Orthodontic Treatment

About Orthodontic Treatment

At our clinic, we understand that most people considering orthodontic treatment primarily hope to achieve a more beautiful smile. While aesthetic improvement is certainly a key benefit, we also place a strong emphasis on optimizing your bite through our orthodontic care.

Benefits of Orthodontic Treatment

You're likely aware that straightening your teeth can significantly improve your appearance. But the advantages extend beyond aesthetics! A properly aligned bite makes it easier to chew food, which can even reduce the strain on your digestive system.

Furthermore, a good bite can sometimes lead to the improvement of other body symptoms, such as shoulder stiffness or lower back pain. With orthodontic treatment, you can create a more attractive smile and boost your overall health.

Negative Effects of Misaligned Teeth

When teeth are crowded or misaligned, your mouth's natural self-cleaning process becomes less effective. This allows plaque and food debris to accumulate more easily, and it's also harder to clean properly with brushing, increasing your risk of cavities and gum disease. Additionally, an improper bite can concentrate chewing forces on just a few teeth, potentially leading to tooth loss over time.

Adult Orthodontics

You might associate orthodontic treatment primarily with children. However, it's never too late to start, and adults can absolutely achieve beautifully aligned teeth. For adult orthodontics, we create a treatment plan based on a comprehensive assessment of your facial balance, skeletal alignment, bite discrepancies, the degree of crowding, and the condition of your gum tissues. As a result, adult orthodontic treatment sometimes involves reducing the number of teeth to achieve proper alignment. This is done when there's a mismatch between the size of your jawbone and the size of your teeth; in such cases, we reduce the number of teeth to fit within the available bone structure.

At our clinic, even if you have concerns about your gums or tooth condition, we can develop a treatment plan that is gentle on your periodontal tissues. Please feel free to consult with us!

Children's Orthodontics

Many parents worry about their children's teeth being misaligned, whether it's their baby teeth or newly erupted permanent teeth. The ideal time to begin orthodontic treatment for children is generally considered to be around first grade, before all the permanent teeth have fully erupted.

However, the best timing for orthodontic treatment can vary for each child. If you have any concerns about your child's oral health, especially after their "6-year molars" have come in, please don't hesitate to reach out for a consultation.

Types of Orthodontic Treatment

At our clinic, we offer various orthodontic treatment options to suit different needs and preferences:

1. Multi-Bracket Orthodontics (Traditional Braces) This is the classic and most common type of orthodontic appliance. Small brackets are bonded to the front surface of your teeth, and a wire is threaded through them. This wire then applies continuous gentle pressure to gradually move your teeth into their ideal positions.
2. Discreet Orthodontics (Clear Aligners) Clear aligner treatment, like Invisalign, uses a series of transparent, custom-made plastic trays to shift your teeth. Because they are clear and less noticeable, and often involve less discomfort than traditional braces, clear aligners offer a more comfortable way to straighten your smile. You wear each set of aligners for a period, and as you switch to the next set, your teeth are gently guided into the correct position. This option is highly recommended for anyone who wants to straighten their teeth but prefers that others don't notice they're undergoing treatment.
3. Partial Orthodontics Unlike full orthodontic treatment, partial orthodontics focuses on moving and aligning only a select few teeth that are causing concern. Many patients might think, "I just want to close the gap between my front teeth," "I only want to fix the crowding on my lower teeth," or "I just want to bring my 'snaggletooth' back into alignment." If you've been hesitant to pursue full orthodontic treatment due to the longer treatment time or higher cost, partial orthodontics might be the perfect solution for you.
4. Lingual Orthodontics (Hidden Braces) Lingual orthodontics, also known as "hidden braces," involves placing the brackets and wires on the back side (tongue-side) of your teeth, rather than the front. A continuous force is applied through the wire to move your teeth. Recent advancements have made these appliances much smaller, leading to a more comfortable experience during treatment. The main advantage of this method is that the braces are virtually invisible to others, making it an ideal choice for those who wish to keep their orthodontic treatment discreet.