HOW DO BRACES WORK?
Teeth respond to the light forces that are placed upon them. The wire that is attached to the braces is the source of the light force. As the wire applies pressure to the brace, the brace transfers that force to the tooth, making it move. The bone and gum tissue also respond to this force to accommodate the tooth movement.
Other appliances can be used along with the braces to help with the growth and development of the upper and lower jaws to properly correct the position of the teeth.
ADOLESCENTS
The American Association of Orthodontics recommends that children receive their first orthodontic examination as early as age 7. An orthodontic examination and detection of prospective problems at a young age allows treatment to begin early enough to take advantage of "Interceptive Orthodontics." Utilizing treatment during the primary growth period, orthodontic problems can be corrected before they are completely established. Problems that can be treated at any early age include the following:
- Severe crowding
- Cross bites
- Thumb or finger habits
- Severe under-bite or over-bite
- Abnormal jaw development
Dr. Skibell will discuss with you the pros and cons of early treatment and help you make an informed decision whether to do early treatment or wait until all the adult teeth have erupted.
PHASE I
Phase I treatment consist of early or pre-orthodontic treatment. This type of treatment occurs for partient who are short of space or need early bite correction. Phase I treatment can begin at any age depending on the severity of the problem.
PHASE II
Phase II treatment begins after the completion of Phase I treatment. This phase of treatment begins when all of the
permanent teeth have erupted resulting in treatment with braces.
ADULT
Adults seeking orthodontic treatment often are unhappy with the appearance of their smile. Orthodontic treatment for adults may range from simple therapy to align teeth to complex therapy to correct miss-aligned jaws and teeth. Regardless of the type of therapy, orthodontic treatment improves the alignment and support of teeth, leaving them easier to clean and therefore more likely to last a lifetime.
