How Do Braces Work?

Braces and orthodontic hardware may seem like a more recent invention, although the first modern braces can be traced back to the 1800s. Traditional metal braces became even more popular over the past few decades. The braces that we use today are not the same as the ones your parents and grandparents had. Dental treatment and technology are constantly changing to bring patients the best care.

The Most Common Bite Issues

At the Best Braces, we are happy to treat patients of all ages. We treat children, teens, and adults and help them restore the placement of their teeth and repair any issues with jaw development. One common issue we see with many of our patients is a concern with a bad bite, which is also referred to as malocclusion. This refers to the way the teeth meet each other when your upper and lower jaws are touching. Issues with bite are best treated as soon as possible, so it’s important to know what you are looking for because there are a variety of bite issues that one can have.

Which Treatment Would You Choose?

We are happy to treat patients of all ages in our practice. We want to help children, teens, and adults have straight teeth and a perfect smile. We are proud to offer a variety of orthodontic treatment options to our patients and will help them choose the one that best fits their needs and lifestyle. Two of the most common treatment options we offer are traditional metal braces and clear aligners.

Can Braces Help With Sleep Apnea?

If you suffer from sleep apnea, you may be desperately looking for a solution to your problem. You may be wondering if orthodontic treatment can help with sleep apnea, and the answer is yes. Before we explain further, we want to make it clear that we cannot diagnose or treat sleep apnea. When we are performing our initial consultation with future patients, there are a number of examinations we perform. The examination ranges from visual examinations to in-depth X-rays and scans of the teeth, bone structure, skull, and more. During these examinations, there are certain red flags that may indicate you have certain conditions or issues, and we would recommend you see a medical professional who specializes in the condition we may suspect. Sleep apnea in children and adults is one of the conditions that may be a red flag for us during our examination.

Go For It!

Would you love to improve your smile with orthodontic treatment but have been hesitant to move forward with a treatment plan? Whether you’ve already met with us for a consultation or you have a friend or family member who visits our office for treatment, and you’ve started thinking about your own oral health, now is the perfect time to go for it! We are happy to treat patients of all ages. Let us explain the many benefits of improving the placement of your teeth. Continue reading to learn more.

Tongue Thrusting And Orthodontics

When a patient visits our office for their initial consultation, there are a number of factors we check to determine if orthodontic care is needed. We look at the placement of the teeth and we also check the jaw placement and learn if you suffer from conditions such as TMD, sleep apnea, have a speech impediment or other issues. One issue in particular that we look for is tongue thrusting. Tongue thrusting occurs when the tongue is in an incorrect position during swallowing. It can also be called a reverse swallow or an immature swallow. It is cause for concern because it can reverse the corrections made by orthodontic treatment and move teeth out of alignment.

Damage Caused by Thumbsucking and Pacifier Use

During the infancy stage, and even in the womb, it is natural for a baby to suck their thumb. It is a self-soothing technique and actually helps to teach about the environment around them. It can also be used as a coping mechanism when a child is feeling anxious or overwhelmed with a situation. When a child is in the infant and toddler stage, using a method to self-soothe such as a pacifier or thumbsucking is appreciated by parents because it helps with a sleepless night or a tantrum. However, at a certain age, pacifier use and thumbsucking become a problem in regards to teeth.