FAQ

What is Orthodontics?

Orthodontics is a special field of dentistry that concentrates on the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental and facial irregularities. The technical terms for these problems are “malocclusion”, which means “bad bite”. The practice of orthodontics requires professional skill in the design, application and control of corrective appliances, such as braces, to bring the lips and jaws into proper alignment, to achieve facial balance and create a beautiful smile. Properly aligned teeth are easier to keep clean thus reducing the possibility of dental decay and diseases of the supporting gums and bone. A proper bite distributes the chewing forces more evenly on the teeth and the supporting structure for better chewing efficiency.

What is an Orthodontist?

Orthodontics is a specialized field within dentistry. While all orthodontists are dentists, only a small percentage of dentists specialize in orthodontics. An orthodontist is specifically trained to diagnose, prevent, and treat dental and facial irregularities. To become an orthodontist, one must first complete a four-year dental graduate program and then undergo an additional 2-3 year accredited residency program in orthodontics. This rigorous training equips orthodontists with the skills to provide comprehensive care to their patients.

Only dentists who have successfully completed this advanced specialty education can call themselves orthodontists

What causes Orthodontic problems?

Many orthodontic issues are inherited, involving irregularities of the jaws, teeth, and face. These can include crowding or spacing of teeth, extra or missing teeth, and jaw discrepancies. Other problems are acquired due to habits like thumb-sucking, airway obstruction, allergies, asthma, premature tooth loss, and dental disease. Both inherited and acquired factors can impact tooth alignment and facial development during childhood and adolescence.

What is the Best Age for Treatment?

While each orthodontic issue has its own ideal starting time for treatment, we recommend that all children have an orthodontic evaluation by age 7, or earlier if a problem is noticed by a parent or dentist.

Many orthodontic problems are inherited and cannot be prevented. However, early diagnosis at a young age allows us to address developmental issues related to facial growth or tooth eruption, often improving or correcting them altogether.

Orthodontic treatment is suitable at any age, provided there is healthy bone, teeth, and gum tissue. If you or your child exhibits any of the following signs, please consider scheduling an evaluation with an orthodontic specialist:

• Thumb or finger sucking
• Overlapping or crowding of erupting/erupted permanent teeth, broken or missing teeth
• Difficulty chewing food
• Mouth breathing due to allergies, enlarged tonsils and/or adenoids
• Jaw joints that click, pop or experience discomfort
• Developing underbite, overbite, crossbite or abnormal bite development
• Teeth wearing unevenly or excessively
• Spaces between the teeth
• Lower jaw shifts from one side to the other when biting together

Why is Orthodontic treatment important?

• Contributes to self-esteem, self-confidence and a positive self-image
• Facilitates social and career success and improved general attitude toward life.
• Rejuvenates facial balance of the jaw, neck and lips.
• Helps prevent tooth decay and gum disease, as straight teeth are easier to clean and maintain.
• Crooked teeth can cause abnormal wear of tooth surfaces, inefficient chewing and stress on gum tissue and the bone that supports the teeth. A comfortable bite, where the force of the bite is evenly distributed throughout all of the teeth, results in less discomfort of the facial muscles and less trauma to your teeth.
• Coordinating the width of the upper and lower jaws can assist in allowing for more harmonious and symmetric growth and prevent the need for jaw surgery to correct facial asymmetry’s and the development of bad bites.
• Early growth guidance of the jaws can harmonize the growth of the jaws to prevent the need for jaw surgery and provide an improved facial appearance.
• Early guidance of the eruption of adult teeth and prevent them from being stuck in the jaw.
• Expanding the jaws in children can increase the airway space and result in improved sleep and improved quality of life.
• Patients with severe sleep apnea have a cure by combining orthodontics with jaw surgery to advance the upper and lower jaws and increase the airway space.
• Early preventive orthodontic treatment may be less costly than the dental care required to treat more serious problems that can develop in later years.
• Habitual thumb sucking, finger habits and tongue thrusting can be corrected.
• A better bite improves the ability to chew, speak and breathe properly
• Straight teeth and good bites result in lower dental care costs, in total, over a lifetime.

How long is the initial exam?

This initial appointment takes approximately one hour. Our objective is to communicate proposed orthodontic treatment, if required, in a friendly, caring, and enjoyable atmosphere. The treatment coordinator will review the orthodontic treatment plan, as determined by the orthodontist, during the clinical exam. She will also discuss financial arrangements and answer questions regarding insurance, appointments, and treatment concerns, if indicated at that time.

Since we like to evaluate children by age 8, many children are not ready to begin treatment until more permanent teeth erupt. After their new patient exam, it is recommended to monitor the eruptive pattern of the permanent teeth. This may be eliminated with early removal of baby teeth and reduce the treatment time required for braces. We will notify your general dentist of any recommendations made during your visit. There is no fee for this program. It enables the orthodontist to determine the optimum time to begin treatment and achieve the best possible result for your child.

How long is orthodontic treatment?

Treatment time typically ranges from one to two years, depending on age, the growth of the patient’s mouth and face and the severity of the problem. Patients will respond differently to orthodontic treatment, so the time to case completion may change from the original estimate. The patient’s diligent use of any prescribed rubber bands, proper oral hygiene, following the recommended diet to avoid emergencies and keeping scheduled appointments are important factors in achieving your beautiful smile in a timely manner. Interceptive, or early treatment procedures, may take as few as six months, depending upon the problem.

What is Phase I and Phase II treatment?

Phase I (early interceptive) treatment, is limited orthodontic treatment (ex: expander or partial braces) before all the permanent teeth erupt. Such treatment can occur before the permanent teeth erupt. This treatment may be recommended to make more space for developing teeth, to correct crossbites, overbites, underbites, or harmful oral habits.

Phase II treatment is also called comprehensive treatment, because it involves full braces when all the permanent teeth erupt, usually between the ages of eleven and thirteen. The female patient’s permanent teeth normally erupt one year earlier than the male patient’s permanent teeth. Consequently, the gender timeline varies. Hereditary factors also play a part in early or later eruption of permanent teeth and may affect when Phase II treatment begins.

How does orthodontic treatment work?

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 or aligners 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 into the brackets. Wires are also less noticeable than they used to be and the latest titanium heat reactive wires move teeth faster, with less discomfort to patients and with fewer appointments. Patients are normally seen for adjustments every 8 weeks. This helps us accommodate busy school and work schedules.

• Standard metal brackets. Colored elastics are available
• Ceramic brackets
• Invisible Aligners for both teens and adults. The “braceless” alternative to straighten teeth

Do braces hurt?

The placement of bands and brackets or aligners on your teeth does not hurt. Once your braces are placed and connected with the archwires or your aligners are inserted, your teeth begin to move. You may feel some soreness of your teeth for one to four days. Tylenol or Advil works well to alleviate discomfort during this time. Your lips and cheeks may need one to two weeks to get used to the braces on your teeth. Your orthodontic hygienist will provide you with all the information necessary to make this transition as easy as possible after the appliances are placed.

How do we take braces off?

We use a special plier to squeeze the curve on the back of the bracket to break the bond to the plastic adhesive. The plastic bonding material is simply fractured gently off the back of each bracket. The brackets remain attached to the wire and everything is removed, at once, in less than a few minutes with little discomfort. If any bonding material remains on the tooth, it is smoothed off with a polishing disk. When the braces are removed, your teeth feel very smooth and strange. It has been a long time since you felt the real thing!

Will braces interfere with playing sports?

No. However, we recommended that patients protect their smiles by wearing a mouth guard when participating in any sporting activity. 

Will braces interfere with playing a musical instrument?

No. However, there may be an initial period of adjustment. Brace covers or wax is provided to prevent discomfort while the lips and cheeks callous. Your orthodontic hygienist will instruct you on what to apply when the braces are placed. Please let us know if you play a musical instrument.

How long do I wear my retainers?

Upon completion of orthodontic treatment, we recommend that all patients wear retainers full time, as instructed by Dr. Noble. This is your insurance policy that the teeth will remain in position for a prolonged period of time. Teeth move throughout life. It is a normal consequence of the aging process. If retainers are worn indefinitely, change will be minimal over a lifetime.

Should I see my general dentist while I wear braces?

Yes. You should continue to see your general dentist, at least every six months, for cleanings and dental checkups.