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Why
should you choose an orthodontic
specialist for your care? |
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Just as there
are specialists in medicine (such
as cardiologists, gastroenterologists,
dermotologists, etc.), there are
specialists in dentistry. Orthodontists
are dental specialists who dedicate
their lives to correcting misaligned
teeth and jaws. Teeth and sometimes
faces are permanently changed
by orthodontic treatment; therefore,
it is very important that the
treatment be done properly. A
licensed orthodontic specialist
is a expert at moving teeth, helping
jaws develop properly and working
with you to help make sure the
teeth stay in their new positions.
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Are
braces necessary? |
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No. They are
elective but people seldom grow
out of the more severe problems.
Braces treatment can prevent other
unpleasant problems from developing
later in life.
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When
should I look for the early warning
signs of a bad bite? |
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It is most important
to examine your child's teeth
as the permanent teeth grow in.
Although children mature at different
rates, there are some averages
for permanent tooth arrival. Some
signs that may indicate the need
for an early orthodontic examination:
1) early or late loss of baby
teeth
2) difficulty chewing or biting
3) crowding, malpositioned, or
blocked out teeth
4) jaws that shift or make sounds
5) biting the cheek or roof of
the mouth
6) teeth that do not meet at all
7) jaws and teeth that are out
of proportion to the rest of the
face
8) finger sucking or pacifier
habits continued beyond the age
of six
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When
is the best time to schedule an
initial consultation? |
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Every child
should see an orthodontist at
an early age. This could be as
young as 2 or 3,. By age 7, enough
permanent teeth have come in and
enough jaw growth has occurred,
that problems can be identified.
Early consultation allows the
orthodontist to determine the
optimum time for treatment to
begin. Many parents and some family
dentists assume that they must
wait until a child has all of
his or her permanent teeth, only
to find out that treatment would
have been much easier if started
earlier. Early treatment can eliminate
the need for more drastic measures.
In some cases, satisfactory results
are unattainable once the face
and jaws have finished growing.
With proper timing, children may
not have to endure years of embarrassment.
Adults can be treated at any age
as long as the gums and bone holding
the teeth are healthy.
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Who
should come to the initial consultation
besides the patient? |
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If you rely
heavily on the opinion of others
before making treatment commitments,
you are encouraged to bring all
the decision makers with you to
this consultation. They can be
taking notes while you listen
or act as a sounding board. Your
orthodontist doesn't want information
lost in translation if decision
maker does not come and you have
to relay the consultation outcome
to them.
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