Smith Dental FAQs

• A more attractive smile
• Better function of the teeth
• Increase in self-confidence
• Reduced appearance-consciousness during critical development years
• Increased ability to clean the teeth
• Improved force distribution and wear patterns of the teeth
• Better long-term health of teeth and gums
• More favorable positions for your permanent teeth
• Reduced risk of injury to protruding front teeth
• Aid in optimizing other dental treatment

• Upper-front teeth protrude excessively over the lower teeth or are bucked
• Upper-front teeth cover the majority of the lower teeth when biting together (deep bite)
• Upper-front teeth are behind or inside the lower front teeth (underbite)
• The upper and lower front teeth do not touch when biting together (open bite)
• Crowded or overlapped teeth
• The center of the upper and lower teeth do not line up
• Finger or thumb-sucking habits which continue after six or seven years old
• Difficulty chewing
• Teeth wearing unevenly or excessively
• The lower jaw shifts to one side or the other when biting together
• Spaces between the teeth

No, it is not. Many of our patients are referred by their family dentist, yet many other patients take the initiative to schedule an orthodontic examination themselves.

Yes, you should continue to see your general dentist every six months for cleanings and dental checkups even while you have braces.

Orthodontic treatment can be started at almost any age. Many orthodontic problems are easier to correct if detected at an early age before jaw growth has slowed. Early treatment may mean that a patient can avoid surgery and more serious complications. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child first visit an orthodontist by age seven or earlier if a problem is detected by parents, the family dentist or the child’s physician.

Braces use steady gentle pressure to gradually move teeth into their proper positions. The brackets that are placed on your teeth and the archwire that connects them are the main components. When the archwire is placed into the brackets, it tries to return to its original shape. As it does so, it applies pressure to move your teeth to their new, more ideal positions.

Treatment times vary on a case-by-case basis, but the average time is from one to two years. Actual treatment time can be affected by the rate of growth, and severity of the correction necessary. Treatment length is also dependent on patient compliance. Maintaining good oral hygiene and keeping regular appointments are important in keeping treatment time on schedule.

Phase I, or early interceptive treatment, is a limited orthodontic treatment (i.e. expander or partial braces) before all of the permanent teeth have erupted. Such treatment can occur between the ages of six and ten. This treatment is sometimes recommended to make more space for developing teeth, correction of crossbites, overbites, underbites, or harmful oral habits and sometimes to reduce spacing. Phase II treatment is also called comprehensive treatment, because it involves full braces when all of the permanent teeth have erupted, usually between the ages of eleven and thirteen.

It is best to assume that your child will need full braces even after Phase One treatment. The period following Phase One treatment is called the “growth and developmental phase” during which growth and tooth eruption are closely monitored. Throughout this period, parents and patients will be kept informed of future treatment recommendations.

Teeth, and sometimes entire facial structures, are permanently changed by orthodontic treatment. It is important that the treatment be appropriate and properly completed. Dr. Szymanowski has extensive and specialized training that enables him to provide professional, personalized treatments.

While orthodontic treatment can begin at any age, there is definitely a recommended time to begin your treatment. Starting at an early age ensures the best possible result with the least amount of cost and expense. The AAO (American Association of Orthodontists) has recommended that children receive their first orthodontic evaluation at the first sign of a problem, usually between ages 7 and 8. At such an early stage of development, treatment may not even be necessary, but being vigilant from an early age can ensure a beautiful, healthy smile for your child’s future.

By evaluating potential problems early in a child’s development, you create a greater opportunity for effective treatment. Vigilance and early intervention will help guide healthy dental growth and development. Early orthodontic care can help to prevent serious problems down the road. Even if early orthodontic treatment isn’t necessary in your child’s case, Dr. Damon can still monitor your child’s development and call for treatment whenever it may be necessary.

As early as age 7, a child’s first adult molars have begun to come through, establishing the position of the backbite. It’s at this time that an orthodontist can begin to assess the relationships between the child’s teeth. Early, vigilant screening decreases the chance of future problems developing.

There are numerous advantages to starting orthodontic treatment early in a child’s development. Some of these advantages include making room for crowded teeth that are just beginning to erupt, influencing jaw growth to ensure facial symmetry, leaving space for teeth that have yet to erupt and reducing the risk of facial trauma due to protruding front teeth. Early treatment with braces can also be more efficient and less time-consuming than adult treatment.

There is more to orthodontics than just improving the smile. Orthodontic treatment also improves bad bites, which can lead to larger medical problems later in life. A bad bite is known as a malocclusion, which can occur as a result of misalignment in the teeth or jaw. These malocclusions can have a negative effect on not only your smile, but the way you chew, your ability to clean your teeth, and your overall self-esteem.

The AAO states that untreated orthodontic issues like malocclusions can result in a litany of other health problems. With crowded teeth, teeth cleaning and maintenance efficiency can drop, and you may not be able to floss effectively. This can contribute to issues like tooth decay and gum disease. With protruding teeth, you’re more prone to accidental chipping. From speech impediments to tooth wear, malocclusions need to be handled quickly, the earlier the better.