What is considered an orthodontic procedure?

Close wide spaces between teeth. Improve long-term gum and tooth health. Orthodontic treatment is a way of straightening or moving teeth, to improve the appearance of teeth and how they work. It can also help care for the long-term health of your teeth, gums, and jaw joints by distributing bite pressure over all teeth.

Although it's easy to avoid the orthodontist to save money or out of fear, a mouth full of straight teeth has some important benefits. The orthodontist will tighten or loosen the wires over time as the teeth move over the course of a few months or years, depending on your situation. To keep your bite corrected and prevent your teeth from returning to their original place, your orthodontist will prescribe a retainer for you to use at certain times. With or without braces, orthodontic arches (or “arches”) are made in the shape of your dental arch and help correct the position of your teeth.

Children with cleft lip and palate may need orthodontic treatment before their adult teeth have fully developed. Orthodontists are dental specialists who work to correct tooth alignment and bite problems to give you a perfect smile. Whether with traditional braces, Invisalign, or a mouth guard, all orthodontic appliances help straighten your teeth or keep them straight. To place a lingual brace, the orthodontist will place the orthodontic brackets on the back of the teeth so that they are hidden from view.

It's important that your dental team continues to check your teeth while you are receiving orthodontic treatment. However, this process is not preferred because it is difficult for the child and still often requires the use of other orthodontics to keep the teeth straight. One of the reasons metal braces may be needed is to complete the closure of the orthodontic space, where the teeth have been removed and the braces help close the space. To achieve these goals, the orthodontist uses a variety of medical dental devices, including headpieces, plates, and braces.

If you need orthodontic treatment in or around Elk Grove, IL, let the Lakemoor Dental team provide the care you need. In some cases, orthodontists recommend both a permanent one fixed to the lower anterior teeth and the clear plastic aligner that would then fit the entire lower arch. Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry that treats malocclusion, a condition in which teeth are not properly positioned when the mouth is closed.

Colette Frei
Colette Frei

Infuriatingly humble zombie fanatic. Lifelong zombie scholar. Infuriatingly humble internet practitioner. Infuriatingly humble zombie guru. Freelance zombie fanatic.