Orthodontic Treatment & Braces

Orthodontic Treatment

Orthodontics is the specialty of dentistry focused on the diagnosis and treatment of dental and associated facial irregularities. The results of orthodontic treatment can be dramatic — beautiful smiles, improved dental health and an enhanced quality of life for many people of all ages.

The importance of an attractive smile should not be underestimated.

Orthodontic problems, which can result from genetic and environmental factors, must be diagnosed before treatment begins. Proper diagnosis involves taking photographs, x-rays, and dental impressions, which enable our practice to make accurate decisions about the form of treatment necessary.

Treatment typically lasts from 6 to 30 months. Outstanding results are also dependent on maximizing the coordination of care between our patients and our practice. Together we can work to create an excellent smile.

Treatment Timing

Dr. Slattery provides orthodontic treatment for adults, adolescents and children. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that an orthodontic evaluation take place at or around age 7 for most children.
When to start treatment is an important question in determining how long someone is in braces. Some severe problems need early treatment with a short first phase of 6-9 months followed by a second phase when all the permanent teeth have erupted at approximately age 12.
Many patients can be treated in just one phase when most of the permanent teeth have erupted. By meeting with your orthodontist early to determine the right time to start the braces, treatment time can be greatly reduced.
We do not want anyone to wear braces any longer than is necessary to obtain an ideal smile.

TREATMENTS

Orthodontic Disorders

Class I Crossbite

Crossbite can occur in the front and/or the sides of the mouth. One or more upper teeth bite on the inside of the lower teeth. This can occur with a single tooth or multiple teeth. Early correction of crossbite is recommended.
Crossbite should be corrected because it can:

Cause premature wear of the teeth.

Cause gum disease including bone loss.

Cause asymmetrical development of the jaws.

Cause dysfunctional chewing patterns.

Make your smile less attractive.

This is what an anterior crossbite can look like:

Before	After

How can a crossbite be orthodontically corrected?
If there is a single tooth crossbite, the tooth can be moved with braces or other appliance, into the correct position. In some cases, a retainer can be utilized. With multiple teeth in crossbite, the arch needs to be expanded with braces or other orthodontic appliances.

Open bite

Open bite is an insufficient vertical overlap of the teeth. It is caused by oral habits such as tongue thrust, finger sucking, or when the jaws do not grow evenly. Timing of treatment is critical to the overall success of the therapy.

Open bite: How can an openbite be orthodontically corrected?
Open bite can be corrected through growth modification of the jaws using braces; extrusion of the front and anterior teeth; and in some cases surgical correction of the jaws. Also, discontinuing oral habits such as finger sucking, will facilitate the correction of an open bite.

This is what an open bite can look like:

Before	After

Overbite

Class II Overbite

Overbite occurs when the upper front teeth protrude over the lower front teeth. Generally there is no contact between the upper and lower front teeth. Often you cannot see the lower incisors. Overbite is due to a disproportionate amount of eruption of front teeth, or over development of the bone that supports the teeth, and a front to back discrepancy in the growth of the upper or lower jaw (Class II Relationship). Overbite is also known as a deep bite. Overbite should be corrected because it can:

Cause improper functioning of your front teeth.

Result in the lower front teeth biting into the gum tissue of the upper palate leading to tissue problems.

Unusual wear of the lower front teeth.

Cause jaw or joint problems.

Make your smile less attractive.

This is what an overbite can look like:

Before	After

How can an overbite be orthodontically corrected?
Overbite can be corrected through moving the front teeth up and/or bringing the back teeth together, which will “open” the bite so the teeth are properly aligned and the deep bite is eliminated.

Overjet

Class II Overjet

Overjet is also known as protrusion. It is where the lower teeth are too far behind the upper front teeth. This can be caused by an improper alignment of the molars (Class II Relationship); a skeletal imbalance of the upper and lower jaw; flared upper incisors; missing lower teeth; or a combination of all the above. In addition, oral habits such as thumb or finger sucking or tongue thrusting can exacerbate the condition.

This is what an overjet can look like:

Before	After

Overjet should be corrected because it can:

Prevent proper functioning of the front teeth.

Lead to premature wear.

Make your smile less attractive.

How can overjet be orthodontically corrected?
Overjet can be corrected through growth modification using a functional appliance and/or elastics to reduce the skeletal imbalance or extraction of teeth.

Underbite

Class III Underbite
The lower teeth protrude past the front teeth. An underbite is usually caused by undergrowth of the upper jaw, overgrowth of the lower jaw, or a combination of the two (Class III Relationship). Underbite can also be caused by flared upper incisors, missing lower teeth or a combination of all the above. Early correction of underbite is recommended.

This is what an underbite can look like:

Before	After

Underbite should be corrected because it can:

Prevent proper functioning of the front teeth or molars which can lead to premature wear of the teeth.

Cause chewing or eating problems.

Cause jaw or joint problems.

Make your smile less attractive.

How can an underbite be orthodontically corrected?
Underbite can be corrected through growth modification of the jaws; extraction of teeth; and in some cases surgical correction of the jaws.

BRACES

How do braces straighten crooked teeth?
Braces use constant, gentle pressure, which over time, move teeth into their proper positions. Your braces are at work every moment of your orthodontic treatment. The two main components of your braces are: the brackets that are placed on your teeth and the main archwire that connects them. The bracket is a piece of shaped metal or ceramic that we affix to each tooth. The archwire is bent to reflect your “ideal” bite. In other words, it reflects the way we want you to look after treatment.
The wire threads through the brackets and, as the wire tries to return to its original shape, it applies pressure to move your teeth. Picture your tooth resting in your jaw bone. With pressure on one side from the archwire, the bone on the other side gives way. The tooth moves. New bone grows in behind.

Attached to your braces, elastics (rubber bands) exert the proper force that creates the right amount of pressure to move teeth. In order for this force to remain constant, elastics must be worn all the time and changed every day.

Three types of Braces

Metal
Ceramic
Invisalign

Retainers

Once the active period is completed, your braces are removed. The next step is called retention. Retainers are utilized to hold your teeth in their new positions until your bone, gums, and muscles adapt to the new teeth positions. You must wear your retainer as instructed, otherwise your teeth may move toward their original positions and the benefit of wearing your braces will be lost.

Dr. Slattery will determine how long you need to wear your retainer. Time varies with each patient. Some people may need retainers for an extended period of time in order to eliminate shifting of the teeth. In some cases, permanent retention may be necessary.
The retention period is an important part of your overall treatment and should not be neglected!

Remember, wear them...in your mouth, not in your pocket. Retainers work when you follow our instructions.

Clean your retainers! After meals, clean all parts of the retainer with a brush.

Handle your retainers with care. Retainers are easier to lose. If you take your retainers out, always place them in your retainer case for safety.
Removable appliances

Removable appliances

Removable appliances, unlike conventional braces, are used to retain teeth in their corrected positions and in some cases, to influence growth of the jaws in order to effect changes in facial structure. In addition, they are often used before and in conjunction with fixed appliances.

Removable appliances are not utilized to treat all orthodontic problems. It takes skill, and experience to recognize conditions that will respond favorably to removable appliances. Timing of such therapy also is very important.

Although removable appliances can easily be taken out by the patient, there may be a tendency not to wear them as we have prescribed. This means your teeth, jaws and muscles may move back toward their original positions.

Removable appliances require care. Although you may notice an effect on eating and speaking along with an increase in the flow of saliva, you will eventually adjust to the appliance.

Dr. Slattery is a Certified Invisalign Provider

Consider Invisalign to get the beautiful straight teeth you’ve always wanted – without braces. A complimentary consultation with Dr. Slattery can determine if Invisalign is right for you at his office.

What is it?

Invisalign uses a series of invisible, removable, and comfortable aligners that no one can tell you’re wearing. So you can smile more during treatment as well as after. Invisalign is made with 3-D computer imaging technology, and has been proven effective.

Why would I want it?

Not only are the aligners invisible, they are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment, plus brushing and flossing are no problem. They are also comfortable, with no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment. And no metal and wires usually means you spend less time in your doctor’s office getting adjustments. Invisalign also allows you to view your own virtual treatment plan when you start, so you can see how your straight teeth will look when your treatment is complete.

How does it work?

You wear each set of aligners for about 2 weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move – little by little, week by week – until they have straightened to the final position Dr. Slattery has prescribed. You’ll visit Dr.Slattery about once every 6 weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned. Total treatment time averages 9-15 months and the average number of aligners worn during treatment is between 18 and 30, but both will vary from case to case.

Learn more about Invisalign on their web site at www.invisalign.com