When is the best time to begin orthodontics? 
The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that all children see an orthodontist by age seven and sooner if something is obviously wrong before age seven. Fortunately, many young patients don't need anything more than observation while the permanent teeth are growing into place, however, some young patients may have problems that will not, or should not wait. Most orthodontic problems are inherited and cannot be totally prevented, however, something can usually be done before these problems become more difficult and more expensive to manage. It is advisable to consult with an orthodontist prior to having your dentist remove any baby teeth or permanent teeth. To ensure the best overall dental and facial development all patients should have an orthodontic consultation by the age of 7. By age 7, the first permanent molars and incisors have usually come in and crossbites, crowding and protrusions can be evaluated. The orthodontist can identify current or anticipated future dental problems and determine the best time for treatment. Any ongoing oral habits can also be evaluated at this time such as thumb sucking, mouth breathing, or tongue thrusts.

What are the benefits of early treatment?
If there are obvious problems which exist that could be intercepted or prevented from getting worse your orthodontist may advise you to have your child undergo a First stage-Orthopedic Treatment. Orthopedic treatment can be initiated on many types of bite problems before all of the permanent teeth are present. Orthopedic treatment is necessary in many cases when the child's teeth, lips or jaws don't look normal for their age. Some reasons for considering orthopedic treatment are to:

  • Minimize severe malocclusions

  • Improve facial appearance and self-esteem

  • Correct functional problems

  • Minimize the effects of abnormal growth patterns

  • Reduce protrusion so that front teeth are less susceptible to injury

  • Reduce the need for or minimize the number of permanent teeth extracted

  • Reduce a serious mismatch in the growth of the upper and lower jaws

  • Eliminate adverse habits such as thumb/finger sucking

  • Make the treatment with braces easier and shorter

What are some of the orthodontic appliances used in growth guidance?
Orthopedic treatment may involve expanding appliances, retainers, a limited number of braces or functional appliance. We will use whatever is best to help shape and widen the dental arches. A larger more appropriately shaped dental arch can mean more room for adult teeth coming into the mouth, as well as a more natural smile. Here are a few of the common appliances used in our practice today:

Mara and Twinblock: The mandibular anterior repositioning appliance (MARA) and twinblock appliance can help correct severe protrusion of the upper teeth and a jaw that is positioned too far back by bringing the lower jaw forward. These appliances change the direction of growth in a patient, and allow the jaw to grow in a more natural forward and downward direction. These two appliances have done away with the old headgear that your parents knew all too well.

Palatal Expansion Appliance: This appliance can widen the upper jaw to allow more room for the upper teeth and create a broader smile. This is usually used on patients with a crossbite that occurs when the upper jaw is too narrow for the upper teeth to fit properly with the lower teeth.  It can also be used in patients with very narrow arches to alleviate moderate to severe crowding and avoid the removal of permanent teeth.

What is an orthodontic specialist? 
An orthodontist is a specialist in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of dental and facial irregularities. The practice of orthodontics involves the design, application and control of corrective appliances and braces which are used to treat and correct these problems so that optimum dental function and stability are achieved. An orthodontist is required to first attend college, then complete a four-year graduate dental program and finally complete an additional two-year orthodontic residency program. Only about 6% of dentists hold these qualifications. When deciding which orthodontist to choose, make sure they have these qualifications and are members of the American Association of Orthodontists.

What's new in orthodontics?
Orthodontics has changed a lot in the past years. New technology is allowing orthodontists to produce better results with fewer visits and shorter overall treatment times. Technology such as heat activated nickel-titanium-alloy archwires, developed by NASA, have replaced the traditional stainless steel wires of the past, providing patients with a temperature-sensitive wire that allow for continuous movement of the teeth over longer periods of time. For patients this means enhanced comfort, decreased treatment time and less trips to the orthodontist.

Cosmetic advances are also being made in orthodontics making braces less visible and more comfortable than in the past. The brackets used in orthodontics today bond directly to the teeth and are much smaller and more comfortable than those of old. You may also want to consider asking about the new tooth colored brackets now available.

A new technology that allows tooth alignment without braces has been recently introduced to the orthodontic community. It is called Invisalign™. For decades, traditional braces had been the only option for adults who wanted straighter teeth. The Invisalign System™ offers the first true alternative, by utilizing advances in 3-D imaging technology to create a series of customized plastic aligners. It all begins with a visit to an Invisalign™-certified orthodontist, who will help you determine what you'd like to correct. Next, the orthodontist sends Invisalign™ your precise treatment instructions. Invisalign™ then uses its proprietary computer technology to create a sequence of finely-calibrated clear plastic aligners-as few as 12 or as many as 48, depending on your particular case. You'll wear each aligner for about two weeks, removing them only to eat, brush, and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next, your teeth will move-little by little, week by week-until they reach the final alignment your orthodontist has prescribed. Dr. Stormberg has been using Invisalign since 1999, and is considered an expert in this technology by Align Technology.

For more information on orthodontics, check out these links: 

www.aaortho.org
www.invisalign.com
www.bracesinfo.com

Expect more clinical advances to be made in orthodontics as technology allows orthodontists to straighten teeth with fewer visits, shorter treatment times, more comfort, and less visible procedures.