The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that all children get an orthodontic check up no later than the age of 7. This is when most adult permanent molars as well as some front teeth begin to erupt, and also when issues with growth and development of the jaws becomes more apparent. Even though most people think of pre-teens and teens when they think of orthodontics, there are good reasons your child should get an orthodontic evaluation much sooner. Although most children do not need early orthodontics (Phase one of treatment), Dr. Hall can monitor the growth and development and detect potential issues before they have a chance to become more serious.

Orthodontists are dental specialists who have two to three years of additional training beyond dental school to be able to correctly diagnose and treat dental and skeletal irregularities. Dr. Hall is a dental specialist with the expertise and training to not only create beautiful smiles but to also ensure optimal bite correction. Only those with the formal additional specialty education may call themselves “orthodontists” due to the high level training involved to properly treat orthodontic patients.

Most orthodontic problems are usually inherited from a family member, such as crowding, spacing, extra or missing teeth, underbites, protrusion, periodontal disease and jaw growth issues. However, some malocclusions can be created by things such as finger or thumb sucking, accidents, early or late loss of baby teeth, chronic mouth breathing, premature birth or other causes.

Orthodontic treatment is becoming more popular in the adult patient, where one of every four orthodontic patients today is over the age of 18. Today’s latest technologies offer smaller, less visible and more comfortable orthodontic appliances, from ceramic braces and Invisalign (link) to inside of the mouth braces called Inbrace (link), adults are finding treatment more appealing.

Orthodontic treatment is important for several reasons. Misalignment of the teeth and jaws can cause abnormal wear of tooth surfaces, difficulty chewing and or speaking, and excessive stress on supporting bone and gum tissues. Without treatment, many of these issues will lead to more-extensive dental treatment later in life. Facial esthetics and the positions of the lips can also be improved with orthodontic treatment. Crooked and crowded teeth are aesthetically unpleasing but more importantly they are hard to clean and maintain. Orthodontics is more than just straightening teeth; it can provide the foundation for proper tooth, jaw and lip support.

The duration of orthodontic treatment ultimately depends on the severity of the dental issues, such as bite and crowding, as well as compliance and goals of treatment. Typically orthodontic treatment ranges from 1 to 3 years, which is determined through a free braces consultation with Dr. Hall.

The cost of orthodontic treatment depends on several factors, primarily severity of treatment and length of treatment. At your consultation, Dr. Hall and her team will discuss our flexible financial options and works with your insurance company to be able to offer payment plans that will meet your family budget.

With comprehensive orthodontic treatment, Dr. Hall generally will recommend wearing retainers full time for the first 3-4 months. Wearing your retainers as prescribed is the best way to keep your teeth from moving after your orthodontic treatment. There are many reasons teeth may move following orthodontic treatment. Teeth are not set in concrete, they are in bone. Bone around your teeth is constantly changing as we get older, breaking down and rebuilding, therefore your teeth may shift after your braces are removed indefinitely without wearing a retainer. Therefore, wearing your retainers is a a lifetime commitment to straight healthy teeth.