Orthodontics

For most people, achieving a healthy, beautiful smile is the reason for choosing to receive orthodontic care. If you’re self-conscious about your smile, having braces will greatly improve the way you look and feel. But at Breathe Modern Dentistry, we see braces as something beyond cosmetics.

When your treatment is complete, you will have the smile you’ve always dreamed of as well as the confidence to show it off! But in many cases, there’s far more to consider than just straight teeth. As a result of improper growth, many of us will experience crowding of teeth, simply becaue the dental arches didn’t grow to their fulest potential! Because of the smaller arch size, our teeth can’t fit normaly within them, and thus they end up crowded.

In recognition of this, we work with the Facial Beauty Institute (for proper anylsis of your case) when needed to ensure proper growth of your midface (the upper and lower jaws).  When we ensure the arches are of the proper size, extractions of adult teeth become unncessary and unwanted. Without proper arch sizes to begin with, patients commonly experience TMJ pain, excessive crowding, muscle/facial pain, a poor bite, and an inhibited airway! Our facial growth must be considered.

And when your child is young, it’s possible for them to avoid braces by following a few simple rules and guidelines to proper facial growth.  Visit our site AVOIDINGBRACES.COM and you can learn more about guiding your child’s facial growth and avoiding braces altogether!

How Orthodontic Treatment Works

Orthodontic appliances are made of metal, ceramic, or plastic. They may be removable or they may be brackets bonded to the teeth. By placing a constant, gentle force in a carefully controlled direction, braces slowly move teeth to the proper position.

Gone are the days when a metal band with a bracket was placed around each tooth. You can now choose brackets that are clear or metallic, and in some cases, choose the color of your appliance. Wires are far less noticeable, and the latest materials are designed to move teeth faster with more comfort. Today, any age is a great age to wear braces!

Duration of Treatment

Depending on several factors, including age, treatment method, and how minor or severe your case is, treatment time varies and can last between one and three years. For children, receiving interceptive, or early treatment, can also help provide a quicker treatment time later on in life. A big factor to a successful treatment is you, the patient! The more involved and diligent you are, the quicker and more efficient your treatment will be.

Before beginning your orthodontic care, Dr. Smith will discuss all of your options and provide an estimate for how long your full treatment may take. Please contact our practice to schedule an appointment and learn more about orthodontics and the treatments we provide. We are proud to offer treatment using the Controlled Arch Orthodontics technique. It is one of the fastest and most comprehensive treatment options available today.  This technique ensure the bite, the joints, and the arches are aligned for long sterm stability and health. Older styles of braces do not offer this.

Types of Braces

Traditional Metal Braces

Traditional metal braces are the most common type of braces and are more comfortable today than ever before. Made of high-grade stainless steel, metal braces straighten your teeth by using metal brackets and archwires. With metal braces, you have the option of adding colored elastics (rubber bands) for a more unique and colorful smile.

Clear (Ceramic) Braces

Ceramic braces are made of clear materials and are therefore less visible on your teeth than metal braces. For this reason, ceramic braces are used mainly on older teenagers and adult patients who have cosmetic concerns.

Clear Aligners

Clear aligners are a series of invisible, removable, and comfortable acrylic trays that straighten your teeth like braces. Not only are the aligners invisible, they are also removable, allowing you to eat and drink what you want while in treatment. Plus, this helps to make brushing and flossing less of a hassle. The aligners are comfortable and have no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment.

The Outcome

So why would you want braces at Breathe M/D? Dr. Smith’s extensive education and research into facial growth and devleopment allows him to ensure that your smile and facial profile is not only the MOST ATTRACTIVE result possible, but also the most stable for long term health.  When full facial development isn’t considered, orthodontics can leave a patient with a nice smile, but may also compromise the airway, the stability of the TMJ, head posture, the bite, and the long term outcome.  Relapse of issues such as crowding is a giveaway to instability to something in the system: the muscles, the TMJ, the bite, the posture, and or the airway.  Dr. Smith will ensure ALL of these are in harmony so your results will last a lifetime!