Orthodontics impacts your health, appearance, and more
Dentist Fanwood
Crooked, unevenly spaced, or misaligned teeth are harder to keep clean. This makes them more prone to tooth decay and periodontal disease.
Straight, properly aligned teeth are easier to keep clean and provide a more attractive appearance. A straight, healthy smile helps boost self-esteem, self-confidence, and your self-image.
If you suffer from crooked, uneven, or misaligned teeth, orthodontic treatment can help.
The length of your orthodontic treatment will depend on your individual plan. During your consultation with Dr. Tanvi Patel and Dr. Priyaben Patel, we will discuss your options. Once you select your treatment, we will estimate its length.
Some factors can affect the duration of your treatment. Some of these include:
- Early Orthodontic Intervention: If you had early intervention, some steps have already been completed. This may shorten the time you need for this treatment.
- Type of Treatment: Depending on your needs, you may have braces, elastics, aligners, or other options. Which treatment you receive will affect its length.
- Compliance: Following our instructions will allow your treatment to work more quickly.
At Dental Sanctuary of Fanwood, we offer advanced solutions for your treatment. Depending on your needs, we may recommend:
- Traditional Braces
- Ceramic Braces
- SureSmile®
- Six Month Smiles®
- Invisalign®
- AcceleDent™
- Retainers
To get started on your healthier, more beautiful smile, contact our office for a consultation.
Your orthodontic Treatment May Include:
- Early Orthodontic Intervention
- Aligners
- Retainers
Early Orthodontic Intervention
The Importance of Early Orthodontic Treatment
Orthodontics can correct issues with the alignment and spacing of teeth and jaws at any age. However, there are benefits to beginning treatment while teeth are still developing.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends children have an orthodontic evaluation by age 7. Though treatment may not be needed now, early intervention allows Dr. Tanvi Patel and Dr. Priya Patel to monitor your child’s teeth as they grow. This way, we can ensure the timely detection of any orthodontic issues.
Early detection of issues allows more efficient and effective treatment. Your child’s first adult molars begin to erupt around age 7. These molars establish the back of the bite and proper alignment for the teeth. This provides a framework for evaluating the relationships between front and back teeth and between left and right side teeth.
By screening at age 7, Dr. Tanvi Patel and Dr. Priyaben Patel can watch for potential issues as teeth develop. Some of these orthodontic issues may include:
- Overbite: top teeth sit substantially further forward than bottom teeth when teeth are closed
- Underbite: bottom teeth sit further forward than top teeth when teeth are closed
- Open bite: front teeth do not come together when back teeth are closed
- Crossbite: top teeth do not properly align with bottom teeth
- Crowding: teeth overlap and become crooked due to lack of space
There are many immediate and long-term advantages to interceptive treatment. Some of the benefits that early orthodontic intervention can provide include:
- Correcting teeth crowding
- Creating facial symmetry by influencing jaw growth
- Minimizing risk for trauma by correcting protruding front teeth
- Providing sufficient space for newly erupting teeth
- Preventing the need for tooth removal
- Reducing the duration of treatment for adolescent or adult orthodontics
- Improving self-esteem and confidence
If you have a child aged 7 or older who needs an orthodontic evaluation, contact our office to schedule an appointment for a consultation.
Aligners
Clear Aligners for Discreet Orthodontic Treatment
At Dental Sanctuary of Fanwood, we are pleased to provide orthodontic aligners as a safe, effective, and discreet option for straightening misaligned teeth. You may be able to achieve a healthy, beautiful smile using this non-invasive, aesthetic straightening option.
Traditional orthodontic treatments often include braces with unattractive metal brackets and bulky silver wires. However, removable aligners are worn over the teeth and can be removed to allow you to eat, brush, and floss normally during your orthodontic treatment. Aligners are a comfortable, convenient, and easy-to-use solution for straightening your teeth.
Orthodontic aligners provide other health benefits in addition to straightening teeth. Teeth that are crowded, gapped, or misaligned are more difficult to keep properly cleaned and flossed. Over time, this can lead to a higher rate of tooth decay. Crowded and misaligned teeth are also more prone to issues like cracking and wear due to improper occlusion (bite).
Straightening your teeth with orthodontic aligners can protect against these issues. Additionally, misaligned teeth are more likely to develop periodontal (gum) issues. Orthodontic treatment can help keep gums firm around the teeth, protecting against bacterial infections that can lead to periodontal disease.
By choosing orthodontic aligners to straighten your teeth, you can avoid many of the issues commonly associated with traditional braces. Our patients who choose orthodontic aligner treatment are much less prone to experiencing pain, discomfort, or mouth sores than those with traditional metal braces. Additionally, the ability to remove your aligners to allow proper brushing and flossing can lead to a reduced rate of plaque buildup and tooth decay.
At Dental Sanctuary of Fanwood, we can help you achieve straight teeth and a beautiful, healthy smile with orthodontic aligners. For more information or to schedule a consultation, contact our office.
Retainers
Maintaining Your Smile’s Alignment
Most comprehensive orthodontic treatments will involve the use of braces or aligners. In either case, your treatment involves minor movement of your teeth to correct misalignment. This ensures both a straight smile and an even bite.
However, braces are not the only stage needed for a permanent orthodontic solution. Once your braces have been taken off, the retention phase begins. It is vitally important to follow through with retention to maintain your newly straight smile after treatment. Your final orthodontic results depend on your retainer, so be sure to keep your appointments with Dr. Tanvi Patel and Dr. Priya Patel even after your braces have been removed.
There are a few distinct types of retainers that may be recommended to you:
- Clear Retainers: A removable, transparent plastic tray that fits over your teeth.
- Traditional Retainers: A removable appliance made of acrylic and a wire that sits on the front side of your teeth.
- Bonded Retainer: A thin, fixed wire that is temporarily bonded to the lingual (tongue) side of the anterior teeth.
Dr. Tanvi Patel and Dr. Priya Patel will provide you with the retainer option that is best suited for your orthodontic treatment plan. Your retainer should be worn as often as instructed. Your
teeth have been in active treatment for months or even years. Wearing your retainer is crucial for ensuring that your teeth do not shift back out of their corrected positions.
When it is not in your mouth, keep your retainer in its case. Bacteria can build up on your retainer, making it less hygienic and affecting the fit. Regular cleaning to remove these bacteria is a vital part of proper retainer care.
To clean your retainer, brush it gently with a wet toothbrush. Disinfect your retainer by soaking it in a cleansing solution. Thoroughly rinse the appliance with cold or room-temperature water before placing it back in your mouth. Hot water can cause the retainer to lose its proper shape, so should be avoided.
For more information about proper care and use of your retainer, contact our office.
