Children’s Braces
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends age 7. By this time the front four incisors should be in place and a more complete evacuation can be conducted. We will be checking for things like palatal arch width, breathing patterns, path of canine eruption, overbite and overjet. Most times a wait and watch approach is all that is needed but there are times when intervention is necessary. This is what is referred to as Phase 1 Treatment.
- Phase 1 Treatment
Phase 1 Treatment can be as short as 6 months to address a simple cross bite of one tooth or as long as 18 months to guide the growth of a child’s lower jaw. In this case called underbite the lower jaw protrudes out more than the upper jaw. An expander may be needed to widen the roof of the mouth so that there will be enough room for the teeth to erupt and not get impacted. In these cases, we are trying to avoid future extractions of teeth or surgery.
Adult Treatment
There really is no age limit for orthodontic treatment. As long as the gums are healthy you can still have the beautiful smile you always wanted. We can personally attest to the dramatic changes that occur in people after treatment. At first they are self-conscience and inhibited. After treatment they are so happy and exuberant. It really is a rewarding experience to be a part of this
INVISALIGN
Moving teeth with clear aligners is an option for both teens and adults. In our office we use the state of the art 1 Tero Scanner to digitally record your teeth. With a simple wave of a wand a digital file is obtained and sent to Invisalign along with the Drs. instructions for tooth movement. Within 10 days we will receive the aligners from Invisalign and treatment can begin. Treatment lasts about the same time as braces but it does cost a bit more.
