OrthodonticsGainesville, VA
While most people do not have perfectly aligned teeth naturally, orthodontics can help you achieve a straighter, more beautiful smile. This dental specialty involves the diagnosis, prevention, interception, guidance, and correction of improper bites or dental abnormalities. It also includes the use of orthodontic appliances such as braces and clear aligners to straighten teeth.
If you want to improve the look and feel of your smile, orthodontics can help. Our team at Gainesville Orthodontics can provide you with quality orthodontic services. Call us today at 571-367-3390 to learn more about our services or schedule an appointment.
Understanding Orthodontics
Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that prevents, diagnoses, and treats dental, jaw, and bite irregularities. People who want to improve their smile or are concerned about crooked or misaligned teeth can benefit from orthodontics. A healthy bite and straight teeth appear more attractive and enable easier biting, chewing, and speaking.
Orthodontics can treat various malocclusions. This abnormal alignment of the upper and lower teeth can result from jaw growth problems, congenitally missing teeth, thumb-sucking, trauma, and more. Some dental issues that can benefit from orthodontics include:
- Crossbites
- Crowding
- Misplaced midlines
- Open bites
- Overbites
- Spacing issues
- Underbites
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Types of Orthodontic Treatment
Our team provides various orthodontic appliances to gently move teeth, retrain muscles, and guide proper jaw growth. Orthodontic treatments may involve fixed or removable appliances. We will provide appropriate treatment recommendations based on the patient’s preferences and malocclusion severity.
The most common type of fixed appliance is braces, consisting of brackets, archwires, and rubber bands. Patients can choose from various types of braces depending on their needs, such as traditional metal braces, ceramic or clear braces, or self-ligating braces. Removable orthodontic treatment options include clear aligners, space maintainers, palatal expanders, and headgear. We will use diagnostic tools to examine teeth and determine the right treatment plan to produce optimal results.
Benefits of Orthodontics
Orthodontics has benefits beyond a straighter, more beautiful smile. Straight teeth not only look better but are also easier to clean. This means that patients are at less risk of developing tooth decay or gum disease. Orthodontics can fix teeth alignment and improve the way they fit together.
People with teeth that do not fit together properly may suffer from difficulty chewing and speaking, headaches, and even temporomandibular joint disorders. Malocclusions can also cause tooth enamel to wear away and put damaging pressure on the gums and surrounding bone. Fortunately, orthodontics can improve the form and function of teeth so patients can smile comfortably and confidently.
How Orthodontic Treatment Works
Orthodontic treatment moves teeth by applying gentle, controlled pressure on them for an extended period. As treatment progresses, the patient’s jaw will gradually adjust to the forces as the bone tissue breaks down and rebuilds. This movement is possible due to the membrane under the gums that connect the teeth to the jaw. Orthodontic appliances work by compressing one side of the teeth’s ligaments while stretching the ligaments on the other side.
As the ligaments compress, the attached bone will lose blood support, and its cells will die. Osteoclasts or bone-eating cells will remove the bone, allowing space for the teeth to move in the desired direction. On the other side of the tooth where the ligament is stretching, osteoblasts or bone-creating cells will add new bone around the tooth to secure teeth in their new positions. Once patients complete active orthodontic treatment, they can schedule follow-up appointments. We will check their teeth to make sure they do not move out of alignment.
Who Performs Orthodontics
While some dentists may provide braces or other orthodontic appliances, orthodontists have the specialized education and training to perform orthodontics. Orthodontists are dental professionals that focus on the health and development of the teeth, jaws and bite. Becoming an orthodontist involves a rigorous educational process.
After completing their undergraduate education, people must pass the Dental Admission Test and complete four years of schooling at an accredited dental school. After, aspiring orthodontists must undergo two to three years in an accredited orthodontics residency program. Our orthodontics team has the knowledge and experience necessary to provide quality treatments to help patients achieve the smiles they have always wanted.
Call Us Today
Orthodontics can help you smile with confidence. Our team at Gainesville Orthodontics can determine the right treatment plan for your needs and preferences. Call us today at 571-367-3390 to learn more about our services or schedule an appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do braces hurt?
The process of receiving braces does not hurt. However, patients will begin to feel some discomfort or soreness in the teeth and gums within a few hours. This feeling is normal and temporary and will occur after adjustment appointments.
How long does orthodontic treatment take?
The length of orthodontic treatment will vary for each patient. It will depend on their orthodontic needs, the appliance chosen, treatment compliance, and more. Our team will provide patients with a more precise estimate during their consultation.
Do I still need orthodontics even if my teeth appear straight?
It depends. Even people with teeth that appear straight may have issues with their bite. Our team will conduct a thorough examination to determine whether orthodontics is the right solution.
What is a clear aligner?
Clear aligners are orthodontic devices made of flexible, clear plastic. They move teeth the same way as braces but without visible wires and brackets. During treatment, patients will wear a series of aligners that shift teeth in incremental movements.
What happens after I complete active orthodontic treatment?
After a patient completes active orthodontic treatment, they will no longer need to wear their braces or aligners. Instead, most patients will need an orthodontic retainer. This appliance prevents newly straightened teeth from relapsing and moving back to their original position.
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