If you want to improve the look and feel of your smile, then any age can be a great age to see the orthodontist. Many orthodontic problems are easier to correct if detected at an early age before jaw growth has slowed. Early treatment may mean that a patient can avoid surgery and more serious complications. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child first visit an orthodontist by age 7 or earlier if a problem is detected by parents, the family dentist or the child's physician.

Phase I or early interceptive treatment, is limited orthodontic treatment (i.e. expander or partial braces) before all of the permanent teeth have erupted. Such treatment can occur between the ages of seven and ten. This treatment is sometimes recommended to make more space for developing teeth, correction of crossbites, overbites, underbites, or harmful oral habits. Phase II treatment is also called comprehensive treatment, because it involves full braces when all of the permanent teeth have erupted (usually between the ages of 11 and 13).

Two-phase orthodontic treatment is a very specialized process that encompasses tooth straightening and physical, facial changes. The major advantage of a two-phase treatment is to maximize the opportunity to accomplish the ideal healthy, functional, aesthetic result that will remain stable throughout your life.

The goal of first phase treatment is to develop the jaw size in order to accommodate all the permanent teeth and to relate the upper and lower jaws to each other. Children sometimes exhibit early signs of jaw problems as they grow and develop. An upper and lower jaw that is growing too much or not enough can be recognized at an early age. If children after age 6 are found to have this jaw discrepancy, they are candidates for early orthodontic treatment.

Orthodontic records will be necessary to determine the type of appliances to be used, the duration of treatment time, and the frequency of visits. Records consist of models of the teeth, x-rays, and photographs.

In this phase, the remaining permanent teeth are left alone as they erupt. Retaining devices may not be recommended if they would interfere with eruption. It is best to allow the existing permanent teeth some freedom of movement. A successful first phase will have created room for permanent teeth to find an eruption path. Otherwise, they may become impacted or severely displaced.

The goal of the second phase is to make sure each tooth has an exact location in the mouth where it is in harmony with the lips, cheeks, tongue, and other teeth. When this equilibrium is established, the teeth will function together properly. Phase two usually involves full upper and lower braces.

At the beginning of the first phase, orthodontic records were made and a diagnosis and treatment plan established. Certain types of appliances were used in the first phase, as dictated by the problem. The second phase is initiated when almost all the permanent teeth have erupted, and usually requires braces on all the teeth for an average of 24 months. Records must be taken again before the second phase of treatment so that the doctor can re-evaluate the progress which has been made up to this point. Retainers are worn after this phase to ensure you retain your beautiful smile.

Any general dentist can offer you Invisalign. Drs. Niaraki and Fadiani are qualified however, to ensure you get the best treatment our doctors are not only orthodontists but are VIP Diamond Plusproviders of Invisalign treatment.

We are dedicated to using the most advanced orthodontic technology in order to provide comfortable and accurate orthodontic treatments. We are happy to provide such services as braces, clear braces, Invisalign and so much more.

Don't worry, you'll be eating popcorn and snacking on potato chips again in no time! However, before you can start enjoying some of the treats you love, you will need to take special care to avoid any foods that could damage your new appliances.

After your braces are put on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth, and your teeth may be tender for three to five days. If the tenderness is severe, take ibuprofen or whatever you normally take for a headache or similar pain. Until your mouth becomes accustomed to the appliances, your lips, cheeks and tongue may also become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. You may also experience some canker sores or blisters. Wax can help alleviate the discomfort, as can rinsing your mouth with a warm saltwater mouthwash. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in 8 ounces of warm water, and rinse your mouth vigorously.

If your teeth begin feeling a little loose, don't worry; this is normal! Your braces must first loosen your teeth to move them into the right position. Once your teeth have been repositioned, they will no longer be loose.

It 's more important than ever to brush and floss regularly when you have braces! We want to make sure that your teeth and gums are healthy after orthodontic treatment. When you get your braces, we will review the proper way to brush and floss to maintain a healthy and beautiful smile. Some of the risk factors of poor oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment include cavities, decalcification of enamel ('white spots'), and gingivitis/periodontitis (gum disease).

Patients having a difficult time maintaining good oral hygiene may require more frequent visits to the dentist for a professional cleaning, and adults who have a history of gum disease should be monitored by a periodontist during orthodontic treatment.

Playing sports while wearing braces is not a problem at all as long as you wear a mouthguard! Being hit in the mouth while wearing braces can be a very painful experience, and a mouthguard can help protect your lips and cheeks from trauma. Please ask if you have any questions regarding the mouthguard you are currently using, or if you would like us to provide you with one.

Traditional metal braces are the most common type of braces and are more comfortable today than ever before. Made of high-grade stainless steel, metal braces straighten your teeth using metal brackets and archwires. With metal braces, you have the option of adding colored elastics (rubber bands) for a more unique and colorful smile.

Ceramic braces are made of clear materials and are therefore less visible on your teeth than metal braces. For this reason, ceramic braces are used mainly on older teenagers and adult patients who have cosmetic concerns. While they are visually less prominent, they do require more attention to oral hygiene as ceramic braces are larger and more brittle than their metal counterparts. For these reasons, ceramic braces tend to be used on upper front teeth more than lower teeth.

Invisalign uses a series of invisible, removable, and comfortable aligners to straighten your teeth. And, no one can tell you are wearing Invisalign because it's invisible! Not only are the aligners invisible, they are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment, plus brushing and flossing are less of a hassle. The aligners are comfortable and have no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment.

To successfully complete your orthodontic treatment plan, patients must work together with the orthodontist. The teeth and jaws can only move toward their corrected positions if the patient consistently wears the elastics (rubber bands), headgear or other appliances as prescribed. The following paragraphs describe the types of appliances that may be used during your treatment.

This appliance is very important for our younger patients. It helps to hold space open for adult teeth when deciduous (baby) teeth are lost prematurely or normally. In most cases this appliance can prevent the need for extractions due to crowding.

Bite buttons are made from small amounts of plastic bonding material. They are placed behind the upper teeth to assist in opening a deep bite. In addition, they can be placed behind the bottom teeth to aid in jumping a tooth out of crossbite.

The Herbst appliance reduces overbite by encouraging the lower jaw to grow forward and the upper molars to move backward. This fixed appliance is used mostly on young, growing children and is worn for about 12 months. It takes children approximately 4 days to adjust to this appliance.

The pendulum appliance is used in lieu of headgear on our older preteen and teenage patients. It gently pushes the upper molars backwards to create space for overly crowded teeth. Patients find it is very comfortable and will usually wear it for 3-4 months. After the required movement has been achieved a holding bar will be placed to maintain the correction for a few months.

A miniscrew is a temporary device anchored to your dental bone to give the doctor 100% control of moving your teeth. They are only used in the toughest of situations when the doctor requires greater control of your braces. They have been routinely used in Korea and Japan for years, but have just recently (in 2003) gained acceptance in the United States. Because of this new technology, some patients who otherwise might have needed orthognathic (jaw) surgery or dental implants (to replace missing teeth) can be treated with braces alone without surgery.

Wearing elastics (rubber bands) helps correct the bite of your upper and lower teeth by locking the teeth into a perfect alignment. It is important that the patient wears the elastics as prescribed to successfully complete their orthodontic treatment.

When you get your braces off, wear your retainers as instructed by the doctor.Take your retainers out when eating and always put retainers in their case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunch rooms or restaurants.)

Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and liquid soap. Use warm but not hot water. Brushing retainers removes the plaque and eliminates odors. Efferdent or other orthodontic appliance cleaners can be used, but these do not take the place of brushing. When retainers are not in your mouth they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case. Pets love to chew on them!

Initially, you may find it difficult to speak. Practice speaking, reading, or singing aloud to get used to them faster. Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken call us immediately. If you have any questions or concerns about your retainers, or your retainers need adjusting, call us. Do not try to adjust them yourself.

Just as orthodontics repositions teeth, surgical orthodontics (also known as orthognathic surgery) corrects jaw irregularities to improve your ability to chew, speak, and breathe. Additionally, surgical orthodontics may be used to improve facial appearance. In other words, surgical orthodontics straightens your jaw. Moving the jaws also moves the teeth, so braces are always used in conjunction with jaw correction.

Dr. Niaraki and Dr. Fadiani will consider surgical orthodontic treatment for those cases beyond the scope of dental correction alone and for those with facial aesthetic concerns. All growth must be completed before jaw surgery can be performed, however the pre-surgical tooth movements can begin one to two years prior. On average, jaw growth is completed by age 16 for girls and 18 for boys, however every patient is different. A simple x-ray of the hand and wrist can help determine when growth will come to an end.

During the first part of surgical orthodontic treatment (618 months), you will be treated with braces and will visit our office for scheduled adjustments to your braces. As your teeth move with the braces, you may think that your bite is getting worse rather than better. However, when your jaws are placed into proper alignment during the orthognathic surgery, your teeth will then fit into their proper positions.

Surgery is usually performed in the hospital with an oral surgeon, and can take several hours, depending on the amount and type of surgery needed. In lower jaw surgery, the jawbone behind the teeth is separated and the tooth-bearing portion is moved forward or backward, as needed. In upper jaw surgery, the jaw can be repositioned forward or backward, or the jaw can be raised or lowered. Certain movements may require the jaws to be separated, with bone added/removed to achieve the proper alignment and stability. Other facial bones that contribute to alignment may also be repositioned or augmented.

When you have completed surgery, you should be able to return to school or work within two weeks. After the necessary healing time (about 48 weeks), we 'fine-tune' your bite. In most cases, braces are removed within 4 months following surgery. At Class One Orthodontics, we will only send our patients to the most-skilled oral surgeons who perform orthognathic surgery on a routine basis to assure that an outstanding surgical result is achieved. After your braces are removed, you will wear a retainer to maintain your beautiful new smile.

For many patients, the most important reward of having orthognathic surgery is achieving a beautiful, healthy smile that lasts a lifetime. Whether you need orthodontic treatment to correct a bad bite, malocclusion, or jaw abnormality, orthognathic surgery can help restore your confidence and leave you smiling with confidence for many years to come.