Orthodontics Gaithersburg MDOrthodontics is a term used to describe a branch of dentistry that works to correct the teeth and jaws when they are positioned improperly. When teeth are crooked or do not come together correctly will be harder to clean. This means that a child with crooked teeth can be subject to losing their teeth at an early adult age due to periodontal disease or tooth decay. More stress is placed on the muscles used for chewing with teeth issues, which can lead to pain in the back, shoulders and neck area. Here at MVP Smiles, we can provide many services including orthodontics, ensuring that your child’s teeth are positioned properly. Does Your Child Need an Orthodontist?Only an orthodontist or dentist will be able to determine if your child can benefit from an appliance. Diagnostic tools will be used to determine if a solution such as braces or an aligner will be beneficial. A full dental history is needed along with an exam, plaster molds of the teeth, and x-rays. With this information, we can then determine if a treatment plan is needed and how the teeth need to be corrected. Common conditions that result in orthodontic treatment include an overbite, underbite, and crossbite. With an overbite, your child’s upper front teeth will be jutting out over the lower teeth. With an underbite, the lower teeth will jut out further than the upper teeth. A crossbite will see the upper teeth come down just short of the front of the lower teeth when biting. The additional need for orthodontic treatment can include an open bite, misplaced midline, spacing, and crowding. After reviewing your child’s teeth, the dentist will be able to determine if your child requires treatment and which solution will work best. Orthodontic TreatmentsThere are several options for orthodontic treatment, including fixed and removable options. Under the fixed appliance category, options like braces and space maintainers are used. Braces are a common appliance used to correct issues or to ensure the smile is straight. Braces include metal brackets and wires that are attached to the teeth to push them in the right direction for a straighter smile. With space maintainers, an appliance is put in place to keep the space open after a tooth is pulled early or lost due to an accident. The space needs to be maintained so that existing teeth do not move, and permanent teeth can erupt correctly. With removable appliances, options include aligners such as Invisalign® and space maintainers. An aligner is a plastic appliance that is placed inside the mouth to help gently push teeth into a straight position. The aligners can be removed for eating and brushing/flossing teeth. Space maintainers can also be removable and work the same as the fixed ones, but differently, to avoid any issues when teeth are pulled or fall out early. Early TreatmentThere are several ways that kids can benefit from an orthodontic evaluation at an early age. But it's important to recognize that early evaluation isn't necessarily followed by early treatment; in most cases, if orthodontic work is needed, your child's growth patterns are simply monitored until it's time for treatment to begin. This creates an opportunity to get the best results in the most efficient way, and to help prevent future problems. Learn more about early orthodontic treatment. Adult TreatmentHealthy teeth can be moved at any age, so there's no such thing as being too old for braces. Read more about adult orthodontic treatment. BracesFor the vast majority of orthodontic patients, wearing fixed appliances (commonly called braces) will be a major part of treatment - and those braces, for the most part, will be the familiar silvery-metal type. But while they're still quite popular, traditional-looking metal braces are no longer the only game in town! Discover more about braces. Invisalign for TeensThere's a new technology that's (literally) putting a smile on plenty of young faces: A system of clear, removable aligners made especially for teens called Invisalign Teen®! Learn more about Invisalign for Teens. Invisalign®The Invisalign method uses a succession of clear trays made of transparent medical-grade polyurethane resin. The trays fit over your teeth to secretly align them. They are so discreet that onlookers won’t even know you’re wearing them unless you tell them. Read more about Invisalign. RetainersMany people suffer from relapses after their braces come off. While they may enjoy a new, straight smile temporarily, failure to wear your retainer as instructed will result in the recurrence of a crooked smile. Discover more about retainers. Orthodontics Gaithersburg MDMVP Smiles offers advanced solutions, from braces to clear aligners, tailored to your unique smile. Our expert team ensures a comfortable, personalized journey to achieving your perfect smile. Ready to transform your smile? Contact us today or call (240) 981-4020 to schedule an appointment. |