Since every patient is unique and tooth development varies from one individual to another, there is not a specific age that is best to begin orthodontic treatment. However, when treatment is necessary, the timing is extremely important and greatly affects the results.
The bite of the back teeth is established around age 7, when the first molars erupt. At that time, we can evaluate the position of the upper and lower teeth as they bite together to ensure they are not in an unhealthy position.
For some, a timely screening will lead to significant treatment benefits; for most, the principal immediate benefit is a parent’s peace of mind. For those patients who have clear indications for treatment at an early age, this treatment presents the opportunity to:
– Influence jaw growth in a positive manner.
– Harmonize width of the dental arches.
– Improve tooth eruption patterns.
– Lower risk of trauma to protruded upper incisors.
– Correct harmful oral habits.
– Improve esthetics and self-esteem.
– Simplify and/or shorten treatment time for later orthodontics.
– Reduce likelihood of impacted permanent teeth.
– Preserve or maintain space for erupting permanent teeth.
Between the ages of 11 and 15 is the most common time for orthodontic treatment – and for good reason. By 12, most, if not all of the permanent teeth have erupted and are in place, and crooked teeth, gaps and bad bites can easily be treated. These problems rarely correct themselves, so this is when most parents decide to seek orthodontic treatment.
For most teens, braces are a right of passage; something they share with other kids their age. While it’s never too late for orthodontic treatment, having braces as a teen lets us take advantage of the natural growth happening during these important developmental years.
More and more adults today are seeking orthodontic treatment to improve their smile. In fact, about 25 percent of our patients are adults! We offer a full range of treatments specifically designed for adults – leaving you with a dramatically different smile and healthier bite.
Orthodontic treatment is not only designed to improve the appearance of your smile, but improve the health of your teeth and gums as well. By seeking orthodontic treatment as an adult you can possibly avoid severe tooth decay, gum and bone loss, irregular wear of the tooth enamel, and TMJ/TMD pain.
Because adults are highly motivated to complete their orthodontic treatment they are usually more compliant with the instructions for wear and care of orthodontic appliances. This can result in treatment time that’s less than that for a teenager, with the same great results.
We offer a wide selection of braces to meet the individual needs and desires of each of our adult patients. From traditional metal braces, clear ceramic braces to clear aligners that can be worn to improve mild cases of misaligned teeth, we are confident we can help you achieve and maintain the beautiful, healthy smile you’ve always dreamed about.
Invisalign® straightens your teeth without wires and brackets, using a series of clear, customized, removable appliances called aligners. It’s virtually undetectable, which means hardly anyone will know that you’re straightening your teeth.
The Invisalign System combines advanced 3-D computer graphics technology with 100-year-old science of orthodontics. Invisalign aligners are designed to move your teeth in small steps to the desired final position. Each aligner is precisely calibrated and manufactured to fit your mouth at each stage of the treatment plan. Your first step is to visit our office to determine if Invisalign is right for you. After sending precise treatment instructions, Invisalign uses advanced computer technology to translate these instructions in a sequence of finely calibrated aligners — as few as 10 or as many as 40. Each aligner is worn for about two weeks and only taken out to eat, brush and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next, your teeth will begin to move gradually — until the final alignment prescribed is attained. Then you’ll be smiling like you never have before!