FAQ
What is orthodontics?
Orthodontics is the specialty of dentistry that provides the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of dental and facial irregularities; that creates beautiful smiles and profiles.
What is an orthodontist?
An orthodontist is a specialist who has completed an advanced education program following dental school, to learn the special skills required to manage tooth movement and guide facial development.
What are some possible benefits of orthodontics?
- A designer smile to maximize your appearance
- Improve health of teeth and gum tissue
- Improve functioning of teeth
- Reduced appearance-consciousness during critical development years
- Possible increase in self-confidence/self-esteem
- Increased ability to clean the teeth
- Improved force distribution and wear patterns of the teeth
- Guide permanent teeth into more favorable positions
- Reduce the risk of injury to protruded front teeth
- Aid in optimizing other dental treatment to restore teeth, and to cosmetically improve your smile. (Dental implants, veneers, crowns, bonding).
What are some signs that braces may be needed?
- Upper front teeth protrude excessively over the lower teeth, or are bucked
- Upper front teeth cover the majority of the lower teeth when biting together (deep bite)
- Upper front teeth are behind or inside the lower front teeth (underbite)
- The upper and lower front teeth do not touch when biting together (open bite)
- Crowded or overlapped teeth
- The center of the upper and lower teeth do not line up
- Finger- or thumb-sucking habits which continue after six or seven years old
- Difficulty chewing
- Teeth wearing unevenly or excessively
- The lower jaw shifts to one side or the other when biting together
- Spaces between the teeth
- Part of your dentists restorative treatment: Teeth needed to be uprighted for crown placement; realigned for placement of veneers on undersized front teeth; space optimized/roots positioned for placement of dental implants
Do I need a referral from my dentist for orthodontic treatment?
No. If you have any questions about your teeth/bite or your child's teeth/bite you are invited to call us for a complimentary orthodontic evaluation. We work closely with your dentist during treatment, sharing x-rays and all treatment information by written reports and personal communication.
At what age should orthodontic treatment occur?
Orthodontic treatment can be started at any age. Dr. White enjoys treating adults and children of all ages. Many orthodontic problems are easier to correct if detected at an early age before jaw growth has slowed. Various treatment options are available only at an early age which have a significant impact on the resulting smile and profile! Early treatment may mean that a patient can avoid adult tooth extraction, impacted teeth, surgery and more serious complications. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child first visit an orthodontist by age 7 or earlier if a problem is detected by parents, the family dentist or the child's physician. Dr. White will either suggest treatment or place your child on a continuing-evaluation recall.
Why age 7 is an ideal time for an orthodontic evaluation:
- The posterior bite is established when the 6-year first molars erupt. (The space available for teeth around the arch from molar to molar does not change after the molars erupt.) The orthodontist can evaluate the front-to-back and width relationships of the bite, as well as any functional shift of the lower jaw.
- The presence of adult incisors indicate arch length, possible crowding, habit patterns, and vertical dimension problems such as deep bite, open bite, or gummy smile. Most facial asymmetries are likely to be apparent by age 7.
- For some, a timely screening will lead to significant treatment benefits; for others, early screening may indicate that treatment is not indicated, but the evaluation can provide information to relieve the parents concern that even though developing adult teeth may be temporarily unattractive, the developmental pattern may be normal.
What are the benefits of early orthodontic treatment?
Early treatment presents the opportunity to:
- Keep a bad condition from becoming worse
- Direct developmental changes in desirable directions
- Influence jaw growth in a positive manner
- Preserve or gain space for erupting adult teeth
- Guide adult teeth into more favorable positions
- Improve position of first molar teeth
- Improve the width of the dental arches to allow eruption of all adult teeth and provide a better looking, fuller smile
- Reduce the need for extraction of adult teeth
- Reduce the likelihood of impacted adult teeth
- Increase the stability of the final result
- Lower the risk of trauma to protruding front teeth
- Improve lip competence
- Improve esthetics and self esteem
- Correct harmful oral habits which affect growth and development, such as thumb habit, mouth breathing, tongue thrust
- Improve speech development
- Reduce potential for damage to TM joints by early correction of crossbites, tooth-grinding (bruxism), and lower jaw displacement
What is Phase I and Phase II treatment?
Phase I, or early interceptive treatment, is limited orthodontic treatment (i.e. expander or partial braces) before all of the permanent teeth have erupted. Such treatment can occur between the ages of six and ten. This treatment is sometimes recommended to make more space for developing teeth, to correct crossbites, overbites, underbites, or to eliminate harmful oral habits.
Phase II, is comprehensive orthodontic treatment of the adult teeth. This stage begins after most of the adult teeth have erupted, usually between ages 11 to 14. This stage may begin shortly after the Phase I treatment or may follow a one- to three-year developmental recall period.
Would an adult patient benefit from orthodontics?
Orthodontic treatment can be successful at any age. Everyone wants a beautiful and healthy smile. Twenty to thirty percent of orthodontic patients today are adults.
How does orthodontic treatment work?
Braces use steady gentle pressure to gradually move teeth into their proper positions. The brackets that are placed on your teeth and the archwire that connects them are the main components. When the archwire is placed into the brackets, it tries to return to its original shape. As it does so, it applies pressure to move your teeth to their new, more ideal positions.
How long does orthodontic treatment take?
Treatment times vary on a case-by-case basis, but the average time for a single phase comprehensive treatment or a Phase 2 treatment is from 18 to 30 months. Actual treatment time can be affected by rate of growth and severity of the correction necessary. Treatment length is also dependent upon patient compliance. Maintaining good oral hygiene and keeping regular appointments are important in keeping treatment time on schedule.
Do braces hurt?
The placement of brackets, which are glued onto your teeth, does not hurt. If you need a band (a ring placed around your tooth), it may initially pinch your gum when it is placed. Once your braces are connected with the archwires you may feel some tenderness of your teeth for a day or two. Your lips and cheeks may need one to two weeks to get used to the braces on your teeth. We will discuss this in detail and what to do to feel better the day you get your braces.
Will braces interfere with playing sports?
No. It is recommended, however, that you protect your smile by wearing a mouthguard when participating in any sporting activity. Dr. White will supply you with a colorful mouthguard which is made to allow braces to continue to change the position of your teeth. It will fit over your braces and prevent your braces from injuring the inside of your cheeks.
Will braces interfere with playing musical instruments?
No. However, there may be an initial period of adjustment. Wax and commercially available brace covers can be used to prevent discomfort. Most all of Dr. White's patients have not used anything other than wax for any longer than the first week.
Should I see my general dentist while I have braces?
Yes, you should continue to see your general dentist every three to six months for cleanings and dental check-ups. Effective tooth brushing is extremely important for the health of your teeth and to us. We will monitor your hygiene throughout treatment, giving you instruction, guidance, and encouragement (bribes if necessary). We recommend a fluoride rinse to be used daily and will prescribe a high-fluoride toothpaste if necessary.
