Your dentist may have discussed with you the benefits of having healthy teeth and proper jaw alignment. Crooked and crowded teeth are hard to clean and maintain. This can result in tooth decay, worsen gum disease and lead to tooth loss. Other orthodontic problems can contribute to abnormal wear of tooth surfaces, inefficient chewing function, excessive stress on gum tissue and bone that supports the teeth, or misalignment of the jaw joints. These can lead to chronic headaches and face or neck pain. Treatment by an orthodontist can be less costly than the additional care required to treat dental problems arising as a result of orthodontic problems. For most people, a beautiful smile is the most obvious benefit of orthodontics. After your braces come off, you'll enjoy a beautiful smile and healthy teeth and feel more self-confident for the rest of your life.

 
Children

Dr. Heiner and the American Association of Orthodontists feel it is best to see children by age 7 to advise if orthodontic treatment is required and the best time for the patient to be treated. The first permanent molars and incisors have usually come in by that time and crossbites, crowding and other problems can be evaluated. When treatment is begun early, the orthodontist can guide the growth of the jaw and guide incoming permanent teeth. Early treatment can also regulate the width of the upper and lower dental arches, gain space for permanent teeth, avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions and reduce likelihood of impacted permanent teeth. Early treatment can help to stop thumb sucking habits, and may eliminate abnormal swallowing or speech problems. This early phase of treatment is called Phase I or early interceptive treatment. Even if your child is not yet ready to begin treatment we can place them in our Pre-Orthodontic Guidance Program. This will allow us to monitor their growth on a periodic basis until they are ready for treatment. Second phase treatment, or comprehensive treatment, consists of finishing alignment and bite of the newly erupted adult teeth. This occurs usually between the ages of 11 and 13. After Phase II or comprehensive treatment, the retention phase begins.

Adults

Orthodontic treatment can be successful at any age, and adults especially appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile. One of every five patients in orthodontic treatment is over 21. Because an adult's facial bones are no longer growing, certain corrections cannot be accomplished with braces alone. Adults may also have experienced some breakdown or loss of their teeth and bone that supports the teeth and may require periodontal treatment before, during and/or after orthodontic treatment. Bone loss can also limit the amount of direction of tooth movement that is advisable.

 
Orthodontic appliances can be made of metal, ceramic or acrylic. They may be removable, but are typically brackets bonded to the teeth. By placing a constant, gentle force in a carefully controlled direction, braces slowly move teeth to a corrected position. Orthodontic treatment has seen great advances in types if materials used to treat patients. Gone are the days when a metal band with a bracket was placed around each tooth. You can now choose silver, gold or clear brackets. You can choose the color of the ties that hold the wire in brackets. Wires are also less noticeable than they used to be and the latest materials move teeth faster with less discomfort to patients.

 
Invisalign® is a state-of-the-art alternative to braces that is virtually undetectable to other people. This is achieved not with braces and wires, but by using clear, customized, removable aligners which move your teeth.

The Invisalign® system is not for everyone and is not available for children. To learn more about Invisalign® visit www.invisalign.com.

The Magic of Braces

Here are some examples of problems that orthodontics can correct. Click on any of the examples to see the finished result.