Complete Orthodontic Care for the Whole Family: Your Key Questions Answered

While at Advanced Dental, we provide total care for the whole family from our office in Aliso Viejo, California, to our dentists, Drs. Chitra Tiruveedula and Joseph C. Yang have also developed considerable and focused expertise in orthodontics. So, all members of the family can enjoy straight, healthy, beautiful-looking teeth – without being limited to fixed metal braces for orthodontic treatments or correction.

What is orthodontics exactly?

Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry that focuses on diagnosing, preventing, and treating irregularities associated with the jaw, face, and bite. These irregularities are technically known as “malocclusions,” and they can profoundly affect one’s appearance, day-to-day function, and lifelong health and well-being.

What are some of these imbalances?

Malocclusion generally refers to any time the teeth may not fit together properly. For instance, your or your child’s teeth may be crooked, crowded, overlapped, or gapped. Additionally, the term “bite” refers to how the opposing upper and lower teeth fit together when your mouth is closed. A “normal” or healthy bite is one where the upper teeth slightly overlap the lower teeth. When the upper or lower teeth overlap significantly, you may have overbite or underbite, respectively.

What causes these imbalances?

While most malocclusions are inherited, habits and behaviors can play a role. Malocclusion may be inherited early on due to the likes of persistent or severe tongue thrusting, thumb sucking, and pacifier use. When a baby tooth is lost prematurely, or an adult tooth is extracted, it can also lead to spacing issues and malocclusion.

Do I have to wear traditional braces?

Absolutely not! Similar to technology and medicine as a whole, dentistry is always evolving and innovating. There have never been more options to treat misaligned teeth and for bite correction than now. For instance, today’s “traditional” braces are made with lighter-weight materials that are either transparent or can be made to blend in with the teeth. Or, you can get your healthy, most attractive smile without braces entirely, courtesy of clear aligner therapy. We offer a full range of treatment options for pediatric and adult patients alike.

What are clear aligners?

At Advanced Dental, we provide the pioneering Invisalign® system. Invisalign® is a series of clear, flexible, thermoplastic oral appliances that easily slip in and out of the mouth. They are not “fixed” to the teeth like braces. They place consistent pressure on the teeth to incrementally reposition them. Due to their design, aligners are very easy to adjust to and quite effective, based on the same fundamental principles as conventional orthodontic treatment with braces. As long as you wear each aligner in the correct order and for at least 20 to 22 hours daily, a renewed smile may be yours in as little as six months (or, on average, 12 to 18 months).

Why should I choose your team in Aliso Viejo, California?

With so many orthodontic options, there is certain to be an appropriate treatment for you or your child. For example, our dentists have the skill and onsite capabilities to offer early intervention, including special exercises or habit modification for children. By intervening early on, we may be able to help your kid avoid the need for more extensive treatment with the likes of braces later on. Such early orthodontic treatment also supports healthy development.

Schedule a consultation today to start the process that supports your (or your child’s) most appealing smile and healthiest self. Our team can be reached at (949) 289-9993.

Dr. Chitra Tiruveedula

Dr. Chitra Tiruveedula

Connect on Linkedin

Dr. Chitra Tiruveedula has been practicing dentistry for over 20 years. After advanced training at Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, she relocated to Orange County, CA in 2015. Dr. Chitra is a member of the American Dental Association and California Dental Association. Committed to continuous education, she provides top-quality dental services using the latest advancements.

Dr. Joseph C. Yang

Dr. Joseph C. Yang

Dr. Joseph C. Yang has over 30 years of dental practice experience. He earned his B.S. from Washington University in St. Louis, MO, and his D.D.S. from the University of Illinois, Chicago. He then had a distinguished 30-year career as a U.S. Naval Dental Officer, including a residency in Periodontology at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Dr. Yang is a diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and a member of the American Dental Association and American Academy of Periodontology. As a board-certified Periodontist, he has performed thousands of successful periodontal and implant procedures. He is also a renowned lecturer and trainer in the latest implant and periodontal techniques worldwide.