Top Orthodontic Treatment in Pembroke Pines

Many people think of a dentist and orthodontist as the same. There are differences that you will learn as you set out to improve your oral health by correcting bite or alignment issues. A dentist is a doctor who provides care for the teeth and gums and also the jaw and the nerves in the mouth. An orthodontist is also a dentist, but one who has gone through additional training that enables them to focus on a particular aspect of dental health: the position of teeth.

An orthodontist is who your dentist refers you to when you have overcrowded teeth, misaligned teeth, or malocclusion (bad bite). The orthodontist performs tests like x-rays to understand the formation of your teeth and jaw. This specialist then develops a treatment plan to correct the issues they uncover.

Orthodontists treat various alignment issues. These include having gaps between teeth or having teeth that are crowded or overlapping. Orthodontic treatment pulls teeth closer together or separates them so they sit side-by-side. An orthodontist also addresses bite issues like overbite, underbite, and crossbite. The purpose of the care administered by an orthodontist is to achieve a straight arch of upper and lower teeth that fill well together when you chew. This protects individual teeth from excessive damage and also the joints of the jaw, the temporomandibular joints, from overuse that could lead to uncomfortable symptoms.

An orthodontic consultation should be scheduled any time there is a question about the alignment of teeth or the quality of the bite.

An orthodontic consultation is much like seeing the dentist. We are proud to offer dental and orthodontic services in our Pembroke Pines office so our patients can receive all levels of care from friendly, familiar faces. During this consultation, the orthodontist looks at all teeth and may look at the way that teeth fit together when biting down. Additional x-rays may be taken if needed to better observe the position of teeth roots. After the examination, a recommended course of treatment is discussed.

Orthodontists have several tools to correct alignment and bite problems. The most recognized orthodontic treatment is braces. Braces are a combination of small brackets and wires that span across a row of teeth. The wire called an archwire connects to each tooth via its bracket. The orthodontist adjusts the wire periodically to move teeth in the proper direction. Braces have been used for many years and offer a proven, effective option for straightening teeth.

Recently, orthodontists and dentists have gained another treatment option, aligners. Straightening teeth with aligners can be convenient but is not without some level of discomfort. Aligners may be appropriate for mild to moderate misalignment and bite issues such as a minor overbite, underbite, or crossbite. Patients like aligners because they can be removed, allowing patients to eat whatever they’d like.

In addition to treating some of the most common misalignment issues, orthodontists also treat extreme cases such as a narrow jaw. When teeth do not have sufficient space to achieve or maintain proper alignment, an orthodontist may use a palate expander or headgear to improve the structure of the mouth.

The need for orthodontic treatment is sometimes obvious. A consultation should be scheduled if there are chewing, biting, or speaking problems. The need for braces is also obvious when teeth are misplaced, crowded, or protruding. Symptoms that are not so obvious but point to a need for orthodontic care include an inability to close the lips comfortably, grinding or clenching teeth, and mouth breathing. Misalignment may also cause a person to inadvertently bite their lip or cheek when they chew.