Orthodontic treatment is how dentists fix a malocclusion. Malocclusion, means "bad bite" and it is often inherited, although certain bad habits like thumb sucking can actually cause problems. It is possible to predict most of the problems that can occur with a child's mouth by the age of 7. If treatment occurs early enough it can reduce the treatment time for later orthodontic procedures if any such measures are needed. By receiving treatment at an early age, it is possible to control the way a child's mouth grows, often eliminating the need for later treatment and potential health risks to oral health.
Signs that early orthodontic treatment may be needed for a child include; early loss of a baby tooth, breathing through the mouth, difficulty in chewing or biting, biting of the cheek, crowding or seemingly misplaced teeth, teeth that meet abnormally or not at all, jaws and teeth that seem out of proportion to the rest of the face and thumb sucking. There are a great number of benefits to early treatment. An dentist can guide the growth of the jaw, regulate the width of the upper and lower dental arches, guide permanent teeth that are coming in and correct abnormal swallowing or even speech problems. Dentists often use an orthodontic appliance to treat these problems at an early age.
Signs that orthodontic treatment is needed for adults include, grinding of the teeth, tooth loss, bone loss and the lower jaw not aligning properly with the top jaw. With adults treatment of these problems requires more effort than with adults and dentists may have to use a variety of techniques from different fields in order to get the mouth into proper harmony. Virtually every adult wants to avoid having braces, because of the demands of an active, adult social life. With Invisalign that is possible. This is a revolutionary treatment that uses invisible aligner trays to straighten teeth. No one ever needs to know you are actually wearing braces!
It is important to remember that early orthodontic treatment can eliminate many growing problems and generally proves to be less expensive than later treatment. If you are interested in orthodontics and would like to discuss your options and alternatives with a dentist who offers orthodontics, consider visiting the Atlanta Dental Group PC. Our dentists are dedicated to their patients' good health and well being. You are welcome to join our family of patients. If you would like to schedule a free orthodontic consultation with Atlanta Cosmetic Dentist, Dr. Mark Allan Padolsky, make an appointment at 404-874-7428.