What, Exactly, Is Orthodontics and Orthodontic Care?

If you have teeth or a jaw that is improperly positioned, an orthodontist can help you. Orthodontics is a unique branch of dentistry that focuses on aligning teeth correctly rather than keeping them clean and cavity-free. The problem with misaligned teeth is that they're much harder to keep clean and so the risk of losing them to cavities is much higher. Also, they put a lot of extra stress on the muscles you use to chew which can sometimes lead to headaches as well as neck, shoulder, and even back pain. And, of course, for many people, crooked teeth are a source of embarrassment that takes away from an otherwise beautiful face. Many people refuse to smile due to their teeth, which is truly a shame.

For most people, orthodontics is commonly referred to as 'braces'. Doctors who specialize in orthodontics are of course called orthodontists, men and women who are trained specifically to straighten jaws and teeth. (Typically, an orthodontist will receive at least two years of education beyond the normal four-year dental school.) Using specialized diagnostic tools and custom-made appliances an orthodontist can straighten your teeth and give you a beautiful, straight smile you'll be proud to show to the world.

While it is certainly easy enough to look in the mirror and see crooked teeth, only a licensed orthodontist (or dentist) can tell you if orthodontics will help you. For example, some people have relatively straight teeth but other problems that are affecting the way they chew, talk, smile, and eat. Those include:

• Gaps in between your teeth. Gaps can be caused by teeth that don't fill your mouth fully or due to missing teeth.
• An Overbite. This is when your upper front teeth stick out too far over your lower teeth. (Some people callously refer to this as having 'buck teeth'.)
• A Misplaced Midline. If your upper teeth and lower teeth don't line up in the center, you may be suffering from a misplaced midline.
• An Underbite Is when your lower teeth are just too far forward. (Some refer to this as having 'bulldog teeth'.)
• An Open Bite is when the biting surfaces of your teeth don't line up correctly and need to be aligned.
• Crowding. If you have too many teeth, your mouth can get crowded and some will need to be removed. Afterward, all of them will need to be realigned.
• A Crossbite is another type of misalignment of the upper and lower teeth. In this case, your upper teeth don't come down just in front of your lower teeth (which is normal) when you bite down.

While most people refer to orthodontic appliances as 'braces', there are several different types of appliances that are used. All of them have the same goal, however, which is to move your teeth and jaws into alignment. Also, to retrain your muscles so that they hold your new teeth and jaw is in place correctly. Orthodontic appliances put gentle pressure on both your teeth and jaws over several months or years to move them slowly into their correct position. The type of appliance that your orthodontist recommends depends on the specific problems that you have and how severe they are also. The different types of appliances include:

Braces

Braces are the most commonly used orthodontic appliances and have been around for decades. Braces usually consist of brackets, wires, and bands. Usually, the brackets are bonded to the front of your teeth and have arch-wires passing through them that are then attached to the bands. By tightening the arch-wires, the teeth are gradually moved into position. This can take a few months up to three or four years, depending on your case. The good news is that today's braces are much smaller and lighter than in the past. They can also be in bright colors for children or clear for adults.

Aligners (Invisalign)

In the last few years, this alternative to traditional braces has become relatively popular. Aligners work the same way that braces do but without the wires and brackets, making them virtually invisible. They can also be removed when you eat or when you want to brush and floss your teeth. We offer amazing Invisalign treatment and care that is second to none.

Fixed Space Maintainers

If you happen to lose one or more baby teeth prematurely, your orthodontist may recommend a fixed space maintainer. This will keep the tooth space open until your permanent tooth arrives. It will stay fixed in place until that happens.

Removable Space Maintainers

Removable space maintainers serve the same purpose as fixed space maintainers except that they can be removed if and when needed.

Jaw Repositioning Appliances

If your jaw doesn't close correctly, a jaw repositioning appliance will likely be used to help train it to close correctly. If you have temporal mandibular joint disorder or TMJ, your orthodontist might also recommend a jaw repositioning appliance. These appliances are also referred to as "splints".

Cheek and Lip Bumpers

Sometimes your cheeks and lips can put pressure on your teeth and make it more difficult to straighten them. If that's the case, your orthodontist might recommend lip and cheek bumpers to relieve the pressure.

Removable Retainers

Usually created after your teeth have reached their final, beautiful position, removable retainers will keep them from shifting back to their old position.

Headgear

Headgear is usually recommended for a child whose jawbones are still growing. Unlike typical braces, headgear is worn partially outside of the mouth and usually recommended for children who have a seriously misaligned bite or what's known as a malocclusion.

Palatal Expanders

Another appliance usually recommended for children, a palatal expander can correct problems associated with an upper jaw that's too narrow. They are oftentimes recommended when your child has a posterior crossbite, impacted teeth, tooth crowding, or a breathing problem caused by a high palate.

Whether for your children or yourself, choosing an excellent orthodontist is extremely important so that you get the very best results. More than just the typical orthodontic services, you want an orthodontist who cares about you, your family, and the community at large. Below are some top tips on how to find and choose an excellent orthodontist and orthodontic or general dental clinic.

1. Look for an orthodontist who is passionate about their work. You can easily spot a passionate orthodontist because they are always smiling, have beautiful teeth, make eye contact, and are very enthusiastic and energetic.
2. The best orthodontists have top-notch people skills. Not only can they interact fully but look forward to it and make their patients feel comfortable instantly. They have compassion and kindness in abundance.
3. They're great with kids. Having great people skills is one thing but being able to talk and interact with children on their level is completely different. The best orthodontists adore kids and make them feel at ease instantly. Most importantly, they never talk down to children but rather talk straight and openly about what they will be doing.
4. The best orthodontists have excellent online reviews. Unlike traditional "word of mouth", today's consumer can quickly and easily go online to check the reviews of any business, clinic, or professional. That includes orthodontists, of course, which means you should do your due diligence and check out as many online reviews as possible. If you see that a particular orthodontist has hundreds of rave reviews, they are likely a great choice.
5. Get recommendations from family, friends, and colleagues. Although it's extremely easy to read online reviews, we also suggest that you ask family, friends, and colleagues for their recommendations. The truth is, online reviews simply can't give you all the details and specifics that a family member or friend can give you.
6. It goes without saying that any orthodontist or dental professional you choose should be certified and licensed to practice in London, Ontario.
7. The best orthodontists (and dentists) will offer the latest, most up-to-date technology in their practice. Some of that technology includes 3-D scanners, digital x-rays, soft tissue lasers, and cone beam x-ray machines.
8. The top orthodontists stay up to date on the latest procedures. Don't be embarrassed to ask your orthodontist or dentist what they do to keep up with all of the new developments in their profession. If they know about the latest tools and orthodontic methods, as well as safer and faster treatments, they're a great choice.

As we mentioned at the beginning of this piece, one of the first things that people notice about you is your smile. The truth is, having a beautiful smile can significantly improve your self-esteem and confidence. Also, when you have a nice smile, others perceive you as confident even before you begin to speak. Interestingly, people with straight, beautiful smiles are more likely to be successful at, for example, getting a job, a date, or a promotion at work.

The same thing holds true for children. Having a beautiful smile in school can be a huge confidence booster that helps your child to succeed. Just like you, it can also boost their confidence and help them to do you well both in school and afterward. When you give your child the gift of a straight, beautiful smile, you're giving them much more than you realize. The benefits they receive will likely last for many years and serve them well far onto the future.

While there's no guarantee that a beautiful, straight smile will make you a millionaire or a superstar, it can certainly help! A beautiful smile is a springboard to better things, especially if you smile all the time. Indeed, several studies have shown that people believe smilers to be more relaxed, sincere, and reliable. Even more, one study suggested that seeing a person smile is psychologically rewarding.

Smiling is also a great stress reliever and can significantly boost your mood. It affects your brain and tells it to release neuropeptides that influence your behavior in positive ways, including reducing stress and helping you sleep. Your brain also releases dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin when you smile. These 'feel good' neurotransmitters lower your blood pressure, protect your heart, and calm your nervous system.

That, in essence, is the beauty of orthodontics. By giving you a bright, beautiful, and straight smile, you're much more likely to smile more. When you smile more, all of the benefits we mentioned above come into play. You'll feel better about yourself, people will have more confidence in you, and more doors of opportunity will open for you.

Well known as one of the top dental clinics in London, Ontario, Sbenati Dentistry offers a world-class clinic, a well-trained staff, and a commitment to giving patients and the general London community the best dental care possible. Dr. Halim Sbenati and our team have proven their capabilities in providing top-quality dental care to the residents of London for a long period of time now and their compassion shows. One look at the 300+ 5-Star reviews we have amassed on Google will sure show you and convince you that as a patient of ours, you will always be very happy with our work, care and support.

Dr. Sbenati is also wonderful with children and teenagers and can talk with them at their level. Many parents have been pleased with both the results that their children have had and also with the fact that Dr. Sbenati was so kind and understanding with them. Of course, if you're an adult who wants Invisalign and orthodontic care, we can certainly help you as well and treat you with the same kindness and compassion.

If you or someone in your family needs orthodontic care or Invisalign, please call (519) 474-0220 today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Sbenati and our excellent staff. You can also leave your contact information on our contact page (or fill out an appointment form) or the chat system and someone will get back to you within 24 hours.