Orthodontics
What a difference straight teeth can make! A great-looking smile can boost your self-confidence and have a positive impact on social and professional opportunities. At Marconi Dental, located in Carmichael, California, our dental team heads the region’s best orthodontic clinic. If you are ready to learn how our orthodontists can improve your smile, call our office today or reach out to our friendly staff using this website.
Orthodontic treatment is the original smile makeover tool, and you will be happy to know that you’re never too old to take advantage of it. But it isn’t only about looks — properly aligned teeth help you to bite, chew, and even speak more effectively. They are also easier to clean, which helps keep your mouth free of tooth decay and gum disease.
The amazing thing about orthodontics is that it harnesses the body’s natural ability to remodel its own tissue. With the application of gentle and constant force, orthodontic appliances gradually reshape bone and move teeth into optimal positions. At Marconi Dental, our orthodontists in Carmichael utilize these innovative appliances:
- Traditional metal braces,
- Clear or tooth-colored braces
- Invisalign clear aligners
After a consultation at our orthodontic clinic, our team can help you decide which option is best for you.
Bite Problems and How to Fix Them
Orthodontic treatment can resolve many bite problems, which often become evident by around age 7. These include:
- Underbite
- Crossbite
- Excessive overbite — upper and lower teeth don’t close in the proper position
- Open bite — a space remains between the top and bottom teeth when the jaws are closed
- Crowding
- Excessive spacing — teeth are spaced too close together or too far apart.
To correct bite problems, teeth need to be moved — but doing that isn’t as difficult as you might think! Teeth aren’t fixed rigidly in their supporting bone. Instead, they’re held in place by a hammock-like structure called the periodontal ligament, which is very responsive to forces placed on the teeth.
Orthodontic appliances move teeth by careful application of gentle and constant pressure. That force can be applied via metal wires that run through small brackets attached to the teeth (braces), or via the semi-rigid plastic of clear aligners (Invisalign).
Orthodontics is for Children — and Adults
Orthodontic treatment during childhood is ideal because it takes advantage of a youngster’s natural growth processes to help move the teeth into proper alignment. Like the rest of the body, the teeth and jaws are changing rapidly during childhood.
Therefore, orthodontics during childhood can create more room for adult teeth in a crowded mouth by using a “palatal expander” to rapidly widen the upper jaw. This phase of growth modification can shorten overall treatment time and ensure the best result if additional orthodontic appliances are needed.
Fortunately, healthy teeth can be moved at any age, even as an adult. In fact, about one in five of today’s orthodontic patients is an adult. Several new technological developments — including tooth-colored ceramic braces, clear aligners, and invisible lingual braces — have made orthodontic appliances less apparent and enhanced the treatment experience for grown-ups. Before treatment, adults are carefully examined for signs of periodontal (gum) disease, which will need to be treated before our orthodontists in Carmichael can begin.
Types of Orthodontic Appliances
When you imagine someone wearing braces, you probably picture small metal brackets bonded to the front of the teeth with a thin wire running through them. This time-tested style remains very popular — but it’s no longer the only option.
Clear braces use brackets made of ceramic or plastic which, except for the slim archwire, are hardly visible. Lingual braces are just like traditional metal braces — except they’re bonded to the back of your teeth (the tongue side), so no one can see them.
Removable clear aligners are an alternative to fixed orthodontic appliances. They consist of a series of clear plastic “trays” that fit perfectly over your teeth. Each set of trays moves your teeth slightly until they are in the proper position.
Whether your orthodontic appliance is fixed or removable, each type has advantages or disadvantages in particular situations. After a complete examination with our orthodontist, the best treatment options for you will be discussed.
Retention & Post Orthodontic Care
Once your orthodontic treatment is complete, it’s essential to wear your retainer as directed. That’s because teeth naturally tend to drift back to their original locations — the last thing you want after you’ve gone to the trouble of straightening them!
Wearing a retainer holds your teeth in their new position long enough for new bone and ligament to re-form around them and helps keep your gorgeous new smile looking good for a lifetime.
The Latest Advancement in Orthodontics: Invisalign
When it comes to adjusting crooked teeth into a perfect smile, traditional orthodontic methods are still the best way to do it. That is especially true for significant malocclusions and bad bites. However, modern technology and techniques have opened alternatives that might be more convenient for your circumstances.
Instead of trying to fix everything at the same time, recently-developed orthodontic options allow our orthodontists at Marconi Dental Group to adapt our methods and prioritize certain dental issues, addressing them one after the other or simultaneously.
Our orthodontic clinic will determine which treatment could make all of the patient’s dental issues easiest to resolve. Ultimately, we look for the treatment that leads to a better smile in the shortest time.
One of the most effective and preferred treatments is Invisalign. First introduced in 1999, Invisalign is now used in over fifty countries, including China. More than a million people have enjoyed its benefits, creating a solid track record for this amazing choice in modern dentistry. To learn more about Invisalign, click here.
Ready to meet with an orthodontist in Carmichael, California? Call the office to schedule a consultation at our orthodontic clinic today. Or, use this website to reach a member of our friendly staff.
