Orthodontic Treatment

Malocclusion is one of the most common dental issues people face. Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of the misalignment of teeth. Millions of Americans seek orthodontic attention every year, and it goes to prove how essential it is in shaping your smile.

Why should you choose to get orthodontic attention?

Aligning the misaligned teeth can be very beneficial from the aesthetic, hygienic, and functional point of view. Here are some of their benefits:

• It improves the aesthetics of your smile: Crooked teeth can be visually displeasing. People with malocclusion usually think twice before smiling, as it could lead to embarrassment and make them the laughing stock in the crowd. Post orthodontic treatment, patients usually feel more confident and would comfortably smile and converse with people.
• Reduces the risk of TMD: Temporomandibular Joint Disorder is a condition that affects the TMJ. TMJ is the joint that connects both the upper and lower jawbones and is responsible for the movement of the lower jaw. Misaligned teeth put excessive pressure on the TMJ, and could even lead to jawbone deterioration.
• Enables effective oral hygiene: Cleaning perfectly straight teeth is much easier compared to that of crooked teeth. When the teeth are misaligned, chances run high that the debris and microbes get accumulated in between the teeth where cleaning is difficult. This may lead to discoloration, cavities, and gum diseases.

What are the common types of malocclusion?

Crossbite: A condition where all the teeth of either jaw do not align properly, and one or more teeth fall out of alignment.

Open bite: The condition where the molars meet, but the frontal teeth don’t when the jaws are clenched.

Crowding:The teeth aligned too close to each other might result in overlapping of one tooth over another.

Spacing: The adjacent teeth erupt with an excessive gap between them, which could be the result of a wide dental arch.

Overbite: The condition where the frontal teeth from the upper jaw protrude over the frontal teeth from the lower jaw.

Underbite: The teeth from the lower jaw protrude over the upper jaw teeth.

Treatment options

Malocclusion can be treated using orthodontic dental appliances such as braces or clear aligners. Patients who prefer their treatment to be completed in a relatively short span of time would usually choose braces. Those who don’t wish to reveal their orthodontic treatment prefer clear aligners, such as Invisalign or ClearCorrect, as they are transparent and discreet.

Braces

Braces are composed of several brackets, which are usually made from metal, ceramic or plastic, and wires that are made from nylon or metal. The brackets are glued on to the teeth using dental adhesives, and the wires run through them. Tightening or loosening the wires alters the pressure applied on the teeth, which is how they are gently moved to their desired positions.

Invisalign

Invisalign is a removable, clear aligner that is made from dental-grade plastic. The aligners are biocompatible and offer a perfect fit, as they are custom-fabricated according to each patient’s unique needs. The dentist takes highly precise 3D images of your oral set up and sends them to a laboratory for fabricating the aligners. Once they are available, the patient would have to wear them all day and remove them only while brushing teeth or eating food. The treatment period usually varies depending on the severity of the condition.

Please schedule an online appointment or call us at (773) 374-9778 for Chicago and (708) 914-4381 for Homewood to have a consultation with Dr. Moore, and we will be happy to help.