Braces
Having straight teeth not only improves the beauty of your smile but is key to maintaining proper oral health.
Braces & Orthodontics
The art and science of using special appliances to straighten the teeth and align the bite.
Having straight teeth not only improves the beauty of your smile but is key to maintaining proper oral health. If left untreated, orthodontic problems can cause discomfort when chewing, eating, and/or speaking, as well as lead to more serious medical conditions and more costly treatments. Here at Summit Dental & Orthodontics, we have provided braces for more than 2000 beautiful smiles.
Early treatment
Bringing your child in for an orthodontic checkup no later than age 7 is key to a future healthy smile. Orthodontic treatment begins when the teeth and jaw are still in their growth stage. Beginning treatment early allows us to watch the jaw as it develops and make sure it is growing in a way that will accommodate permanent teeth and improve the your child’s bite.
PHASE 1 If phase 1 of the orthodontic treatment is recommended by your Summit Orthodontist, it usually begins when there are still some baby teeth left, typically between the ages of 7-10. Beginning treatment in this phase allows us to watch the jaw as it develops to ensure it is growing in a way that will accommodate permanent teeth and improve the your child’s bite. This can create space for crowded teeth, prevent asymmetric growth of the jaw, help eliminate thumb or finger sucking habits, and preserve adequate space for future teeth.
PHASE 2 Once phase 1 is complete, the patient is usually given a retainer and regularly monitored until all the baby teeth have fallen out and the permanent teeth have come in. At this point, phase 2 treatment is started. The goals for this phase of treatment is to finalize the position of the permanent teeth and fine tune the bite so that the teeth are placed in a healthy position that promotes oral health and creates a beautiful smile.
PHASE 1 If phase 1 of the orthodontic treatment is recommended by your Summit Orthodontist, it usually begins when there are still some baby teeth left, typically between the ages of 7-10. Beginning treatment in this phase allows us to watch the jaw as it develops to ensure it is growing in a way that will accommodate permanent teeth and improve the your child’s bite. This can create space for crowded teeth, prevent asymmetric growth of the jaw, help eliminate thumb or finger sucking habits, and preserve adequate space for future teeth.
PHASE 2 Once phase 1 is complete, the patient is usually given a retainer and regularly monitored until all the baby teeth have fallen out and the permanent teeth have come in. At this point, phase 2 treatment is started. The goals for this phase of treatment is to finalize the position of the permanent teeth and fine tune the bite so that the teeth are placed in a healthy position that promotes oral health and creates a beautiful smile.
Traditional braces
Metal braces, made of stainless steel or titanium, are known as “traditional braces” because the first orthodontic braces were made of metal. They still continue to be the most commonly-used form of braces today. Luckily, today’s braces are smaller, flatter, and much more comfortable than the braces of the past.
Each bracket is cemented directly to the surface of the teeth. An arch wire is then placed in the brackets, linking them together. It is the arch wire that is regularly adjusted to apply pressure to the teeth. Elastic ties are what hold the arch wire in the brackets. Fresh ones are placed each time a patient comes in for the arch wire to be adjusted. The elastic ties usually come in a variety of colors.
Each bracket is cemented directly to the surface of the teeth. An arch wire is then placed in the brackets, linking them together. It is the arch wire that is regularly adjusted to apply pressure to the teeth. Elastic ties are what hold the arch wire in the brackets. Fresh ones are placed each time a patient comes in for the arch wire to be adjusted. The elastic ties usually come in a variety of colors.
Ceramic (clear) braces
If your child has crooked or misaligned teeth but is hesitant to get braces because of the “unattractive appeal” of traditional braces, ceramic braces may be a great option! These clear or teeth-colored braces are made of ceramic polycarbonate and are a much less noticeable alternative to the classic “metal mouth.”
Clear braces function just as traditional metal braces do. They include brackets, arch wires, and elastic ties. Clear braces are not to be confused with popular clear aligner systems like Invisalign. Those systems fit into the mouth like a mouth guard, slipping over the teeth, and are removable while clear braces are cemented to the teeth in the same way as traditional braces.
Clear braces function just as traditional metal braces do. They include brackets, arch wires, and elastic ties. Clear braces are not to be confused with popular clear aligner systems like Invisalign. Those systems fit into the mouth like a mouth guard, slipping over the teeth, and are removable while clear braces are cemented to the teeth in the same way as traditional braces.
Self-ligating braces
Self-ligating braces function similarly to traditional braces but are free of elastic bands and metal ties. Instead, this dental brace includes a special clip or bracket that is used to entrap the archwire and move your teeth into place.
Retainers
When you’ve put your time and money into straightening your child’s smile, it’s important to make sure it stays that way! As your child continues to grow, so do their teeth. Reminding your child to wear their retainers as directed will help ensure they keep that beautiful, straight smile.
Retainers are a custom-fit plastic mold or wire that is placed over the teeth to keep them from shifting. Retainers can be worn during the day or overnight and are usually removable.
Retainers are a custom-fit plastic mold or wire that is placed over the teeth to keep them from shifting. Retainers can be worn during the day or overnight and are usually removable.
Adult braces
You are never too old to have your teeth straightened! because of the advanced options that are now available, more and more adults are opting for orthodontic treatment because their teeth have shifted and they want to return to having a beautiful straight smile. The same orthodontic options are available for adults whether it’s traditional, ceramic, or clear aligners such as Invisalign.