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What are the Benefits of Orthodontics?
What is an Orthodontic Evaluation? Orthodontic treatment begins with an evaluation appointment. Drs. Stoker or Dr. Adams will first visually determine if your child is a good candidate for orthodontic treatment, or if another treatment would be more appropriate. If your child is a good candidate for orthodontic treatment, Drs. Stoker or Dr. Adams will take impressions of your child's teeth, special x-rays of their jaw joint, head and teeth, and very important measurements of their teeth and mouth.
When should My Child be Evaluated? If your child
develops an "open bite",
sucks their thumb, has a noticable
tongue thrust, or you are otherwise
concerned about the development of your child's teeth, no matter
what the age, contact us right away for a consult with Drs. Stoker or Dr.
Adams .
Otherwise, children should be evaluated by the age of 6 for orthodontic
treatment. In the past, a child was 11 or 12 before brackets were
actually placed on the teeth to straighten them. This may still
hold true in most cases, but there are new techniques that can correct
problems early, while a child is still growing. This may eliminate
the need for braces in the future, or if the child does still need
braces, the treatment will be less complicated, usually shortening
the period of time in braces. What is an Arch Expander? What Are Training Appliances? There are several different types of training appliances. The most common appliance helps train children to stop sucking their thumbs, preventing an open bite. What are Braces? Braces are retainers, bonded brackets, arch wires and elastic bands that move crowded or spaced teeth into a "normal" position for appearance, prevention and function. Patients with poorly aligned teeth tend to have much more tooth decay, gum disease and jaw joint problems. Recently invented brackets and new techniques make orthodontic treatment faster and more comfortable than ever.
How do Braces work? Over a period of time, teeth will shift if constant, gentle pressure is applied. Brackets are bonded to the front surface of each tooth and wires are attached to the brackets with elastic bands. The slight tension on the wire is gently transferred to the bracket through the elastic band.
What are Retainers? Once the teeth have been moved into proper position, a retainer is sometimes used to keep the teeth in place until they have "settled". Retainers can be fixed (bonded to the teeth) or removable.
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Us | Meet the Staff | Orthodontics
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© Copyright 2003- Dental WebSmith, Inc. and Michael Stoker, DDS. All rights reserved. Disclaimer: The information provided within is intended to help you better understand dental conditions and procedures. It is not meant to serve as delivery of medical or dental care. If you have specific questions or concerns, contact your health care provider. |
Next
is a consulting appointment to discuss the treatment plan.
The treatment plan is based on the records taken at the evaluation.
The consult includes:
An
Arch Expander is one example of orthodontic treatment available
for younger patients. Many times an arch expander can be used
to create a proper alignment of the arches so permanent teeth
have room to erupt in a natural position. The use of an arch
expander will generally minimize or eliminate the need for braces
when the patient gets older.
