What is an Orthodontist?
 Your teeth play many important roles in your mouth. They allow you to bite, chew, speak, and smile confidently. They also play an integral role in the health of your jawbone. When your teeth are crooked, all of these functions are affected, and your quality of life can suffer. You are at an increased risk of developing cavities and gum disease. Your risk of tooth damage increases. You are also at risk of developing bruxism and TMJ disorder. Naborowski Orthodontics can provide you with the orthodontic treatment you need to improve your oral health and your quality of life. However, just what exactly is an orthodontist?
What is an Orthodontist?
An orthodontist is a dental specialist who specializes in improving the alignment of your teeth and jaws, improving the functionality of your mouth, your oral health, and the quality of your smile. Like all other types of dentists, we attend four years of dental school. After those four years, we continue for another 2 to 3 years. During this time, we focus solely on orthodontics. We receive a formal education, attend lectures, and even practice on real patients. We are provided with extensive knowledge of the latest tools and technologies in the field of orthodontics, which then allows us to provide you with the best possible outcomes when it comes to your orthodontic treatment.
What Exactly Does an Orthodontist Do?
As orthodontists, we can treat many different types of alignment issues, including
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Overcrowding. This is one of the most common orthodontic issues. Overcrowding often occurs when there is insufficient space in your mouth for all of your teeth. It can also occur if your teeth erupt unevenly.
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Poor spacing. This issue occurs when there are gaps between your teeth. In some patients, spacing issues in one part of the mouth can result in overcrowding in another. For some, all of the teeth have gaps between them.
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Overbites and underbites. With an overbite, your upper jaw protrudes too far forward over your bottom teeth. An underbite, on the other hand, occurs when the lower jaw protrudes out in front of the upper jaw.
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Openbites. This occurs when your top and bottom teeth at the front of your mouth do not touch together properly, leaving an open space.
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Crossbites. A crossbite happens when one or more of the teeth on the side of your upper jaw fall inside of the teeth in your lower jaw. |
Providing Treatment for Patients of All Ages
Orthodontic treatment is often associated with adolescents, usually between the ages of 10 and 14. While braces are a common solution at this age, orthodontics can benefit people of all ages. It is recommended that your child have an orthodontic evaluation by the age of 7. This evaluation allows us to identify, or predict, the presence of orthodontic issues. In some cases, we can provide treatment early on to help avoid the need for more significant treatment later on.
In addition to providing braces for adolescents, we can also provide braces, and other orthodontic treatments, for older teens and adults as well. No matter if you could not afford treatment at a younger age or you are experiencing orthodontic relapse, orthodontic treatment can benefit you no matter what your age.
Orthodontic Treatments
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Traditional braces. Traditional braces use metal brackets and wires to realign your teeth and your jaws.
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Damon and Damon clear. Damon braces are self-litigating braces, meaning that they do not need to be manually adjusted. They adjust on their own as your teeth move. These braces are also metal. Damon clear braces are also a more aesthetic alternative, using clear or ceramic brackets to realign your teeth.
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I-braces. I-braces are also known as lingual braces. Rather than being attached to the front surfaces of your teeth, they are attached behind your teeth.
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Invisalign. Invisalign uses clear plastic aligners instead of brackets and wires to adjust your teeth. The aligners are practically invisible in your mouth, making treatment much more discreet. |
Orthodontic treatment can help to improve your oral health, your smile, and your quality of life. Call Naborowski Orthodontics at (630) 543-5051 today to learn more and schedule your appointment.
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