fortunately, the procedure is comfortable and painless because your orthodontist will inject you with anesthesia to numb the skin around the incision site.
Depending on your unique condition, the orthodontist could recommend any of the following types of jaw surgery:
- Mandibular osteotomy — Your orthodontist will recommend this procedure if your lower jaw sticks out too little or too much
- Maxillary osteotomy — As the name suggests, this procedure is necessary if the upper jaw sticks out more than the lower jaw, also known as overbite
- Double jaw surgery — If you have a dental issue that affects both jaws, your dentist could recommend double jaw surgery
After this surgery, your orthodontist could ask you to remain in the clinic for one to three days to monitor your progress. If you have braces, you will continue wearing them for up to nine months after the surgery.
Benefits of Orthodontic Treatments
Opting to receive orthodontic treatment has several advantages you cannot overlook if you have dental or jaw misalignment issues. Below are some of the notable benefits of orthodontic treatments:
Better Dental Health
You cannot regret receiving orthodontic treatment, especially if you want to maintain good dental health throughout your lifetime. Orthodontic services make it easy to clean your teeth, reducing the chances of developing cavities.
Enhanced Appearance
Orthodontic services can improve the aesthetic appearance of teeth and facial structure, enhancing overall physical appearance.
Improved Dental Functions
Orthodontic services can help improve your jaw alignment and teeth functions, enhancing your chewing and speaking abilities.
Improved Self-confidence
Undoubtedly, orthodontic services can help boost your self-confidence and self-esteem by improving the aesthetic appearance of your facial structures and teeth. A straight smile can significantly increase your self-confidence level.
Lessened Risk of Gum Diseases and Tooth Decay
Aside from improving the alignment of your teeth and jaw, orthodontic services make it much easier to keep your teeth clean, preventing the buildup of gum disease-causing plaque and tartar on the surface of your teeth. Additionally, by lessening the chances of developing temporomandibular joint disorder, orthodontic services can help reduce joint discomfort and pain.
Lessened Risks of Oral or Dental injuries
Mispositioned jaws and teeth can increase the risk of sustaining oral or dental injury, like chipped teeth. Fortunately, an orthodontist can help lessen these risks by improving the alignment of your jaws and teeth using any of the above-explained orthodontic treatments.
Possible Risks of Orthodontic Treatments
While orthodontic treatment has several benefits, it also has some disadvantages you ought to be aware of. Examples of these risks include the following:
Treatment Duration
Depending on the severity of your unique case, the orthodontic treatment your dentist will recommend could last several months or years, meaning you have to be ready to commit to the treatment plan and your follow-up appointments.
Root Resorption
Although it is uncommon, the pressure used to move your teeth into alignment can sometimes shorten their roots slightly.
Oral Hygiene Challenges
Wearing braces and other dental appliances could make it challenging to brush and floss your teeth optimally, increasing the risk of cavities and gum disease.
Gum Disease
Wearing dental braces can irritate your gums, possibly exacerbating oral health issues like gingivitis, which is the initial stage of gum disease.
How to Maintain the Desired Results After Receiving Orthodontic Treatment
How long the results of your orthodontic treatment will last will depend on your compliance with the post-treatment plan your orthodontist will give you. Below are a few tips to help maintain your new catchy smile after receiving orthodontic services:
Wear Your Dental Retainers
As mentioned above, after aligners or braces, your dentist will likely recommend retainers to help maintain your teeth in their newly aligned position for the longest time possible.
Ongoing Dental Care
Regular dental visits are crucial after receiving orthodontic treatment to help maintain good dental health. During these visits, your orthodontist can check for any emerging dental issues and readjust your braces, if necessary, to ensure they are effective.
Frequently Asked Questions About Orthodontic Services
Many people often ask the following questions before and after receiving orthodontic services:
- When Should I Contact My Orthodontist After Receiving Orthodontic Treatment?
You should contact your dentist when you notice any changes in your tooth alignment or if your braces or retainers are fitting loosely on your teeth. Also, when you experience discomfort or believe you are at risk of dental or oral health issues, you should contact your dentist as soon as possible for an examination.
- What is the Cost of Orthodontic Treatment?
How much you will pay for orthodontic treatment will depend on the complexity and type of treatment you will receive and your orthodontist’s services fee. Fortunately, most orthodontists offer flexible payment methods. For example, you can settle his/her service fee using cash, a banker’s check, or PayPal.
While some insurance providers have policies that cover orthodontic treatment, others do not offer coverage. Ensure you check with your insurer to see if your policy can cover the recommended orthodontic treatment fee.
- How Do I Find a Reliable Orthodontist?
If you are considering orthodontic services, finding a reliable orthodontist is vital for the best services you deserve. When selecting a reliable orthodontist for orthodontic treatment, you should consider the following factors:
- Whether the orthodontist is licensed
- The orthodontist’s qualifications and experience
- The orthodontist’s cost of services
- The orthodontist’s reputation
- Whether the orthodontist is a member of any related professional body
- The orthodontist’s location and availability
- Whether the orthodontist is well-equipped with modern equipment
These tips can significantly lessen your options to find a reliable orthodontist without a hassle.
Find a Credible Orthodontist Near Me
If you want to begin your journey to a straight and healthy smile, you should consult a dentist to determine if you are an excellent candidate for orthodontic treatment and your options, if necessary. At The Hawthorne Dentist, we will evaluate your unique condition and discuss suitable orthodontic treatment options.
Call us at 310-775-2557 and let our seasoned orthodontist help you improve your teeth functions and achieve the smile you deserve using orthodontic treatments.
