EARLY
TREATMENT
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that a child receives his or her first orthodontic screening by age 7. By starting treatment early, we are able to recognize potential problems and correct them before they become more serious. This will save you and your child time and money by preventing future problems before they begin.
Early interceptive orthodontic treatment has proven to be beneficial for the overall desired result. Because a young child's permanent teeth have not finished erupting, we are able to thoroughly evaluate and address any impending problems at the earliest stage.
During your child's initial evaluation, we will first determine if there are any problems that need to be addressed, such as potential crowding, open bite, overbite or gummy smiles. The Phase I treatment plan can include preventive, interceptive or modifying treatment. Orthodontic appliances may be placed to prevent a problem from occurring, correct a current problem or help direct jawbone growth. Multiple problems with tooth alignment, gums, jaws and facial problems can be corrected with Phase I treatment.
To find out if your child is a candidate for early interceptive treatment, schedule a consultation by calling 319-335-7287.
ADOLESCENT TREATMENT
ADULT
TREATMENT
Typically, Phase II treatment is normal orthodontic treatment which involves placing braces on the patient once his or her permanent teeth have erupted. The braces straighten the permanent teeth and finish correctly aligning the patient’s jaw. By age 12, most, if not all, permanent teeth have erupted and are in place, which is when crooked teeth, gaps and bad bites can easily be detected. These problems will hardly ever correct themselves, so this is when most parents decide to seek orthodontic treatment for their children.
For many teenagers, wearing braces is a part of life – an important part of life because a beautiful and healthy smile can boost one’s self-confidence.
Children at this age are growing rapidly, and orthodontists can usually take advantage of these growth spurts to help shape the bite and teeth correctly. Pre-teens and teenagers have high metabolisms, which can help shorten overall treatment time and reduce the discomfort of orthodontic treatment.
More and more adults today are seeking orthodontic treatment to improve their smile. We offer a full range of treatments specifically designed for adults – leaving you with a dramatically different smile and healthier bite.
Orthodontic treatment is not only designed to improve the appearance of your smile, but the health of your teeth and gums as well. By seeking orthodontic treatment as an adult, you can possibly avoid severe tooth decay, gum and bone loss, irregular wear of the tooth enamel and TMJ/TMD pain.
Since adults are usually more compliant in their orthodontic treatment, their results are often better. By following the instructions provided by your orthodontist, you can enhance your results and shorten your treatment time!
We offer a wide variety of braces to meet the individual needs and desires of each of our adult patients. From traditional braces to advanced technology, we are confident we can help you achieve and maintain the beautiful, healthy smile you’ve always dreamed about.
Don’t ever feel it’s too late to achieve the smile you have always wanted! Schedule your appointment today!