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

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.