Many people think that if you didn’t get your crooked teeth fixed when you were a child, it’s too late to straighten them when you are a grown adult. But with today’s innovations in modern orthodontics, no matter if you are in your 20s, 30s, 40s, or even 50s and 60s, it is never too late to get the smile you deserve. Parkway Orthodontics offer Invisalign® aligners, providing a nearly invisible, comfortable, and removable orthodontic treatment for adults.
What is Orthodontics?
Orthodontics is the discipline of dentistry concerned with aligning the teeth and jaws to improve one’s smile and oral health. “Ortho” means correct or straight. Through orthodontic treatment, problems like crooked or crowded teeth, over-bite or open-bite, incorrect jaw position, and disorders of the jaw joints can be corrected.
Patients with orthodontic problems can benefit from treatment at various ages. An ideal time to start treatment is between 10 and 14 years of age, when most of the adult teeth have erupted. Sometimes orthodontic treatment can be started earlier at 7-8 years old, when the misalignment is due to skeletal problems. But braces aren’t just for kids. More adults these days are also wearing braces to correct dental problems and to improve their smiles.
Types of Braces
Brackets: These can be made of metal or ceramic and are bonded to the front surfaces of the teeth. Ceramic braces are far less noticeable than their metal counterparts.
Lingual braces: These brackets are bonded to the back surfaces of the teeth and are therefore hidden from view.
Invisible braces: These are transparent trays that are fitted to the teeth and which are virtually unnoticeable.
How does Invisalign® work?
Treatment begins with a 3-D digital image of your current smile. Your orthodontist will use this image to create a detailed treatment plan and show you what your teeth will look like at each phase. Then, a custom-made series of clear plastic aligners are created. On average, Invisalign® aligners changes are done weekly.
What are the benefits of Invisalign®?
Invisalign aligners are nearly invisible and are removable. You need to wear them for 20 to 22 hours per day, but you can remove them for eating, drinking, and oral hygiene. In addition, you will see the orthodontist less frequently than you would with braces. Invisalign is also far more comfortable, since there is no scratchy metal in your mouth.
Is Invisalign® right for you?
Here are some of the straightening issues that can be treated with Invisalign® aligners.
Widely spaced teeth occur when you have extra space within your jaw.
Cross bites occur when the upper and lower jaws are both misaligned. It usually causes more than one upper teeth to bite on the inside of the lower teeth and can happen on both the front and/or the sides of the mouth.
Overcrowded teeth occur when there is a lack of room within your jaw for all of your teeth to fit normally.
Deep bites occur when the upper teeth overlap significantly with the lower teeth.
Under bites occur when the lower teeth protrude past the front teeth, usually caused by undergrowth of the upper jaw, overgrowth of the lower jaw, or both.
Dr Yafei Si
Dr Si is an orthodontist and dentist. She is a member of the European Orthodontic Association and the Italian Occlusion Association.
ParkwayHealth
Phone: 400 816 6622
Website: parkwaypantai.cn
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