What Is An Orthodontist?
 At Egger Orthodontics, we have had many patients come to us asking for help with protruding or crooked teeth. When your teeth are not in alignment, it can seem like there is nothing you can do to have a normal smile. However, thanks to orthodontists, it is absolutely possible to get that perfect alignment. So what is an orthodontist?
The Field Of Orthodontics
Our orthodontists are dental specialists who focus on diagnosing, preventing, and treating facial and dental irregularities. The dentists who go into this field study for an additional two to three years, giving them the time to learn how to ensure healthy growth in the mouth, guide facial development, and how to safely shift teeth into proper alignment. The primary goals of orthodontists include giving you a healthier mouth, a more pleasant appearance, and teeth that can last a lifetime. To achieve these goals, orthodontists can use any of their suite of appliances with you to help you reach a higher level of dental health.
What Problems Do Orthodontists Treat?
There are many issues that can indicate to us that you will need the skills of one of our orthodontists. Baby teeth that stay too long or baby teeth that fall out prematurely may result in the need for orthodontic treatment. Malocclusions such as jaw growth problems, extra teeth, spacing problems, or congenitally missing teeth are other issues that they can address. Our orthodontists will help you create a healthier bite and to develop a proper alignment by helping you deal with these problems.
Orthodontists And Fixed Appliances
Fixed appliances are those which will stay in your mouth until they have helped improve your dental health and are then ready to be removed by our orthodontist. Braces, which use wires and bands to slowly guide your teeth into better positions, are the most commonly seen fixed appliances. These are adjusted to bring about the desired results, usually within a few months to a year. Occasionally a baby tooth is lost prematurely. These can help keep the space open until the permanent tooth comes in.
Removable Appliances
Our orthodontists have a wide variety of removable appliances they can help you use to improve your smile and the health of your mouth. Unlike their fixed cousins, removable appliances can be taken out much more easily, though you will often want to keep them in for long durations in order to fully benefit from what they offer. Aligners function similarly to braces but are removed for brushing, flossing, and eating. If you have routine difficulty from biting yourself, lip and cheek bumpers can be used to help keep your cheeks and lips away from your teeth. If you suffer from underbite or overbite, jaw repositioning appliances, or splints, can help train your jaw to close in a more favorable position.
With a level of training beyond that of normal dentists and with access to many appliances that can help address your every need, our orthodontists are ready to help you with any issue you may be suffering with your jaw or tooth alignment. If our orthodontists can help you or if you would like to learn more, call us today at 425.270.1616. |
