Straight Teeth?

By Wesley Daczkowski, DDS

Dr. D’s Smiles and Daczkowski Orthodontics

. https://daczkowskiortho.com/

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Straight Teeth?

Should You Be Seeing a Dentist or an Orthodontist?

In an “all access” world, straight teeth are no exception. There are all sorts of options for straightening teeth today, but unlike all things that are readily available, this is one service you want to ensure your treatment is performed by a credible specialist.

Orthodontists are specialists in dental healthcare. They must be a dentist prior to attaining orthodontic certification. Orthodontics is a specialty of dentistry that concentrates in the moving of teeth to not only create a gorgeous smile, but its primary purpose is to give the patient the best function possible for teeth that will last a lifetime without future discomfort or pain. This cannot be taken too lightly.

After obtaining a dentist license permitting the practice of dental care, orthodontists must also complete orthodontics specialist education and practicum consisting of 2-3 more years, specifically focusing on teeth movement, alignment, and jaws. This additional training should give patients confidence in their orthodontist’s ability to treat patients and achieving the best treatment possible for each case.

Many orthodontics cases are routine, but there are also cases that need extensive consultation with other dental specialists, like oral surgeons, to achieve the best results for the patient. Then there are those that needed to be re-treated as the treatment did not work from a previous practitioner.

One patient in particular, Justin, had a tough case. Justin had crowding and his teeth alignment caused awkwardness in chewing and biting in the frontal areas. Justin’s chin needed augmentation and his lower jaw was not growing in proportion to his upper jaw. We started by removing teeth to eliminate the crowding, followed by a surgery to bring the lower jaw forward and augment the chin over a two-year period. The end result? The jaw and teeth were in proportion to the rest of his facial features, leaving Justin a great smile and no discomfort.              

When Should You Take Your Child to an Orthodontist?

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that all children should receive an orthodontic evaluation by age seven. Although younger children do not have their full set of adult teeth, there are several appliances that the orthodontist can utilize to manipulate bone and help influence teeth growth.

Orthodontics for all Ages

Today, adults of all ages visit orthodontists for cosmetic and multiple dental health reasons. Many adults benefit from teeth alignment. There are now affordable treatment options for all ages and multiple insurance companies offer orthodontic coverage. These include traditional braces, clear braces or Invisalign^®. Invisalign is especially helpful to teens and adults who do not want to be seen wearing braces.

When you choose an AAO orthodontist, you can be assured that you have selected a specialist and an expert in the field of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics.

Article written by Michelle Williams Daczkowski for Dr. D’s Smiles, Daczkowski Orthodontics