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Early Orthodontic Treatment

What Is Early Orthodontic Treatment?

Early orthodontic treatment is dental intervention before your child’s permanent teeth erupt (except for the third molars). Early intervention may help prevent the improper alignment and growth of your child’s permanent teeth.

There are different early orthodontic treatment options available, and the treatment recommended will depend on your child’s specific dental issues. Early treatment is important because it enables the dentist to treat your child’s skeletal jaw and alignment issues before their permanent teeth erupt.

When You Should Consider Treatment

During your child’s dental visits, the dentist will let you know if there are any issues with your child’s teeth or jaw alignment, even if their permanent teeth have already erupted.

Here are the conditions your child’s dentist will look for.

Narrow jaws.
Protruding teeth.
Malocclusion.
Bite complications.

Braces

The field of orthodontics offers several types of braces to address various dental alignment issues, each with distinct characteristics. Traditional metal braces remain a popular and effective choice, consisting of stainless steel brackets bonded to the teeth and connected by archwires, often with colorful elastic ties.

For a more discreet option, ceramic braces utilize clear or tooth-colored brackets that blend in with the natural tooth shade, though they can be more prone to staining and breakage.

Lingual braces offer the ultimate in invisibility, as they are custom-made and attached to the back surface of the teeth, making them completely hidden from view.

A variation known as self-ligating braces (available in both metal and ceramic) uses built-in clips or doors to hold the archwire, eliminating the need for elastic ties and potentially reducing friction and appointment times.

Lastly, clear aligners, such as Invisalign, are a popular alternative to fixed braces. These consist of a series of custom-made, removable plastic trays that gradually shift teeth into position, offering convenience for eating and oral hygiene, but requiring strict patient compliance. The best choice among these types depends on the individual’s specific orthodontic needs, aesthetic preferences, and lifestyle.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Oral and maxillofacial surgery is a specialized field of dentistry that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the mouth, jaw, and facial area.
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are highly trained medical and dental professionals who possess the expertise to perform a wide range of surgical procedures.

Common Procedures

One of the most common procedures performed by oral and maxillofacial surgeons is the removal of wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth often cause problems when they become impacted, or trapped beneath the gum line. Surgeons carefully extract these teeth to alleviate pain, reduce the risk of infection, and improve oral health.

Beyond wisdom tooth removal, oral and maxillofacial surgeons also specialize in dental implant surgery. Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that are surgically placed into the jawbone. These implants provide a stable foundation for crowns, bridges, or dentures, restoring both the function and appearance of missing teeth.

Another important area of focus for oral and maxillofacial surgeons is the treatment of facial injuries. Whether caused by accidents, trauma, or disease, these surgeons can repair and reconstruct facial structures, including bones, soft tissues, and nerves. They may also perform corrective jaw surgery to address issues such as underbites, overbites, and misaligned jaws.

In addition to surgical procedures, oral and maxillofacial surgeons also diagnose and treat a variety of oral diseases and conditions, such as oral cancer, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, and facial pain. They often work closely with other dental specialists, such as orthodontists and periodontists, to provide comprehensive care for their patients.

Invisalign

Invisalign clear aligners have revolutionized the field of teeth straightening, offering a virtually invisible alternative to traditional metal braces. This system utilizes a series of custom-made, clear plastic trays designed to gradually shift teeth into their desired positions.

Invisalign Treatment

The Invisalign treatment process begins with a comprehensive consultation with a dentist or orthodontist. During this visit, digital scans or impressions are taken of the patient’s teeth to create a 3D model of their dental structure. This model is then used to map out the planned tooth movements and design a series of customized aligners.

Each aligner in the series is crafted from a smooth, BPA-free plastic material known for its comfort and durability. Patients wear a new set of aligners for approximately one to two weeks, with each set applying gentle, constant pressure to the teeth, meticulously guiding them towards their ideal placement.

Invisalign offers several distinct advantages over traditional braces. The clear aligners are virtually invisible, making them a popular choice for adults and image-conscious individuals who desire a more discreet treatment option. Additionally, the removable nature of the aligners allows for greater ease of maintaining oral hygiene and enjoying dietary freedom during treatment.

Overall, Invisalign clear aligners represent a significant advancement in orthodontic treatment. They offer a comfortable, discreet, and effective method for achieving a straighter, healthier smile. However, a consultation with a qualified dental professional is essential to determine if Invisalign is the right choice for a particular case.

Surgical Orthodontics

Surgical orthodontics, also known as orthognathic surgery, is a specialized branch of dentistry used to correct severe jaw irregularities. While traditional braces focus on aligning teeth, surgical intervention is required when the underlying skeletal structure is misaligned. This combined approach—involving an orthodontist and an oral and maxillofacial surgeon—aims to restore both facial aesthetics and vital functions such as chewing, speaking, and breathing.

When is it Necessary?

Surgery is typically recommended for non-growing adults—usually after age 16 for females and 18 for males—once jaw growth is complete. Common conditions treated include:

Severe Malocclusions: Underbites, overbites, and crossbites that cannot be fixed by braces alone.

Skeletal Discrepancies: This includes underdeveloped lower jaws (retruded chins), protrusive upper jaws, or facial asymmetry.

Functional Issues: Difficulty swallowing, chronic jaw pain (TMJ), or obstructive sleep apnea caused by airway obstruction.

The Treatment Process

The process is a long-term commitment, often lasting two to three years.
Pre-Surgical Orthodontics: Patients wear braces for 12–24 months to align teeth in a way that will fit perfectly once the jaw is moved.

Surgery: Performed in a hospital, the surgeon repositions the jawbones using plates and screws. Initial recovery usually takes about two weeks.

Post-Surgical Fine-Tuning: After healing, the orthodontist “fine-tunes” the bite with braces for an additional 6–12 months.

Dentofacial Orthopedics

Dentofacial orthopedics is a specialized branch of dentistry—one of only nine specialties recognized by the American Dental Association—that focuses on the growth and development of the jaw and facial structures.

While traditional orthodontics primarily manages tooth movement, dentofacial orthopedics aims to correct underlying skeletal discrepancies by guiding how facial bones develop.

Treatment Phases

This practice typically involves a two-phase approach to maximize a patient’s natural growth potential:

Phase One (Early Intervention): Ideally beginning around age 7 or 8, this phase occurs while a child still has a mix of baby and permanent teeth. During this time, specialized appliances are used to guide jaw growth, widen a narrow palate, or correct asymmetrical profiles.

Phase Two (Refinement): Once the jaw structure is properly aligned and most adult teeth have erupted, the second phase typically uses braces or clear aligners to fine-tune tooth positioning and the final bite.

Common Appliances

Unlike the brackets and wires of standard braces, dentofacial orthopedic treatments often utilize:

Palatal Expanders: Devices that widen the upper jaw to create room for crowded teeth.

Headgear: An extra-oral appliance used to correct severe overbites or underbites by applying pressure to guide jaw growth.

Functional Appliances: Specialized tools like the Herbst appliance or Twin Blocks that encourage the lower jaw to develop forward.

ClearCorrect Aligners

Do you want to fix crooked teeth for less discomfort and an improved smile? ClearCorrect Aligners may provide you with the perfect solution! These aligners help shift your teeth into better positions, straightening them or correcting alignment issues.

What Are ClearCorrect Aligners?

These are clear plastic aligners used to gently nudge teeth into straighter or better aligned positions. They offer an alternative to traditional braces for patients with malocclusions or bite issues.

What Kinds of Problems Do ClearCorrect Aligners Fix?

We may recommend this solution if you have any of the following conditions:

Crooked teeth
Gaps between your teeth
Tooth crowding
Underbite
Overbite
Other bite issues, such as crossbite or open bite

Why Choose ClearCorrect?

These aligners offer many benefits, including effective treatment and a comfortable fit. They’re custom-made for your mouth and easy to wear throughout the day — and while you sleep. You can also remove them when you need to eat, eliminating the need for food restrictions.

Who Is a Good Candidate?

Not all patients are suitable candidates for ClearCorrect aligners. We generally recommend them if you have a mild or moderate case rather than a complex one. These aligners may not work on complicated bite problems or other severe issues. You also have to be willing to keep your aligner trays in nearly all the time.

How Do ClearCorrect Aligners Work?

With this treatment approach, you wear aligner trays almost all the time (around 22 hours a day), taking them out only for eating, brushing your teeth, drinking any beverages other than water, and cleaning them.

During treatment, you switch to a new set of aligner trays every few weeks or so to keep up with your changing tooth positions. Overall, ClearCorrect Aligners typically involve a few treatment phases for mild cases and around eight phases for moderate cases. This may take several months or over a year to complete, depending on your case.

Two-Phase Orthodontic Treatment

What Is Two-Phase Orthodontic Treatment?

Two-Phase orthodontic treatment is a specialized orthodontic treatment for children. It focuses on two separate orthodontic treatments. One for tooth straightening and the other for physical and facial changes.

Most orthodontic treatments can be done in one phase. However, there are some exceptions.

Phase-One Orthodontic Treatment

Phase-one is an early orthodontic treatment that is done before a child’s permanent teeth have erupted. Early orthodontic treatment is usually recommended by your child’s dentist when there is a chance that your child will develop moderate to severe orthodontic problems early in their life and when waiting is not recommended.

The purpose of phase-one treatment is to make sure there is enough room in your child’s mouth for the permanent teeth to grow and to correct any bite and jaw issues. Moving a child’s baby teeth isn’t done to improve their appearance like it is for older children. It’s done as part of the process of allowing enough room for the child’s permanent teeth to come in properly.

Common Phase-One Treatments

Headgear.
Space maintainers.
Special retainers.
Functional appliances.
Expansion appliances.
A limited phase of braces for specific teeth.

Phase-Two Orthodontic Treatment

The phase-two treatment includes traditional orthodontic treatments like braces. The purpose of phase-two treatments is to correct an overbite, or underbite, and to correct spaces and misaligned teeth.

Reasons for a Phase-Two Treatment

Help your child’s jaw develop.
Make room for their permanent teeth.
Reduce the need for pulling their permanent teeth in the future.
To help break their thumb-sucking habit.
To correct abnormal swallowing.
To correct the upper front teeth that stick out too far.
To normalize how the upper and lower jaws work together, especially in cases of an underbite.

Emergencies

Dental emergencies are something that no one ever wants to face. Of course, when this does happen, it can be an extremely difficult situation as you will not have the proper time allotted to fix the issue.

Pediatric dental emergencies, in more ways than one, can seem like an even tougher challenge. When it comes to the healthcare of your child, it is difficult for you as a parent or guardian to ascertain what extent of danger your child is in.

Our team is proud to offer pediatric dental emergency services that will help put your mind at ease and resolve the situation, no matter the urgency or problem.

Common Types of Emergencies

Our team is well-versed in many dental emergencies, especially those that are common to children. The question becomes, how do you know whether something constitutes an emergency? In addition to the list below, it is important to note that it is always better to be safe than sorry.

If your child is young, and cannot communicate how they feel or the danger they are in – this is usually a tell-tale sign that a professional service may be required. Here are some common dental emergencies that are common in children.

Fractured, Loose, and Chipped Tooth

This is common among children that are young but have most of their baby teeth grown in. The enamel and strength of the tooth can be compromised, and rough play can sometimes chip or fracture the tooth. If this occurs, it is best to immediately rinse your child’s mouth with warm water and apply a compress to reduce the swelling. Save the fractured component, if possible, and give us a call.

Mouthguards

While helmets protect the skull, a mouthguard is specifically engineered to shield the teeth, jaw, and soft tissues from the high-velocity impacts common in sports like basketball, soccer, and hockey.

Three Main Types

Custom-Fitted Mouthguards: These are the gold standard. We take a precise 3D scan or physical impression of your teeth to create a guard that fits like a glove. Because they stay securely in place, athletes find it much easier to breathe and communicate during play.

Boil-and-Bite Guards: These are thermoplastic shells softened in hot water and molded at home. While better than nothing, the molding process often thins out the material in critical areas, reducing its shock-absorption capacity.

Stock Guards: These are pre-formed and generally ill-fitting. They often require the athlete to keep their jaw clenched to hold the guard in place, which is both distracting and less effective at preventing injury.

Over-the-counter

While over-the-counter (OTC) mouthguards are accessible, they often provide a false sense of security. As a dentist, I recommend custom-fitted guards because they offer scientifically superior protection, comfort, and longevity that store-bought options cannot match.

1. Superior Shock Absorption
Custom mouthguards are engineered from high-quality thermoplastic materials and are designed to be the optimal thickness for your specific sport. Unlike OTC versions that can thin out during the “boil-and-bite” process, a professional guard evenly distributes impact forces, reducing the risk of broken teeth and jaw fractures by over 25% compared to standard models.

2. Precision Fit and Comfort
The “one-size-fits-most” nature of OTC guards often makes them bulky, leading to gagging or irritation. A dentist uses a 3D scan or physical impression to create a guard that “hugs” your unique dental anatomy.