Orthodontist

Your bark might be worse than your bite -- unless you have a "bad bite." A bad bite, also known as a malocclusion, is the misalignment of your teeth or jaws. An orthodontist is a dental specialist who diagnoses and treats bad bites.

Orthodontists use dental appliances such as dental braces and retainers to treat such dental problems as an underbite, overbite, open bite, cross bite and crowded teeth.

If you have teeth or jaw problems, there's a good chance you inherited them. However, certain conditions can also be caused by:

• Early or late loss of teeth
• Thumb-sucking
• An accident
• Tooth decay

Dental Braces Dentist Diagnoses & treats bad bites Uses dental braces, retainers Custom designs treatment plans Want someone to call you?

There's no doubt that orthodontists can help improve the way your smile looks. After all, orthodontic braces and retainers can fix even the worst bites. In addition to looking great, a straighter smile can also give you the confidence to smile without feeling self-conscious or even try things you shied away from before.

But although you'll surely appreciate the boost to your self-esteem, you can also thank the orthodontist for improving your health. Why? Because it turns out that misaligned teeth are linked to health conditions such as snoring, sleep apnea and other breathing problems.

So when you seek orthodontic dental treatment, your orthodontist will not only set your teeth straight but can also help you breathe better. Orthodontists can even help you chew more easily and improve your speech!

Once it's determined that your teeth will benefit from orthodontics, your orthodontist will custom design a treatment plan for you.

Orthodontic treatment differs for everyone, but generally includes three phases:

Pretreatment -- During this phase, the orthodontist performs a clinical exam; takes X-rays of your mouth and head; and makes a mold of your teeth. Your orthodontist will use this information to determine what dental appliance to use during your treatment.

Active treatment -- This is the stage when your orthodontic appliance is in place and you visit your orthodontist for periodic adjustments.

Retention -- After you complete active treatment, you may have to wear an orthodontic retainer to keep your newly aligned teeth in place.

You've probably heard the old adage, "Take care of the problem before it really becomes one." When it comes to your teeth, that wisdom certainly applies.

That's why it's best to take your child for an orthodontic exam early; in fact, the American Dental Association recommends that children see orthodontists by the age of 7. If you take your child before then, that's even better -- orthodontists can prevent dental irregularities in children by conducting exams before all of the permanent teeth erupt. This is especially true if your family has a history of misaligned teeth.

If you're looking for a dentist who offers orthodontic braces or an orthodontist specialist for yourself or your little ones, we can help! Call us at 1-866-970-9853 to speak with an operator today.