What is Orthodontics?

Orthodontics is the process of straightening and aligning teeth to improve your smile. A specialist in this field is called an orthodontist. Orthodontists receive two or more years of education beyond their four years in dental school in an ADA-approved.

Why orthodontics?

The goal of orthodontic treatment is a beautiful smile and a good bite—meaning straight teeth that mesh well with the teeth in the opposite jaw and look great. A good bite makes it easier for you to bite, chew and speak. Many people find a beautiful smile adds to self-esteem, self-confidence and leads toward career advancement.  We live in a competitive world and a great smile can give you the edge.

Orthodontic treatment is often part of a comprehensive dental health care plan. With good care, including orthodontic treatment when necessary, teeth can last a lifetime.

Treatment in children or teenagers who are still growing may yield results that may not be possible once the face and jaws have completed their growth.

A healthy bite and good looking smile is as important at age 60 as it is at age 16. Even though adults are no longer growing, they can also enjoy improvements that come from orthodontic treatment. Your age is not a consideration for orthodontic treatment. Healthy teeth can be moved at any age.

The Step-by-Step Process of Orthodontic Treatments:

1. Consultation Visit
Doctor will do an evaluation of the patient and determine the following:

• need of orthodontic treatment
• what type of treatment
• an approximate of how long the treatment is going to last

In this appointment we will also take pictures and a Panoramic and Ceph X-Rays. 30-45 minutes

2.Initial Bonding
Doctor will place the brackets on the patient and the spacers (the spacers will make room for the bands). In this appointment we will also take impressions to do Orthodontic models.If the spacers come out, patient will have to return to re-place them.This appointment can be schedule as soon as possible after the Consultation visit and patient has to have the Dentist Letter stating that the patient is caries free and had their cleaning within the last 6 months.1.5 hours

3.Banding
Doctor will take out the spacers and place the bands
By this appointment patient must have hade their extractions done if they were needed.
If extractions were not done, then we cannot place the wire. This appointment is done 1-2 weeks after the Initial Bonding visit.
1 hour

4.Adjustment visit
These appointments are done after the Banding visit and will be scheduled every 4-weeks.
This is normally the only type of appointment that will be scheduled from this point on until the Deband visit (this appointment is to remove the braces).
30 minutes

5.Deband Visit
This appointment is to remove the braces.
In this appointment we will remove the braces and provide the patient with retainers.
1 hour

6.Final Records Visit
In this appointment the patient will come to take final pictures, final X-rays and final models.
In this appointment we will also check if the retainers are fitting properly.
This appointment is done 2-4 weeks after the Deband visit.
30 minutes