When someone mentions orthodontics or an orthodontist, people's minds often rush to images of orthodontic appliances. However, orthodontists offer services that go beyond orthodontic appliances, specifically in the field of teeth alignment or maxillary repositioning, although orthopedic appliances are their main specialty. Orthodontists have many treatment options and services to address common problems. Michael Payne of American River Orthodontics, near Granite Bay, CA, is here to explain the services that orthodontists provide. Traditional orthodontic appliances are made up of brackets, wires and bands that straighten the teeth and that are tightened continuously for a certain period of time.
These braces can be used to correct overbites, underbites, open bites, cross bites or overcrowded teeth. Walker also offers patients near Westford, Massachusetts, treatment with light-colored ceramic braces (for those who don't want their appliances to be noticed) and even fun light-colored bands for his younger patients. Aligners are a much newer orthodontic appliance compared to others, but their popularity is growing rapidly. Like braces, they are used to help straighten and align teeth. Aligners can be used for mild to moderate cases of overbites, underbites, open bites, cross bites or crowded teeth.
Most aligners are made of a plastic material that makes them virtually invisible to others. Invisalign near Granite Bay, CA is one of the most popular aligners. Jaw repositioning devices, sometimes called splints, are used to move the upper or lower jaw so that the whole jaw closes more naturally. Michael Payne uses this device for patients with temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). Sometimes, the patient's lips and cheeks can put pressure on the teeth and cause some pain or discomfort.
An associate at American River Orthodontics says that lip and cheek protectors help keep the lips and cheeks away from the teeth and reduce or eliminate the pressure, pain or discomfort they might be causing. A palatine expander is used to widen the curve of the upper jaw. It is a plastic tray that is placed on the roof of the mouth and, using screws, expels bones and joints from the mouth. Michael Payne suggests using a retainer to keep your teeth from returning to their original position. These retainers come in the form of a plate that is placed on the roof of the mouth with a metal rod that crosses the upper front teeth or in the form of a plastic aligner. Finally, orthodontists provide headdresses to patients who need to slow jaw growth.
The helmet is usually a strap that is placed around the back of the head and that is attached to a metal wire in the front of the mouth. This slows the growth of the jaw and ensures that the teeth are in the right place and fit the jaw well. When it comes to orthodontic treatment near Westford, MA., traditional metal braces are one of the main treatment methods used by orthodontists to align and straighten teeth. Aligners are also an excellent choice for those seeking to correct underbites, overbites, open bites, cross bites or overcrowded teeth. In addition, space maintainers are used when baby teeth are lost earlier than usual so that other teeth do not grow in their place.
Finally, lip and cheek protectors help reduce pressure on teeth caused by lips and cheeks. Orthodontists have many treatment options available to them today. Specifically, alignment of teeth or repositioning of jaws are possible thanks to advances in technology. With these treatments available near Granite Bay CA and Westford MA., patients can achieve perfect smiles with traditional metal braces or aligners.
