About Orthodontic Treatment

Why are Braces Important?

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, worsen gum disease and lead to tooth loss. 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. However, for most people a beautiful smile is the most obvious benefit of orthodontics. After your braces come off, you will love to flash those pearly whites!

Who Can Benefit From Braces?

Kids

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that all children be seen for an orthodontic evaluation by the age of seven. This allows Dr. Maulik to determine the best time for each individual patient to be treated. The first permanent molars and incisors have usually come in by that time, and crossbites, crowding and other problems can be evaluated. If it is necessary to provide early treatment, then Dr. Maulik can guide the growth of the jaws and guide incoming permanent teeth. Early treatment can also regulate the width of the dental arches, gain space for permanent teeth, avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions, reduce likelihood of impacted permanent teeth, correct thumb-sucking, and eliminate abnormal swallowing or speech problems.

Adults

Orthodontic treatment can be successful at any age contrary to many misconceptions, and adults especially appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile. Because their jaws are no longer growing, treating adults is not quite the same as treating children. Improvements can often be made to the bite, but major jaw discrepancies may require jaw surgery to achieve an ideal bite.  Alignment can be done at any age, which can often make a vast improvement to the smile.  

How Do Teeth Move?

This is a great time to wear braces! By placing a constant, gentle force in a carefully controlled direction, braces and wires slowly move teeth to a corrected position. Gone are the days when a metal band with a bracket was placed around each tooth. Orthodontic appliances can be made of metal, ceramic or plastic. They can be removable (as with Invisalign®), or they can be brackets bonded to the teeth. You can choose brackets that are clear or metallic, and choose the color of the ties that the hold the wire in the brackets. Further, recent innovations in material science have resulted in wires that move teeth faster and with less discomfort to patients.

How Long Does Orthodontic Treatment Take?

Treatment time typically ranges from 6 months to two and a half years, depending upon the severity of the initial orthodontic problem, the age of the patient, and the amount of remaining growth of the face and mouth.  Dr. Maulik can evaluate you and provide an estimate on the time required.