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Why Braces?
Creating beautiful smiles is our life's work. With their new smiles, patients have told us how much better they felt physically and emotionally. Self-esteem can be improved and many people find the self-confidence they need to face life's toughest challenges.
Your dentist may have discussed with you the benefits of having healthy teeth and proper jaw alignment. Crooked and crowded teeth are hard to clean and maintain. This can result in tooth decay and gum disease. Other orthodontic problems can contribute to abnormal wear of tooth surfaces, inefficient chewing function, excessive stress on gum tissue and the bone that supports the teeth, or misalignment of the jaw joints. Treatment by an orthodontist may actually save you money by preventing these problems. For most people, a beautiful smile is the most obvious benefit of orthodontics. Happily, after teeth become nicely aligned in a beautiful smile, the function and health of the teeth generally improve.
How Orthodontic Treatment Works
Orthodontic appliances can be 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 a corrected position. This is a great time to wear braces! Gone are the days when a metal band with a bracket was placed around each tooth. You can choose brackets that are clear or metallic color. You can choose the color of the ties that hold the wire in brackets. Wires are also less noticeable than they used to be and the latest materials move teeth faster with less discomfort to patients. We use the best equipment and technology to give our patients exceptional care. It makes your treatment faster, more effective and more comfortable.
Duration of Treatment
Treatment time typically ranges from one to three years, depending on the growth of the patient's mouth and face and the severity of the problem. Patients grow at different rates and will respond differently to orthodontic treatment, so the time to case completion may differ from person to person. The patient's diligent use of any prescribed rubber bands or headgear is an important factor in achieving the most efficient treatment. Interceptive, or early treatment procedures, may take as few as six months. The state-of-the-art braces that we use can reduce both the number of return visits and the length of treatment.
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